The Junior League of Pensacola’s Women’s Empowerment Awards formally recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of women and young ladies in the Pensacola area. These awards honor exceptional women of all ages, of diverse cultures and roles, celebrating the power of individuals to spark change and improve their community and beyond. The award categories include Woman in Business: Non-Profit, Woman in Business: For Profit, Woman in Philanthropy, Hometown Hero (first responders, educators, medical professionals), and Youth Woman in Leadership (young women ages 15-22). This year’s event will take place at the Museum of Commerce in Downtown Pensacola on International Women’s Day, Wednesday, March 8, at 6:00 pm. Channel Three News Anchor and community ambassador, Sue Straughn, will host as this year’s master of ceremonies. Dr. Lusharon Wiley, Innisfree Hotel’s Director of Culture and social justice advocate, will enlighten attendees as this year’s keynote speaker.
Nominations for the Women’s Empowerment Awards are open to the public, and the selection process is based on the nominees’ achievements, impact, and community involvement. The Selection Committee comprises two past award winners, a sustainer long-term member of the Junior League, a community representative, and the current Junior League president. This year’s Selection Committee is proud to welcome Visit Pensacola’s Vice President of Destination Development and community volunteer, Nicole Stacey, as this year’s Community Representative.
The Junior League of Pensacola is a nonprofit organization based in Pensacola, Florida, whose mission is committed to advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League of Pensacola reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and a commitment to voluntarism. The organization is part of the larger Association of Junior Leagues International, which is composed of almost 300 Junior Leagues across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 1956, the Junior League of Pensacola is a well-respected organization in the greater Pensacola community whose members work together to make a positive impact in the community while developing themselves as leaders and volunteers through a variety of training and development opportunities. The organization provides opportunities for members to network with other women in the community and to build lasting relationships.
“THESE AWARDS HONOR EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN OF ALL AGES, OF DIVERSE CULTURES AND ROLES, CELEBRATING THE POWER OF INDIVIDUALS TO SPARK CHANGE AND IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.”
The Women’s Empowerment Awards not only help the organization achieve its mission by raising funds necessary to do their critical work in the community through initiatives like the Kids in the Kitchen children’s nutrition program and Diaper Bank program to fight diaper insecurity, but also by providing the valuable leadership training from planning the logistics and budgeting of a large-scale fundraiser. A portion of the funds raised from the sponsorships of the Women’s Empowerment Awards will go directly to funding the scholarships for the young women in the Spark Board, a program that provides selected high school junior and senior girls a foundation of volunteerism and leadership. This year’s Presenting Sponsor is Premier Workforce Solutions, and Gold Sponsors include Lisa York Law, Regions Bank, and Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund.
