WEDC plans Women Honoring Women event
HUNTSVILLE – Women’s Economic Development Council Foundation announced the 2017 honorees for its annual Women Honoring Women celebration.
WEDC members hosted a reception at Burritt on the Mountain, Baron Bluff on June 13 to reveal the finalists. The Von Braun Center North Hall will host the Women Honoring Women event on Sept. 21 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
“This year’s theme, When Perseverance Meets Passion,’ stresses the organization’s continued mission of helping women achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence by providing mentors, development opportunities, professional networking and flexible financial assistance,” publicity chair Susan Steinhauser said.
Women Honoring Women event chair Paula Cushman and co-chair Jenny Hite introduced the 2017 inductees:
* Dr. Jennie B. Robinson, Huntsville City Council –Served on Huntsville City Schools Board 12 years. Robinson currently serves as council president. She owns Personal Best Training & Development.
* Retired Maj. Gen. Barbara G. Fast, BGF Enterprises LLC – Served as Director of Intelligence and also Commander of the Intelligence Center and School. She deployed to the Middle East during the Iraqi War.
* Butch Damson, community volunteer – Volunteer for 54 years. Damson has helped Huntsville Botanical Garden, Burritt Museum, American Cancer Society, Junior League, American Diabetes Association and schools.
* Christine Wicks, Keller Williams Realty –Started Huntsville’s first Keller Williams Realty franchise. She volunteers with American Cancer Society, Hudson Alpha, American Heart Association and Huntsville Hospice Care Facility.
* Dr. Shelia Nash-Stevenson, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center – Earned a doctorate’s degree in physics magnum cum laude from Alabama A&M in 1994, distinguishing her as the first African-American female in Alabama to achieve this status. A charter member of Madison Board of Education, Nash-Stevenson recently was recognized as a NASA “Modern Figure.”
* Dr. Elizabeth A. Worthey, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology – A world-renowned scientist, Worthey inspired the founding of the world’s first genomic clinic in Huntsville. She mentors girls in STEM activities and promotes work in genomics.
Women Honoring Women is the signature fundraiser for the WEDC Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization. In 19 years, WEDC Foundation has provided more than 135 deserving women with more than $408,000 in scholarship dollars.
Woody Anderson Ford, led by CEO Cathy Anderson, is presenting sponsor. Gold sponsors are Visually Handicapped Teacher Fund and Five Stones Research. Silver sponsors include Jerry Damson Honda Acura, S3 Inc. and Teledyne Brown Engineering. Media sponsor is WAAY TV.
For information, contact Executive Director Beth Brooks at 256-652-1600, email ed@wedcfoundation.org or visit wedcfoundation.org.
