Nominate a Peoria Woman

If you know a women who inspires you and lives or works in Peoria, you have an opportunity to tell her how you feel. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 YWCA Leader Awards Luncheon. The committee is looking for local women who go above and beyond in their career, home life and/or volunteer work. There are several new categories so you are sure to find one that fits the person you would like to see honored.

Arts, Communication & Media

Sponsored by Architectural Design Group

Given in honor of creative women such as Julia Proctor White, a Peoria-born author and lifelong civic volunteer. Julia served as president of the Florence Crittenton Home (1903-1910); first president of the Women’s Civic Federation (1905-1908); first vice-president of the Peoria Free Kindergarten Association which established public school kindergartens in Peoria in 1907. She co-founded the Peoria Women’s Club in 1911 and established an evening business women’s department in 1914. She authored and directed plays produced by the Peoria Players, was first president of Peoria’s League of Women Voters, and originated the idea of a civic arts center for Peoria, now known as Lakeview Center. Nominees for this category are women who have demonstrated leadership in Arts, Communication & Media.

Education & Care of Children
Sponsored by PNC

Given in honor of trailblazing women such as Mary Whiteside Emery who was one of only ten women in the state to win a school office in the first election after Illinois passed a new law allowing women to serve in this capacity. As Peoria County’s Superintendent of Schools, she developed Saturday Township Institutes for parents, teachers and students to discuss school expectations; she initiated a process of teacher performance assessment and started the practice of conducting annual student examinations. Nominees for this category are women who have demonstrated leadership in any aspect of Education/Lifelong Learning or to women who have excelled in Early Childhood Development or Children’s Services.

Quality of Life & Human Rights

Sponsored by Methodist Medical Center of Illinois

Given in honor of advocating women such as Valeska S. Hinton, known as the mother of Peoria’s civil rights movement. Valeska counseled, tutored and founded a United Service Organization for African American soldiers in World War II. She was the first executive director of Peoria’s Human Relations Commission (1963-1968) and worked with the US Commission on Civil Rights until her retirement in 1983. Nominees for this category are women who have demonstrated leadership that has improved the Quality of Life for Central Illinoisans or have advanced Human Rights.

Business & Nonprofit Innovation

Sponsored by Ameren

Given in honor of innovative women such as Lucy Pettengill who founded and organized the Female Anti-Slavery Society of Peoria in 1843, after a similar effort by men in the community had failed. She and her husband Moses played a key role in the economic transformation of Peoria from a pioneer outpost to bustling city. Their ventures included a hardware business that supplied goods to the region, a spice mill factory, boot manufacturing and soap-making. Nominees for this category are women who have demonstrated leadership in Business or Nonprofit Innovation.

Philanthropy, Community Service & Volunteerism

Sponsored by Philippi-Hagenbuch

Given in honor of generous women such as Eliza Pindell whose family is prominently connected to journalism in the Peoria area, at one time owning the Peoria Herald, the Peoria Transcript, the Peoria Times, and the Peoria Journal. Eliza was noted for her extensive philanthropy and especially for her support of the YWCA. Nominees for this category are women who have demonstrated leadership that has improved the Quality of Life for Central Illinoisans or have advanced Human Rights. Nominees for this category are women who have demonstrated leadership through Philanthropy, Community Service or Volunteerism.

Community Sustainability & Betterment

Sponsored by Caterpillar

Given in honor of pioneering women such as Lydia Moss Bradley, a woman educated in a log home, but became a wealthy Peoria land developer. Lydia founded the educational institution which would later become Bradley University; served as the first female member on a national bank board; donated a large estate for use as a hospital by the Society of St. Francis, eventually becoming OSF St. Francis Medical Center; built the Bradley Home for Aged Women to care for widowed and childless women; and donated the land required to establish the first park system in Illinois. Nominees for this category are women who have demonstrated leadership in making our community more sustainable and a better place to live.

Health Care Professions

Sponsored by OSF St. Francis Medical Center

Given in honor of Mother M. Frances Krasse, who led six sisters when they were invited to Peoria in 1876 to set up a hospital. From a rented three-story house on Adams Street, the sisters served the community under the name St. Francis Hospital. Mother M. Frances was elected their first Mother General. Even from her death bed at the age of 46, Mother M. Frances reminded her fellow sisters to nurse the sick with the greatest care and love, then God’s blessings would follow. Nominees for this category are women who have demonstrated leadership in the Health care profession.

YWCA Young Women’s Service Award

This award is given annually to a high school student who demonstrates exceptional leadership and community service.

The 33rd Annual YWCA Leader Luncheon will be happening on Tuesday, February 15th at the Hotel Pere Marquette in Peoria. Doors open at 11:30. Reserve a seat by RSVP'ing to Kristy Schofield at the Peoria YWCA, 309-685-7655, ext. 211 or email KristyS@ywcapeoria.org.

CLICK HERE to nominate someone.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions SB products, exclusive to Soderstrom Skin Institute, are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. In addition to being "Feel Good Products," they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skin care objectives. This product line contains higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea, than what you can purchase over the counter.