YWCA Metro St. Louis is once again recognizing outstanding women in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, made up of trailblazers who give back to the community in a myriad of ways.
The YWCA will host its annual luncheon honoring the Leaders of Distinction on Thursday, Dec. 12, at St. Louis Union Station. The luncheon recognizes the women who embody the spirit and mission of the YWCA, which is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
This year’s honorees represent a diversity of talents and achievements, representing fields of corporate management, health management, entrepreneurship, racial justice, philanthropy and nonprofit. They include Ruth Kim, general counsel, senior vice president and senior partner, Fleishman Hillard; Dr. Celeste Player, vice president and general manager of operations, Express Scripts, a Cigna Company; Lisa Stump, president, Lashly & Baer, P.C.; Nancy Wolfe, senior vice president, human resources global commercial operations, Bayer Crop Science; Barbara C. Archer, managing director, partner, HighTower St. Louis Wealth Advisors; JoAnne Levy, vice president, Mercy Research, Mercy; Theresa Ruzicka, president, Catholic Charities of St. Louis; Dr. Mary McKay, dean, Washington University in St. Louis, Brown School of Social Work; Alison Ferring, philanthropist and community volunteer.
Future Leader honoree, Kaylin Walters, Nerinx Hall High School, selected from the ranks of impressive area high school seniors; and Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Carol Duhme, in recognition of her decades of work to improve lives in St. Louis.
YWCA has long championed the rights and value of women in the workforce. By publicly recognizing exceptional women, YWCA has amplified their voices, presented role models to young women and drew attention to an under-utilized talent pool. The Leaders of Distinction honorees collectively comprise the YWCA Academy of Leaders, which now numbers in the hundreds, made up of a virtual “Who’s Who” of St. Louis women.
Established in 1858 as a voice for women’s issues, YWCA opened the first employment bureau for women several years later. That was the beginning of more than 150 years of active advocacy and programming for women’s rights and civil rights.
YWCA Metro St. Louis formed in 1904 to provide safe housing for rural women coming to the city to find employment at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition). More than a century later, YWCA Metro St. Louis offers housing for homeless women, crisis intervention, support and counseling for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, economic empowerment for women, early learning, youth and teen development, and racial justice training.
YWCA is a United Way of Greater St. Louis member agency. For more information, visit ywcastl.org.
