WEDC to introduce Doyennes at ‘Women Honoring Women’ fundraiser

MADISON COUNTY – The Women’s Economic Development Council or WEDC will present the “Women Honoring Women” virtual fundraiser on Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

The WEDC Board of Directors decided on a virtual format to support social distancing and show responsibility in helping curb COVID-19 infections.

Started in 1998, the WEDC Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization by the founding group, Women’s Economic Development Council. In its first year, the WEDC Foundation assisted one scholar. By August 2019, that number increased to more than 170 scholars benefiting from the foundation.

Vicki Morris is chairing the 2020 event. “The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is all in how you choose to view it,” Morris said. “Our global and national situations are stumbling blocks that could deter our mission, or we could choose to see this as an opportunity to find a new sense of normal, accept our challenges, create alternate paths and continue to thrive.”

“We are going to take the event to a virtual format, and we are going to enlist the help of a few former honorees. They will be our inaugural Doyenne group,” Morris said.

Morris defined a ‘Doyenne’ as a woman knowledgeable or uniquely skilled after years of experience in her field of endeavor. “This is a female, results-oriented leader who possesses the trifecta of power: seniority, authority and rank. This self-confident leader has obtained each of these through the eyes of others, and for our purposes, is also a former Women Honoring Women honoree.”

The 2020 Doyennes are Cathy Anderson, Penny Billings, Sybil Cleveland, Joni Green, Sherry Kolodziejczak, Kim Lewis, Shelia Nash-Stevenson and Alicia Ryan. “Each of these phenomenal female leaders has continued to support the mission of the WEDC Foundation, and they have graciously agreed to join the foundation again this year in a brand-new capacity,” Morris said.

The 2020 fundraising to support the scholars is $100,000. The foundation helps scholars buy books, pay for childcare, pay college fees and miscellaneous expenses. “The foundation is also able to provide professional development workshops for our scholars that help them better prepare to join the workforce,” Morris said.

For details about the broadcast, visit Facebook/WEDC Foundation. For more information, visit wedcfoundation.org.