ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Commission for Women (CFW) seeks nominations of women, men and youth who have made a significant impact on women and girls in Alexandria.
Winners will be honored at the Commission’s 38th annual Salute to Women Awards: The Future is Female event on March 23, 2020 at 6 p.m. at The Lyceum: Alexandria’s History Museum (201 S. Washington St., Alexandria). Proceeds support the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Program and other programs benefitting women and girls in the city of Alexandria.
2020 Award Categories
The Susan Lowell Butler Lifetime Achievement Award – The Commission for Women created the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. The Commission named Susan Lowell Butler the first recipient of the award, posthumously, for her dedication to women’s equality and well-being. Susan Lowell Butler served on the Commission for Women from 1997-2010 and chaired the Commission in 2001. The award, now named in Susan’s honor, is to be given to a woman who has exhibited a lifetime commitment to advancing opportunities and/or enhancing the quality of life for women and/or girls in the City of Alexandria.
The Marguerite Payez Leadership Award – In 1983, the Commission established the Marguerite Payez Leadership Award as a tribute to the memory of and to recognize the valuable work Ms. Payez contributed to the community. Marguerite Payez was appointed to the Commission in 1979 and was active in our community until her death in 1982. This award will be given to a woman who, through volunteer work, has exhibited leadership qualities and has trained other women to assume leadership roles in the community.
Youth Community Services Award – This award recognizes a young woman (16-24 years of age) whose service activities provide a model for other women and/or girls in the community.
The Marian Van Landingham Legislation and Public Policy Award – This award recognizes a woman who has made a significant contribution to the status of women through advocating for issues of importance to women. This award may be for work in such areas as developing improvements in services offered by government or advocating for educational issues.
The Vola Lawson Award – This award recognizes a City employee who, like Vola Lawson, made a significant contribution to the well-being, improving the lives or otherwise contributed to the status of women in the City of Alexandria during the course of his/ her job. This award may be given to current City employees or those who have resigned or retired from City employment within the past two years.
Donna Bergheim Cultural Affairs Award – This award recognizes a woman for her artistic endeavors in facilitating creative expression and personal growth in women and/or girls in our community like Donna Bergheim, who passed away in 2010.
SEE: Past Salute to Women Winners
The Salute to Women Awards began in the 1980s to recognize the efforts and achievements of women who have made important and enduring contributions to the Alexandria community.
Together We Bake, recipient of the 2016 Leadership in Business and Career Development Award, experienced an increase in interest from the Alexandria community after the award drew attention to its mission of empowering women — thus, highlighting the award’s significance locally.
All nominations must be submitted to the Department of Community and Human Services by the close of business on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Nomination forms can be completed online. For more information, contact Maribel Ramos at [email protected].
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