40 Years of Impact: A Look Back at the 2024 Women of Distinction Luncheon
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the 40th anniversary Women of Distinction Luncheon. Even if you couldn’t join us, we hope this recap gives you a chance to experience the incredible afternoon we shared.
Record-Breaking Attendance and Community Support
This year’s event was one for the books. More than 650 people attended, our largest audience ever, and with record-breaking sponsorship support, we raised over $200,000 in contributions.
We also announced a landmark $236,000 in grant funding to local nonprofits doing vital work to improve the quality of life for women and girls in Waukesha County.
The luncheon was filled with inspiring stories, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact. We are incredibly proud of our 2024 honorees and their remarkable work. Their dedication and passion are a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we come together as a community.
Honoring 2024’s New Hope Scholarship Recipients
We were proud to award three New Hope Scholarships in 2024. These scholarships empower women seeking a fresh start through education by easing the financial burden of tuition. They are specifically designed for women who could not attend or had to leave a post-secondary institution and are now returning to continue their academic journey.
Please join us in congratulating our 2024 recipients:
- Brooke Helzer, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Jacqulynn Knutson, Waukesha County Technical College
- Rumela Lyons, Carroll University
We are grateful to work with UW-Milwaukee Waukesha, WCTC, and Carroll University to help support these students.
What $236,000 in Grants Made Possible in 2024
In 2024, the Women and Girls Fund awarded $236,000 in grants to 17 trusted nonprofit partners working to improve the quality of life for women and girls in Waukesha County. These organizations are addressing urgent needs in our community, and we are proud to support their efforts.
Here are just a few of the ways that funding helped expand their impact:
- Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County used its grant to support construction at Domenica Park, the county’s largest affordable housing development, which includes ten homes for women-led households.
- Community Smiles Dental provided essential dental care to women and girls who otherwise would not have access, improving both health and quality of life.
- Wellpoint Care Network expanded trauma-informed mental health services in schools and equipped teachers to support students’ emotional well-being in the classroom.
- SHARP Literacy brought its Design Through Code program to elementary students in high-need schools, helping girls build early confidence in tech and problem-solving.
- LOTUS Legal Clinic offered free legal services and therapeutic art programming to survivors of sexual violence and trafficking, with a focus on supporting historically marginalized women.
Each of these programs reflects what is possible when community-based organizations have the support they need to do what they do best.
Read the full list of our 2024 grant partners here.
Reflecting on the 40th Women of Distinction Luncheon
As we look back on the 40th anniversary Women of Distinction Luncheon, we remain deeply grateful to everyone who made the event such a powerful success. Your support through attendance, contributions, and continued commitment helped carry that impact forward.
We are proud to have celebrated four decades of investing in women and girls, and we look forward to continuing that legacy in the years ahead.
