Women & Family Life Center Announces Inaugural ‘Shoreline SHEros’ Event
Women & Family Life Center, Guilford Youth & Family Services, Madison Youth & Family Services, Clinton Human Services, and Branford Counseling & Community Services have joined forces to host the inaugural Shoreline SHEros Community Awards which will take place virtually on Saturday, June 6. The event, which was originally scheduled to be hosted in April at the Nathanael B. Greene Community Center in Guilford, will honor women and girls on the Connecticut shoreline who demonstrate compassion and a desire to improve the quality of life for others and who are making a difference in their communities.
A SHEro is a woman or girl who inspires others through her actions. She is a person who leads with kindness, has a desire to help others and is someone who is making a positive change in herself or for others in a community. She could be a friend, neighbor, a teacher, or business owner. Thirty women and girls will be honored in a virtual event on June 6.
“There are so many women and girls in our communities doing so much good for their friends, families, and neighbors that we really wanted a way for our communities to come together and celebrate them. Our hope is that we also inspire even more of our women and girls to be confident in their abilities, pursue their passions, and do good in the world, “ said Women & Family Life Center Executive Director Meghan Scanlon.
Scanlon said the idea for the event came about after the agencies began collaborating after a discussion about the many amazing women and girls making an impact in their communities. Yet what was missing, they found, was an event recognizing them for the work they do and a platform for them to tell their stories.
This year’s keynote speaker is U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. This year’s honorees are:
Chelsea Barron, Branford
Wendy DeLucca, Branford
Joanne Goldblum, Branford
Diane Pappacoda, Branford
Jenna Kareliussen, Clinton
Kelley Edwards, Clinton
Sherry Martini, Clinton
Christine Willett, Clinton
Lauren Kaplan, Madison
Keelin Virgulto, Madison
Jennifer Chapman, Madison
Karen Helburn, Madison
Tara Henry - Madison
Katie Stein, Madison
Martha Wells Hoffman, Madison
Bobbi Jo Evans, East Haven
Mary Angus, Killingworth
Gabriela Garcia-Perez, Guilford
Carrie Bishop Healy, Guilford
Kathy Breed, Guilford
Jennifer Cruet, Guilford
Patricia McGuire, Guilford
Janice Ward, Guilford
Gail O’Leary, Guilford
Kristin Song, Guilford
Shannon Gale, Guilford
Britney Obokovitz-Tasto, Guilford
Liza Petra, Guilford
Marji Lipshez Shapiro, Guilford
Andrea Silber, Guilford
Deborah Heinrich, Guilford
For more information, visit www.womenandfamilylife.org/shero-awards. Honorees will be honored virtually on June 6 at 10 a.m. RSVP via email to info@womenandfamilylife.org. Note “SHEro Awards” in the subject line of the email and include a contact name and an email address to confirm attendance. Guests will receive a link in order to sign in to the virtual event.