Through the generosity of sponsors, donors and community members, the success of the 2024 Susan B. Anthony-Women of Influence Awards (SBA-WOI) Dinner is resulting in a record amount of money being given to Kenosha area non-profit organizations.
At the March 22 SBA-WOI event, the organization was able to raise the full $19,570 in grant funds requested by the eight non-profit organizations that applied for and were selected to
receive funds. The money raised at the event came from a combination of event ticket sales, raffle ticket sales, flower sales and silent auction item sales. The silent auction received a record
in sales at $2,200.
Non-profits request a specific amount of funds and SBA-WOI awards money raised at the event.
“I’m so pleased that we were able to grant the full amounts requested by the non-profit organizations, which all do such phenomenal work for families in Kenosha County,” said Amanda Blommel, SBA-WOI president. “We have such a generous community. It was wonderful to see so many people attend the event and support non-profit organizations, scholarship winners and to honor women in Kenosha County.”
The nonprofit organizations selected to receive funds in 2024 are:
• Boys & Girls Club for its SMART Girls program, $2,766;
• ELCA Outreach Center for its Feminine Products project, $1,722;
• Hope Council for its Loved Ones Group, $2,650;
• KAFASI for its Power Her with Essentials program, $4,000;
• Kenosha Literacy Council for its Lifting Women’s Voices project, $1,200;
• Shalom Center for its Shelter Bus Tokens program, $3,000;
• Sharing Center for its Hygiene Supplies program, $1,500, and
• Society’s Assets for its Advocacy in Action program, $2,732.
In addition to non-profit grants, money raised at the annual SBA-WOI event goes toward scholarships for nontraditional-aged women (25 years or older) pursuing higher education. 2024 Scholarships are: Shannon Adamczyk, who is studying accounting at the College of Lake County, and Lisa Kurman, studying for her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Each received $2,500.
The 33rd Annual event, which was held at the DeSimone Arena at UW-Parkside, was attended by 422 people. The 2024 honorees were Lifetime Achievement Award winner Rebecca Matoska-Mentink, Kenosha County Clerk of Circuit Courts and is an active volunteer in many area organizations; Nakeisha “Nikki” Dennard Payne, who serves on a number of boards, including United Way of Kenosha County, the NAACP and the Coalition for Dismantling Racism, in the category of Business/Government/Nonprofit; Rebecca Stevens, who has served on the Kenosha Unified School District Board for 16 years, in the category of Arts/Education; and Jenna Zeihen, founder of Soul Space Kenosha, and Miss Kenosha 2022, in the category of Woman to Watch (for women under 40).
The SBA-WOI Dinner is sponsored by AAUW-Kenosha Branch, Tempo Kenosha and the Kenosha Women’s Network. The SBA-WOI was created to recognize and honor women in Kenosha County who believe in and honor equity, give of themselves so that other women might learn, grow, advance and succeed, provide inspiration thought their leadership, and serve in Kenosha County.
For more information about SBA-WOI, email susanbdinner@gmail.com, or visit the organization on Facebook @Susan B. Anthony-Women of Influence Awards.