The 23rd Annual YWCA Leader Luncheon attracted a sold out crowd of more than 650 people, a near-record number. YWCA Leader Luncheon Chair Beverly Johnson Thomas recognized all past Leader Luncheon Award recipients, giving special recognition to Lorene Ramsey, recipient of the 8th Annual Legend Award.

Keynote Speaker Sharon Farmer, former director of White House photography, gave attendees a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes workings of the Clinton Administration. Farmer said it was gratifying to see the number of women in positions of power within the U.S. government, and towards the end of her tenure, in governments around the world.

The YWCA of Peoria Board of Directors, including President Donna Maracacci and Executive Director Pam Schubach was also in attendance. Board members include: Jennie Armstrong, Bettsey Barhorst, Patricia Barton, Linda Beckman, Dee Bent, Alma Brown, Virnette House-Browning, Barbara Duryea, Mary Etrick, Pat Hagenbuch, Shirley Jones, Diana Kennedy, Sue Kingery, Rosie Langfels, Tory McCord, Roberta Parks, Mary Ann Penn, Laura Rager, Julie Rock, Marsha Swardenski, Beverly Johnson Thomas, Sandra Traicoff, Mary Jane West, and Sharon Yeakley.

The Julia Proctor White Arts and Education Award is given to a woman who displays leadership in education or the arts.

The Edythe A. Cohen Business and Industry Award is given to a woman who exhibits leadership in a local business, not-for-profit organization or government body.

The Lydia Moss Bradley Communications Award is given to a woman who is a leader in any communications field, such as journalism, marketing, or public relations.

The Eliza Pindell Community Service Award is given to a woman who displays leadership in civic, charitable, religious and other community activities.

The Valeska S. Hinton Human Rights Award is given to a woman who helps improve the quality of life in our community by advocating equal rights for all people.

The Mother M. Frances Krasse Professions Award is given to a woman who excels as a lawyer, doctor, nurse or other professional.

The YWCA Young Woman’s Community Service Award is given to a high school aged woman who excels in the areas of leadership and community service.

The Julia Proctor White Arts and Education Award

Andrea Lister is a former District 150 teacher, art instructor at Lakeview and Praise and Leadership Academy, and currently a full-time artist. She received her bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University, and her master of arts degree from the University of Illinois.

She’s been an Artist in Residence at the Contemporary Art Center in Peoria since 1997, and served on its board of directors since 1998. She is also a member of the National Art Education Association, the Illinois Art Education Association, the Peoria Art Guild, and the Artist Coalition of Central Illinois—Women’s Art Group.

Lister said her call to education was a natural fit. "I have a love of children, and education was always very important in my family. I had some very good teachers who inspired me."

Her community involvement includes serving: as secretary for the Peoria Medical Society Alliance for two years; a founding board member of Hult Health Education Center; on the Family House board of directors; as chair of various teams at First United Methodist Church; and as the organizer of the Bear Buddy, Book Buddy, and Best Buddies, and Arts Place programs at Irving Primary School.

"In 1994, Andrea approached the congregation at First United Methodist about participating in a program that paired church members with students from Irving School," said Linda Couri, vice president of the Peoria Medical Society Alliance. "The initial program began with all 50 of the Irving second graders, and the plan called for church families to send letters and photos, small gifts and treats to their students. To make a connection, teddy bears were selected to serve as non-threatening couriers."

Before long, the students and church families alike wanted to meet each other. The program soon became an overwhelming success, and grew to include other grades and other "Buddy" projects. "Through a simple idea from a group of friends, countless volunteer hours and the tireless efforts and organization of Andrea, these programs at Irving thrive," said Couri.

Lister said she gets as much from the Book Buddy programs as do the kids. "The best part, for me, is developing relationships with the children and their families, and experiencing the joy of the volunteers, the staff at Irving, and the participants."

She received the 1996 J.C. Penny Golden Rule Award, the 1998 Illinois State Board of Education "Those Who Excel" award, and the 1999 Illinois State Medical Society Alliance Humanitarian Award.

"Winning the Julia Proctor White award is such an honor because when I look over the legacy, people who received the award, it’s such outstanding company, and it’s just such an honor," she said.

Edythe A. Cohen Business & Industry Award

Dr. Barbara Hartnett is the executive director of RiverTech Center in Peoria, a center designed to further education and business technology.

Upon graduating from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in psychology, she began her career in education as a special education and elementary school teacher for District 150. She went on to the department of psychology at Illinois State University, and from 1972 to 1973 was a counselor, psychology instructor, and dorm director for Lincoln College.

Illinois Central College was where she made her home as a professor of psychology for 18 years. Hartnett served as director of QUEST Model Transfer program and director of Adult Re-Entry Services from 1986 to 1991. During this time she founded the Women’s Chautauqua Lecture Series and Scholarship Fund.

Hartnett said the most satisfying aspect of her job is "making a difference in the lives of women who are coming off welfare. Through the RiverTech Center, we’re in the process of finishing up a program and we took women who were either the working poor who had gotten their first job off of welfare and taught them various job skills."

In the Peoria community she has served as vice president for planning, Heart of Illinois United Way; founder and president Illinois Chapter, American Association of Women in Community Colleges; vice president, Peoria Chapter of Planned Parenthood; and co-chair of Peoria Women’s Coalition.

She said that while she had many reasons to build a career helping the underprivileged, there was one guiding force. "It was the influence of my mother more than anything else. I was raised with the idea that you owe it back to the community ... it’s just in the blood."

Hartnett’s professional organizations include: American Association of Community Colleges, National Association for Women in Education, National Council on Community Services and Continuing Education, and Peoria Area Labor Management.

In 1974 she received her M.S. in psychology from Illinois State University, and in 1994 she received her Ed.D. in Adult Education from Northern Illinois University.

Hartnett also completed additional study at the American Management Institute in 1985 and the Masters and Johnson Institute in 1979, and Illinois State University in 1978 and 1990.

She said winning the Edythe A. Cohen award is wonderful. "You work in the darkness most of your life, as it should be. You don’t need it, but it’s so wonderful for everyone to have a little light shown. Not just for yourself, but for what you’ve worked for—the cause—and hopefully people think ‘yes, there’s work to be done,’ and carry on long after I’m gone."

Lydia Moss Bradley Communications Award

Monica Vest Wheeler earned her journalism degree from the University of Evansville, working on her hometown newspaper during college breaks. She served as a reporter and then managing editor of the Tazewell News and the Peoria Observer for 12 years before starting her own business, Write Away, where she writes and designs newsletters, brochures, and other printed materials for businesses and organizations.

Combining her love of writing and history, in 1994 she published The Grandest Views, a 200-page centennial history on the Peoria Park District—doing all of the interviewing, research, writing and design. She received a community service award from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, and the Illinois Association of Park Districts for her work on the book.

Wheeler said she’s never considered another career. "It’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve been writing since I was a little kid; I discovered newspapers when I was in high school, and was able to worke on ‘real’ newspapers. What I know how to do is communicate with people through writing, and helping people promote their causes."

Wheeler also wrote three other history books—Peoria Business: A Pictorial History, published in 1998; Reading, Writing and Religion: A Pictorial History of Peoria’s Schools and Churches, published in 1999; and Peoria Entertainment: A Pictorial History, published in 2000. She has been asked to write a fourth book in this series.

"The history books have been a lot of fun. I’ve met so many really wonderful people. I like to make history fun, and I’m reaching a lot of different people. I’m reaching kids now."

She has held numerous offices for the Public Relations Association of Central Illinois, including president, treasurer, and newsletter editor. A member of the Heart of Illinois United Way marketing and communications committee, she worked on editorial content for the publication commemorating the organization’s 75th anniversary. She also served on the YWCA board and the YWCA Leader Luncheon committee, and joined the Friends of the Cullom-Davis Library at Bradley University in 1999.

Through her association with the Pilot Club of Peoria service organization—where she served as president for two years and secretary for two years—she assisted with such community activities as an annual style show benefiting the Peoria Association for Retarded Citizens.

She said winning the Lydia Moss Bradley award leaves her speechless. "I’m in good company: just look at some of the previous winners and their accomplishments.This means more to me than I know how to convey; that’s pretty bad for the communications winner. I never imagined I’d be receiving this award."

Eliza Pindell Community Service Award

Theresa Heidrich attended Northern Illinois University, where she received both her R.N. and B.S.N. nursing degrees. She then attended the University of Memphis for graduate studies in counseling.

Heidrich has worked as a critical care RN; a former medical surgical RN at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center; an open heart step down nurse at Methodist Medical Center; a burn intensive care nurse and instructor, in Michigan; and an early childhood and parenting instructor for the Minneapolis Public School System. She is vice president of Heidrich Farms.

She was a founding member of the Peoria Zoological Society; an executive committee member of the annual Zoo to Do, serving as its chairman in 1999; chairman of the site committee for long range Zoo planning; and the Zoo spokesperson for 2000-2001.

"I have a personal philosophy, and the recording artist Al Jeroe probably summed it up the best when he wrote, ‘there are no extra people in this world: the forgotten, the remembered, those in mansions, those in ghettos, those of privilege, those who are not privileged, the healthy, the unhealthy. If you look across the table, if you look across the ocean, you’ll see that each soul matters and each soul counts, and we’re all God’s gift to the world, so let’s love and make this world a better place.’ That sums up a lot of what I feel," she said.

Other community involvement includes serving as Father Sweeney School’s board president from 1997 to 1999; co-chair of strategic planning in 1997; chair of its 35th Anniversary Committee, and its annual fund drive in 1998; and chairman and creator of the annual raffle.

What drives her to be so active in the community?

"Fifteen years ago I made the commitment that I would work as a volunteer, and started that goal with the Junior League of Memphis. Every project I’ve chosen has been focused around children and families," she said.

She is also involved with St. Thomas School, the Pediatric Resource Center, the Women’s Fund of Peoria, the Junior League of Peoria, and the Peoria Symphony, among others.

Heidrich said receiving the Eliza Pindell award means a lot to her. "It’s a real acknowledgment of a lot of personal commitments; it’s an acknowledgment not just of my goals but the goals of so many groups and individuals I’ve had the opportunity to work with. On a personal level, it’s given in the name of a woman my husband greatly admired, so it has a lot of personal meaning for me in that sense. I also have a great deal of respect for the women who have won it in the past, so it really means a lot based on the quality of nominations that were received in this category."

Valeska S. Hinton Human Rights Award

Lee Anderson is the director of SeniorStrength, a program of the Center for Prevention of Abuse. Since assuming the position 12 years ago, the program has expanded from one full-time and one part-time employee to 13 full-time and three part-time employees. The number of persons served has grown from less than 100 to 600 cases annually.

Prior to taking the position at SeniorStrength, she served as administrator for the Lexington House Corp., and attained a Six Star Quality rating from the State of Illinois—the highest rating given to a facility for outstanding resident care.

Anderson was later appointed regional administrator for a long-term care corporation with facilities in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

"Lee’s career has been built around serving older persons, an often forgotten group," said Martha Herm, director of The Center for the Prevention of Abuse. "She has made an important contribution in the Peoria area for setting very high standards for their treatment, enhancing the awareness of senior issues throughout the entire community, and has offered prevention education opportunities to stem the rate of abuse and criminal harm to seniors."

In addition to casework, she brought a prevention program to SeniorStrength called Operation Senior Security—an educational program presented to groups of seniors that explains ways to avoid scams, fraud and abuse.

She also instituted the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, allowing caseworkers to investigate abuse allegations of seniors living in licensed nursing homes.

She said her career choice was a natural fit to her personality. "Ever since I was a small child, I’ve had a real affinity for older people. I found them to be extremely interesting, very caring, very giving, and I liked their company. I always pursued that, and sought them out."

Community involvement includes serving as: chair of the Elder Victims Committee of the 10th Judicial Circuit Court Family Violence Coordinating Council, co-chair of the Elder Abuse Advisory Committee, a member of the Mayor of Peoria’s Senior Citizen’s Commission, on Gov. Ryan’s Elder Abuse Task Force, and on the Illinois State University Department of Criminal Justice Professional Advisory Committee.

Anderson said she is proud to receive the Valeska S. Hinton award. "It’s a recognition of the hard work so many people have put in while working for the protection of older people. Being a voice for them when sometimes they’re not able to speak on their own behalf, and of course for the Center for Prevention of Abuse, to help people to know that we are there, and all they have to do is pick up the phone."

Mother M. Frances Krasse Professions Award

Mary McDade is an appellate judge in the Third District Court of Appeals—a district which includes 21 counties in central Illinois. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, and a law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. During her campaign for judgeship, the Illinois Bar Association conducted a poll that rates judge candidates—she had an annual approval rating of 82.1, and was recommended as "well qualified."

McDade said she enjoys the pace of sitting on the bench. "The best part, for me, is relaxation of the stress of practicing law and preparing for a trial, and the knowledge that I have a little more opportunity to have an impact in the decision making. I really appreciate being a larger spectrum of the law than I was a practitioner."

As an attorney, she specialized in two of the more complex areas of law: federal civil rights law, and libel and slander law. Of the more than 500 lawyers in the Peoria area, she was among the select group admitted to argue cases in the federal court system.

Professional accomplishments include being named a partner in the law firm of Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorius in Peoria, from 1990 to 2000; and a distinguished alumnus to the U of I College of Law in 1999.

McDade was also named to the Illinois State Bar Association (and its civil practice and procedure section council, Trial Briefs editor.)

What led her to pursue a career in law? "I grew up in the middle of the civil rights movement. My family was very involved with civil rights, and it was apparent to me growing up that law was the way to make changes and improvements. So I decided I would be a lawyer," she said.

Active in the community, she has served on the task force, and board of education, responsible for overseeing development of an alternative, charter school for students expelled from Peoria area schools; the Teen Pregnancy Task Force; the Tri-County Urban League board of directors; the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate board of directors; the Peoria Public Library board of directors; the Eureka College board of trustees; and the Peoria School District board of education. She is also a founding member of the Comprehensive Mental Health Board of Central Illinois, a forerunner of the Human Service Center.

She said winning the Mother M. Frances Krasse award is well appreciated. "It’s a great honor. I’ve been involved in the Peoria community since 1965, and it’s nice to have the contributions recognized. I do have to say I was shocked; I didn’t know I was a nominee, so when they started reading it, and I realized it was me, I thought, ‘What’s going on here?’ It was a real surprise."

YWCA Young Woman’s Community Service Award

Catrina DeBord, a senior at Woodruff High School, won this first-time award, and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin in the College of Letters and Sciences next Fall.

During her time at Woodruff, she participated in various extracurricular activities, including: a two-week trip to Mexico with a youth group to build a house for the new pastor of a local church, volunteered as a math tutor, assisted in grade school after care, presented holiday musical programs in nursing homes, helped collect canned goods for various food drives, worked at the annual Jaycee’s Haunted House, and planned and organized several school dances.

She said it can be a challenge to fit in all of her activities while going to school full-time, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. "It’s not easy; I don’t sleep much. But there are so many people who can use a helping hand at times. It can be a challenge to find extra time; you just have to make time to help those less fortunate than yourself."

DeBord also participated in Key Club for three years, and served on the student council for four years. She currently serves on the Principal-Student Advisory Board, and the Class of 2001 Advisory Board.

While her activities keep her busy, it doesn’t mean she isn’t making plans for the future. "Right now I’m busy saving money to go to Europe this Summer. I’m going to the University of Wisconsin-Madison next year, and although I haven’t decided on a major yet, I’m thinking about law or business."

During her high school career, she received the following awards: the David C. Wright Leadership Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Youth Academic Excellence, the Optimist Club Award for Youth Excellence, and was an eight-time Lamp of Knowledge winner.

She also received the following honors: Who’s Who Among American High School Athletes, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, Illinois State Scholar, Woodruff Honor Society, National Honor Society, and the Foreign Language Honor Society.

"Her outstanding grades speak for her excellence in academics, and her involvement with Woodruff and the community through student council speak well for her character," said Matthew Clark, an English teacher and student council advisor at Woodruff.

DeBord was also active in athletics at Woodruff, and was an eight-time Mid-State Six Athletic-Academic Award winner, a four-year varsity soccer letter winner, a three-year varsity swimming letter winner, and a one-year varsity tennis letter winner.

DeBord said winning the YWCA award was a surprise. "I was amazed I got it. One of the girls I was up against is a friend of mine, and I know she does an amazing amount, so I wasn’t expecting to win at all." TPW