YWCA Lake County's Women of Achievement Luncheon

YWCA LAKE COUNTY TO HONOR STATE SENATOR MELINDA BUSH WITH WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Author Rebecca Skloot Will Deliver Keynote Speech at Annual Women of Achievement Event

Lincolnshire, Ill., April 21, 2017 -- YWCA Lake County's (YWCALC) President and CEO, Treopia Cannon announced the honorees Friday afternoon for their 39th Annual Women of Achievement (WOA) Leadership Luncheon on May 18, 2017, at Noah's Event Place, Lincolnshire, IL. State Senator Melinda Bush will be recognized and receive the Women of Achievement Award for Civic Leadership, along with five other women achievers selected from specialized fields. The WOA event honors a diverse group of women whose outstanding contributions and achievements embody YWCALC's mission and core values. Other honorees and their respective award categories are: Merced Alfaro, Education; Dr. Frances Baxley, MD, Health; Daphne Dickens-King, Racial Justice; Jiquanda Nelson, Emerging Leader; and Imani Bah, a senior at New Tech High School at Zion-Benton who will receive the $1,000 Young Woman of Achievement Scholarship Award.

"We are delighted to honor Senator Bush and our distinguished awardees, as we applaud their outstanding contribution in making our communities, just, safer and healthier, especially for women, children and their families, " said Cannon.

Special guest speaker and best-selling author Rebecca Skloot will deliver a keynote speech and autograph copies of her New York Times bestseller "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball adapted the book for an HBO film of the same name. The film stars Oprah Winfrey as Lacks' daughter Dorothy, Rose Byrne as Skloot, and Hamilton's Renée Elise Goldsberry as Henrietta Lacks. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks aired on Saturday, April 22, at 7 p.m. CST.

"There are ethical and racial implications embedded into Henrietta Lacks' story," said Cannon. "Rebecca spent over ten years researching this story, and we believe her experience can educate and inspire our local women and leaders to build a better Lake County."

For the past 38 years, attendees of the WOA event have been inspired by the extraordinary lives of women recognized annually. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 AM and concludes at 1:30 PM. Doors will open at 11:00 AM Please use this link for table and ticket purchase: http://www.ywcalakecounty.org/2017woa

This event is our signature fundraising event, proceeds from which directly fund our community-wide programs that serve over 30,000 women, children and families in Lake County and neighboring areas.

The 39th Annual Women of Achievement Leadership Luncheon is one of a series of events planned for YWCA Lake County's 95th anniversary celebration. The luncheon honors five women who exemplify excellence in their field and work on behalf of racial or economic justice, equal opportunity and enhancement of quality of life.