Nominate Elgin area women for YWCA honors

The YWCA Elgin will host its 28th annual Leader Luncheon on Thursday, May 12, at The Seville in Streamwood. Now is the time to nominate women from the greater Elgin area.

Do you know a woman in Elgin, or any of the surrounding communities, who has demonstrated qualities of leadership and commitment to excellence in any of the following categories? If so, nominate her for an YWCA Elgin Leader Luncheon Award. Deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. Thursday, March 24.

This event is attended by hundreds of community leaders, businesses, nonprofit agencies and volunteers that acknowledge and honor women in the Elgin area who have made significant contributions to the following categories:

Ÿ Margaret Hillis Award for the Arts: Hillis was the Elgin Symphony Orchestra music director for 14 years and conducted the Chicago Symphony Chorus for 35 years.

Ÿ Beatrice Dorsey Award for Business and Professions: A successful local business woman for 45 years, Dorsey was instrumental in assisting women to succeed in business.

Ÿ Marguerite Henry Award for Communications/Technology: Author of more than 50 books, including children’s classics, Henry held many prestigious national literacy awards.

Ÿ Harriet Gifford and Hattie Griffin Award for Education: Gifford established the first school in Elgin in 1836, initiating the foundation for local educational systems. Hattie Griffin, co-founder of the YWCA Elgin, was an educator for more than 50 years.

Ÿ Myrtle Spiegler Award for Public Service: As the first woman to assume the position of Elgin city clerk, Spiegler designed the city flag and paved the way for women to actively participate in the field of public service.

Ÿ Marie Grolich Award for Social Service: As executive director of the YWCA of Elgin for 20 years, Grolich spearheaded many innovative programs to benefit the entire community.

Ÿ Marjorie Leonard Award for Volunteer/Community Service: As a volunteer and humanitarian, Leonard donated countless hours to civic organizations and social agencies.

Ÿ Racial Justice Award: One award will be given to a woman who has demonstrated achievement and leadership in the field of racial justice.

This year’s keynote speaker is Elizabeth Brackett, a longtime PBS correspondent. She is a host and correspondent for WTTW’s flagship nightly news program “Chicago Tonight.” In addition, she was formerly the Midwest correspondent for “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.”

She is a winner of the prestigious Peabody Award for her political reporting, and has received six local and national Emmys. Brackett has reported on local and national political campaigns, Hurricane Katrina, Chicago school reform, Chicago public housing renovation, and issues related to the environment and the economy.

In addition, she recently defended her world championship title in triathlon in her age group in Budapest, Hungary.

Nomination forms are available online at ywcaelgin.org or call the YWCA at (847) 742-7930 for details.