YWCA Greater Cleveland will honor nine remarkable women whose leadership and service have made a difference in Northeast Ohio during its Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony at Severance Hall on Wednesday, June 4.
The celebration is more than a fundraising event, according to the YWCA — it is an evening of inspiration, an event with impact.
As YWCA’s signature fundraiser, the event supports programs that provide housing, mental health services, early childhood education and workforce development for those facing life’s greatest challenges.
“With federal funding for vulnerable communities increasingly at risk, community support is more vital than ever,” said Helen Forbes Fields, president and CEO of YWCA Greater Cleveland. “These honorees are living proof of our mission in action—they champion success and show what is possible.”
The honorees were selected through a competitive nomination process launched in August 2024. They were officially announced at a November reception hosted by KeyBank. This year’s Women of Achievement honorees are:
- Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley – Former U.S. ambassador c to Malta; president emeritus, Middle East Policy Council
- Trina Bediako – CEO, New Horizons Baking Co.
- U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown – 11th District
- Michelle Hereford – System chief nurse executive; Ethel Morikis Endowed Chair, University Hospitals
- Kelly Lamirand – Cleveland Market president, KeyBank
- Deborah Lindway – EVP, Bank security Officer and tech exec, PNC Bank
- Jazmin Long – President & CEO, Birthing Beautiful Communities
- Claire Rosacco – VP, Government Relations & Community Outreach, Cuyahoga Community College
- Renee Willis – Executive director, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
Tickets to the YWCA Greater Cleveland’s Women of Achievement Awards on June 4 can be purchased at ywcaofcleveland.org.
