The 29th Annual Academy for Women of Achievement
2020 CO-CHAIRS | PATRICIA PIERCE, YVONNE WOOD, & KENDRA DEAS
Watch the 2020 AWA Broadcast by clicking this LINK. (12 p.m. CST on Oct. 22, 2020)
To support this year’s event, see details below!
To ensure the health and safety of our community, we are planning a unique series of events for the 29th annual Academy for Women of Achievement! We are inviting the broader Nashville community to join us in celebrating the 2020 honorees and supporting the work of YWCA by purchasing a virtual ticket or hosting a small gathering in their homes or businesses!
YWCA is monitoring the region’s current health situation and following all local guidelines. Program format will be adjusted if needed.
2020 Academy for Women of Achievement Honorees:
Jacky Akbari
Founder & Managing Principal,
Worthington Advisory
Lisa Campbell
Community Volunteer
Janet Miller
CEO Marketing Leader/Partner,
Colliers International
Sabina Mohyuddin
Executive Director,
American Muslim Advisory Council
Dr. Jennifer Pietenpol
Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center,
VUMC
Gini Pupo-Walker
State Director,
The Education Trust
LoLita Toney
CEO/Founder,
Ivy Business Solutions
Christie Wilson
CEO,
The Wilson Group Real Estate Services
2020 Academy for Women of Achievement Corporate Honoree:
Cummins Inc.
Virtual Celebration Options
From the comfort of your home with friends or at the office with coworkers, host a gathering on the evening of October 21st to celebrate and honor this year’s Academy for Women of Achievement honorees. These parties provide an opportunity for you to share your passion for the mission of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, have conversations on eliminating racism and empowering women, and celebrate the women leading this movement!
We ask all parties and gatherings to adhere to the current CDC guidelines. It is recommended that no more than 25 people gather at a time, all while practicing safe social distancing and wearing a mask or facial covering.
YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee will supply you with:
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AWA branded materials
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Branded cocktail napkins
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Signature swag to share with your guests! Academy for Women of Achievement programs, face masks, hand sanitizer, and more!
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A packet of information and talking points to help guide you through discussions
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A link to pre-recorded videos with a YWCA mission moment and videos of the honorees
As a host you commit to:
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Provide food and beverages for your guests
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Serve as our advocate for the event
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Commit to a goal of raising a minimum of $2,500 at your party. We suggest asking your guests to consider a minimum donation of $200 per person (cost of an individual AWA ticket). We will provide easy ways for your guests to give.
Purchase a virtual table to participate from your own home or office, on your own or with friends, to support the work of YWCA and celebrate our honorees. These virtual tables are not limited to the amount of participants!
Virtual Table: $2,000
By purchasing a virtual table, you will receive:
- Party favors (YWCA branded face masks, printed event programs, and more!)
- Your name or your company’s name listed on our website as Virtual Table Host
- Your name or your company’s name mentioned during the live event as a Virtual Table Host
Join in the celebration from the comfort of your own home! Since AWA will be virtual this year, we encourage those interested in tuning in to the live event to consider donating the price of a ticket. By purchasing a virtual ticket, the YWCA team will provide you with party favors – including YWCA branded face masks, printed event programs, and more!
Virtual Ticket minimum donation: $200
Proceeds from the AWA help fund the programs of YWCA, including the Weaver Domestic Violence Center, the largest provider of domestic violence services in the state. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, email our Sr. Director of Marketing & Development, Shannon Lapsley.
She Persisted
This year is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment – which states that “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Though this was a major milestone for women’s equality, it wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that African American women would be able to exercise this right more freely. The fight for women’s equality didn’t stop with the Woman Suffrage Movement. Thus, throughout history, women have had to persevere and prove they belong – whether it was in the voting booth or the board room, City Hall or the halls of Congress. That’s why the theme for this year’s Academy for Women of Achievement program is “She Persisted.” Our new and former inductees into the AWA have shown up in their communities and proven that their persistence is critical in fighting for racial, gender, and religious equality.
About the Academy for Women of Achievement
YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee has served women and families for more than 122 years and works to advance the quality of life for women of all ages, races, and faiths. Our programs and services help them move from safety to self-sufficiency. YWCA exists to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Each year, YWCA pays tribute to women who are making significant contributions to our community. Academy for Women of Achievement honorees are passionate about empowering women and they make Nashville a more inclusive, informed, just, healthy, and thriving place to live. The AWA was launched locally in 1992 by YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee. The AWA honors women who, through excellence and leadership in their chosen fields, serve as role models for other women. This year’s recipients will join 171 other women who were honored previously with this distinction. The Academy’s independent judging committee, composed of community and business leaders, select honorees from an exceptional list of nominees.
Thank you to our 2020 Academy for Women of Achievement Sponsors for their generous support!
Dignity Sponsor
Signature Sponsors
Freedom Sponsor
Peace Sponsors
Justice Sponsors
Advocacy Sponsors
Thank you to our event production partner:
Thank you to our 2020 Academy for Women of Achievement Virtual Hosts:
View images from our 2019 Academy for Women of Achievement dinner and induction ceremony below. A special thanks to Pat Casey Daley for the beautiful photos.
