end the silence of domestic violence!

Please join YWCA Spokane in our 4th annual End the Silence Campaign this October! As October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, YWCA Spokane will be organizing events and campaigns throughout the month that all are invited to join in!

Each year YWCA agencies engage in domestic violence prevention and awareness campaigns during October, Domestic Violence Action Month, an effort established by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1981. In 2019, YWCA Spokane will launch our 4th annual End The Silence campaign.

The End The Silence campaign goal is to stop victim blaming and to ask the community to stand alongside victims and survivors of domestic violence as safe allies, making it know that they are not alone.

Learn More about End the Silence

We ask community members and local businesses to identify themselves as allies for domestic violence victims through a series of easy ways they can join this movement and make a difference throughout October. Last year, our agency focused on preventing domestic violence before it begins by encouraging parents to have courageous conversations with their kiddos on healthy relationships. Through online materials, events for parents and kiddos, or visiting college campuses to talk to young adults about healthy relationships, we helped prevent domestic violence before it ever arose.

Campaigns and event details are not available at this time. Please check back in closer to the date, or follow us on Facebook for updates of easy ways to get involved. Or, consider signing up for our newsletter for updates delivered straight to you!

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2019 Luncheon Registration

YWCA Spokane’s 37th annual Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon is designed to express gratitude for the outstanding contributions of our 2019 award honorees, provide inspiration to the attendees, and raise awareness of domestic abuse in our community. Each year provides a special opportunity to honor high achieving women from Spokane who have gone above and beyond to give back to their community.

Guests are welcome to secure a table at the event, corporate sponsorship, and individual tickets through our online registration forms below or by contacting our Development Team at 509-789-9312 or at woa@ywcaspokane.org. Payment may be received by check or credit card.

This year, YWCA Spokane is also providing a special discounted ticket opportunity for high school age young women to attend the event. Learn more about sponsoring a ticket for a young woman here.

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2019 Women of Achievement Award Honorees

To be awarded a YWCA Women of Achievement Award, a woman must embody YWCA Spokane’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Selected honorees demonstrate leadership through their professional work or service and give generously of themselves to make Spokane a better place for all to live.

The 2019 Women of Achievement Award Honorees:

• Ginger Ewing, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Terrain Spokane – Arts & Culture
• Carla Cicero, President and CEO, Numerica Credit Union – Business & Industry
• Freda Gandy, Executive Director, MLK Community Outreach Center – Carl Maxey Racial & Social Justice
• Susan Ashe, Executive Director, Health Science & Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane – Community Enhancement
• Ann Ciasullo, Professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies and English Department Chair, Gonzaga University – Education
• Traci Ponto, Officer, Spokane Police Department – Government and Public Service
• Anne McClain, Astronaut, NASA – Science, Technology & Environment
• Celestina Barbosa-Leiker, Associate Professor, Washington State University College of Nursing – Science, Technology & Environment
• Christine Dugger, Spokane Valley Youth Voice – Young Woman of Achievement
• Marion Moos, Spokane’s “mother of feminism” – Lifetime Achievement

About The Honorees

2019 Keynote Speaker – Judge Rosemarie Aquilina

Judge Aquilina presided over the USA Gymnastics Team sex abuse scandal involving Larry Nassar, sentencing him to 175 years in prison for the sexual abuse of young women that lasted more than two decades.  By allowing every woman who said they had been sexually assaulted by Nassar face him in court, despite his guilty plea, many say Judge Aquilina empowered these young women and redefined victim testimony.  She gave 156 “sister survivors” the opportunity to face their abuser in court and share their very personal experiences about how his abuse affected them and their families.

In the sentencing hearing where she gave Nassar multiple life sentences, Judge Aquilina said, “I am not special, I am doing my job.  If you come into my courtroom, any Wednesday and watch sentencing, I give everybody a voice. I give defendants a voice, their families when they’re here.  I give the victims a voice.  I try to treat everybody like family because that’s the justice system that I was raised to believe in.”

“There’s likely not a person in this country who hasn’t heard of the scandal involving Larry Nassar,” said YWCA Spokane CEO Regina Malveaux.  “The real household name should be Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, the woman who sentenced Nassar to a lifetime in prison, and equally as importantly, gave those young women a voice and the opportunity to confront the man who stole so much from them. Judge Aquilina gave those survivors new faith and hope, empowering them to empower themselves.”

about Judge Aquilina

Introducing Y-Inspires

A Special Young Woman Gathering With Judge Aquilina

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina has graciously offered to stay after her keynote address at the Women of Achievement luncheon to leed a special presentation for young women of high school age in our community. Learn more here. 

Donate In Honor Of Women Of Achievement

If you are unable to attend this year’s celebration of the outstanding achievements of women in our community, consider making a donation in honor of this year’s award winners. Thank you for your support!

make a donation Today 

Thank you to our Event Committee!

Thank you all for your commitment to our agency. We could not ensure the success of our biggest event of the year without you all!

YWCA Spokane is seeking volunteers who are passionate about our work to volunteer to ensure this year’s luncheon is a great success. Volunteer opportunities include pre-event tasks such as helping at a craft party, setting up decor, or helping during the event. Registration and more information is available here.

Please continue to check back in for news about our 37th Annual Women of Achievement Luncheon, or receive our newsletter for updates delivered directly to you!

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Thank you to our Deeply Valued Event Sponsors!

This awards celebration would not be possible without their incredible support.

Signature sponsor

Keynote Sponsor

Honoree sponsor

GoodGuys sponsor

Photobooth sponsor

Video Production Sponsor

Champion sponsor

Trailblazer Sponsors

Pioneer Sponsors

Corporate sponsors

First Interstate Bank

Global Credit Union

Guardian Life Insurance

Horizon Credit Union

Hoyt, Lewis & Associates

HUB International

Moss Adams

PotlatchDeltic Corporation

Umpqua Bank

U.S. Bank

Wells Fargo

Wendle Ford Nissan

YMCA of the Inland Northwest

Non-profit sponsors

Catholic Charities Eastern Washington

Eastern Washington University

Eastern Washington University, Office for Diversity & Inclusion

Hospice of Spokane

Spokane Fire Department

Spokane Police Major Crimes Unit

Spokane Public Schools

Women & Children’s Free Restaurant & Community Kitchen

WSU College of Nursing

YWCA Spokane’s Women of Achievement Luncheon is our biggest event of the year, with last year’s event gathering over 1,200 dedicated guests and 50 organizations who collectively raised $315,000!

More About Women of Achievement