2022 Business and Industry Award Honoree

Congratulations Nancy!

Thank You for Living Out YWCA Spokane’s Mission

Nancy Mahoney is a long-time Spokane resident with deep roots in the business and philanthropic community, who has been committed to raising up women along the path of her career. Nancy’s impact for women in business began nearly 40 years ago when she started her career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a notoriously male-dominated industry at the time. She quickly established herself as a fast learner, hard worker and valued team player and opened the door for more women to join the profession. Women now comprise 40 percent of CPA positions because of trailblazers like Nancy, who showed hard work and tenacity in the industry to break through barriers.

In 1980, Nancy established a local sprinkler and landscaping company with her husband, Gary, and successfully guided the financial and administrative operations of the small business for over 38 years. Her business acumen and CPA credentials served her well while growing and managing Dew Drop Sprinklers & Landscaping. Not content to simply make a living for her family, she took the opportunity to live out her values of service, stewardship, generosity and compassion through her small business. She hired and mentored women and minorities, expanded employee benefits to help employees balance work and family needs, and handled employee issues and difficult life circumstances with kindness and flexibility. The company demonstrated a compassionate approach to employees with addiction issues, providing financial support during addiction treatment, and most importantly, a second chance.

Nancy has a long and impressive track record of giving back in the Spokane community. Her professional training as a CPA led to involvement in the financial aspects of nonprofits, serving both Women Helping Women Fund and Women & Children’s Free Restaurant as board treasurer. Nancy’s leadership abilities and altruistic spirit resulted in her also serving as board president of each of these organizations. Whether she is creating an annual report, balancing a budget or lending a listening ear to a struggling mother, Nancy works toward interdependence and creating shared vision.

Community involvement is a passion in Nancy’s life and her volunteer hours are endless. She led a capital campaign for Millwood Community Presbyterian Church which resulted in the Millwood Community Center that now hosts community events and meetings, including youth groups and various support groups. Nancy also served on the West Valley School District Curriculum Committee for over 16 years.

As supporters of Hutton Settlement, Nancy and Gary opened their home for many years as a Friendship Family.  They were foster parents and their home remained open, even after those children aged out of the program. Remarkably this was during the time they were raising their two daughters, Molly and Katie, and running their business.

Social justice is woven into Nancy’s family legacy. Her grandmother rode her horse to cast her first vote in 1920. Her mother’s passion for human rights was ignited at a young age when she witnessed the inhumane living conditions at a Japanese internment camp in Idaho during World War II, and her family were some of the first in the area to rent land to Japanese families after being released. These events instilled a lifelong respect for other people and a commitment to human dignity in Nancy’s mother, Colleen Mahoney, and ultimately in Nancy. She has carried forward this family legacy of community activism.

Nancy was instrumental in setting up the Dean and Colleen Mahoney Fund at the Innovia Foundation. The fund is dedicated to advancing causes in the Lewiston- Clarkston Valley through supporting organizations such as Lewis-Clark State College and the YWCA shelter for domestic violence survivors, and through college scholarships awarded to women, minorities and veterans.

Nancy exemplifies leadership in her field of expertise, serves as a role model to other women and girls and gives back to the community. Her deep understanding that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, her moral courage, and her vision that today’s actions will influence the future are her unique gifts to the greater Spokane area. YWCA Spokane is honored to present Nancy Mahoney with the 2022 Women of Achievement award for Business and Industry.

Dawn Wolski | Nancy Mahoney | Hanncel Sanchez | Fawn Schott | Lee Williams | Alison Gregoire | Oladunni Olywoye | Sarah Dixit

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Join Us In Honoring These Outstanding Women At The Awards Celebration And Benefit For YWCA Spokane On March 24, 2022

Over the last 40 years this awards luncheon has evolved into YWCA Spokane’s largest fundraising event. Sponsored by more than 50 companies and organizations each year, it has become one of the area’s most prestigious award recognition events for women. Friends and supporters who believe in YWCA Spokane’s mission come together to invest in the safety, hope, and healing  of those served by YWCA’s critical programs through their support of this spectacular celebration of women.

All proceeds raised support YWCA Spokane’s critical services for domestic violence victims and their children, including emergency shelter, counseling, legal services, job readiness, child care, and Pre-K programs for low income children. Learn more about the impact of YWCA Spokane.

Registration Is Now Closed

Please contact Jennifer Evans at jennifere@ywcaspokane.org with any questions or concerns.

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Admiral Howard Embodies Honor, Courage and Commitment

Born when female participation in the military was legally capped and women were not allowed to become generals or admirals or to attend service academies, Admiral Howard shattered every glass ceiling. She was the first women to command a U.S. Naval Ship, achieve the rank of four-star admiral and the first woman to be appointed to the position of vice chief of naval operations (the second highest rank in the Navy). She was also the first African-American woman to reach the rank of three-star and four-star in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the first African-American woman to command a ship in the Navy. We are honored to welcome Admiral Michelle Howard (Retired) as our 2022 Keynote Speaker.

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Give in Honor of A Women of Achievement Award Honorees

Consider making a donation in honor of an outstanding woman acknowledged through this inspiring celebration. As our most critical fundraiser of the year, support received through the Women of Achievement awards celebration helps us serve approximately 16,500 clients through programs and services impacting the lives of those affected by domestic violence, homelessness, and unemployment. Your support allows our reach to go further and our mission to be realized. Simply put, we cannot do this work without you!

GIVE TODAY

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Your Health and Safety Remains our Priority

While we look forward to Women of Achievement’s in-person event, the health and safety of our guests and staff remains our top priority. With the evolving nature of the COVID-19 situation, a lot is changing quickly. We are looking at the published guidance from federal, state and local health authorities and government and making decisions to accommodate all of our guests and promote a safe gathering. We continue to assess health and safety policies for the event in light of changing state/local and venue requirements. Beginning March 12th, there will no longer be a statewide mask mandate, nor vaccination requirements for large events. While masks are recommended, they will not be required. Please contact Jennifer Evans at jennifere@ywcaspokane.org for additional information regarding our COVID-19 plan.

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This awards celebration would not be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities contact Briana Berner, YWCA Spokane Donor Engagement Coordinator, at brianab@ywcaspokane.org or call 509-953-5992.

Signature sponsor

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Keynote Sponsor

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Honoree Sponsor

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Survivor Sponsor

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Women’s History Month Sponsor

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PhotoBooth Sponsor

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Staff Sponsor

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Champion Sponsors

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Trailblazer Sponsors

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Pioneer Sponsors

 

 

 

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Corporate Sponsors

Rosauers

Northwest Renewables

US Bank

Spokane Public Schools

Traci Bemis Real Estate – Homes for Change

Volunteers of America

Washington State University

Davenport Hotels

Wendle Ford Nissan

Columbia Bank