The 2025 Women of Achievement Awards was a powerful gathering of more than 1,000 community members, united by a shared passion for empowering women, eliminating racism, and uplifting our community. Together, we honored nine extraordinary women whose work and impact continue to inspire us all.

Watch the Full Event Program

A Record-Breaking Year

It was a record-breaking event in both funds raised and the number of people who gave—an inspiring testament to the power of collective action. Over half of the attendees in the room joined together to raise over $125,000 for YWCA Spokane and survivors of domestic violence.

Honoring Nine Remarkable Women

Each year, we recognize women who have made significant contributions across various fields. The 2025 honorees embody resilience, leadership, and dedication to making Spokane a better place for all:

• Amy Washington - Science, Technology & Environment Award 
• Athena Mangano - Young Woman of Achievement Award
• Julie Honekamp - Business & Industry Award 
• Marlene Feist - Government and Public Service Award 
• Charity Bagatsing-Doyl - Arts & Culture Award 
• Jennifer Hansen - Education Award 
• Kiantha Duncan - Community Enhancement Award 
• Dr. Ping Ping - Carl Maxey Racial & Social Justice Award 
• Janet Mann - Lifetime Achievement

A Day of Inspiration and Celebration

This year’s event was particularly meaningful as we proudly presented Kris Crocker with an honorary award for her 20 years of services to YWCA Spokane and the Women of Achievement Awards.

Adding to the event’s highlights, we celebrated Dana Morris Lee’s incredible career and her well-deserved upcoming retirement. Dana’s leadership and unwavering commitment to YWCA Spokane have left an indelible mark, and we are forever grateful for her years of dedication to this mission.

We were deeply honored to be joined by Janet Mann's family as we presented her with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award. Janet's husband, Paul, was kind enough to share a passage from her book, Creating Compassionate Foster Care, to close out this year's event. We'd like to share Janet's words here with you too:

"We are all more alike than different. We all operate out of similar fear and pain. We all build up walls and devise strategies for keeping us safe. We all persist in keeping these safeguards and ways of being in the world largely intact, even when they no longer apply to our reality. And, underneath it all, do we not long for the same intimate human connection? The facts and degree of woundedness may differ, but our stories are really the same. Looking through the eyes of children and families in distress can lead us through the door of our own hearts to a better understanding and ultimate embracing of one another."

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate this success, we know our work is far from over. Despite an uncertain future for federal funding, we are committed to continuing our critical services, ensuring that survivors have the support they need to rebuild their lives.

We invite you to continue this journey with us. Whether through volunteering, advocacy, or financial support, your involvement makes a difference. Together, we are unstoppable.

Thank you to everyone who made the 2025 Women of Achievement Awards such a meaningful and unforgettable day. Your dedication fuels our mission, and we can’t wait to see the change we’ll create together in the year ahead!

Let Us Know How We Did!

If you attended the 2025 Women of Achievement Awards, please let us know about your experience! Your feedback is important to shaping the event in future years, and we’d love to hear from you!

Post-Event Survey