YWCA of Richmond names its 2011 Outstanding Women

A noted philanthropist and volunteer, a school superintendent, and a writer of Christian fiction are among the nine women being recognized by the YWCA of Richmond's 2011 Outstanding Women Awards.

Alice T. Goodwin, Yvonne W. Brandon and Stacy Hawkins Adams are among the 2011 honorees who will be recognized at a May 6 luncheon.

The awards play "an important role in bringing exceptional women together," said Cassandra Emery, executive director and chief executive officer of the YWCA of Richmond.

"The accomplishments of these women have resulted in remarkable progress for women and children in this community. The Class of 2011 joins 300 individuals who have been previously recognized for leadership excellence. They represent every community sector, ranging from business and education to volunteerism and the arts."

The luncheon helps raise money to support YWCA programs, including a domestic-violence shelter, affordable preschool and after-school care services, and 24-hour emergency access to trained sexual-assault counselors.

This year's list consolidates some award categories and adds a new category in nonprofit management. The recipients are:

Arts: Loretta K. Foley

•Owner of Foley Business Services, a survey company for banks, credit unions and nonprofits.

•Member, board of directors, Hanover Arts and Activities Center.

•One of the founders of Townhound.com, a website created to highlight events in the Ashland and Hanover area.

•Co-director and co-producer of the Ashland Musical Variety Show, co-director and co-founder and co-director of the Hanover Idols Competition.

Business: Katherine Busser

•Executive vice president of Capital One Bank.

•Member of the executive committee of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.

•Member, VCU Health System board of directors.

Communications: Stacy Hawkins Adams

•Author, professional speaker, freelance columnist and marketing consultant.

•Public affairs manager for Prevent Child Abuse Virginia.

•Founding board member of the Richmond Christian Leadership Institute and Impact 100 Richmond, founding president of the American Christian Fiction Writers Richmond chapter

•Former Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter whose work included a series of stories on welfare reform, yearlong coverage of a missing young girl, and stories about local women living in the YWCA's shelter.

Education: Yvonne W. Brandon

•Superintendent, Richmond Public Schools.

•Instituted the Dropout Prevention Initiative, a multi-tiered and comprehensive dropout prevention, intervention and recovery program.

Law and Government: Colleen Marea Quinn

•Director and equity owner of Locke Partin DeBoer & Quinn

•Founder and director of the Women's Injury Law Center and the Adoption and Surrogacy Law Center.

•Worked to change adoption law in Virginia by overhauling all adoption statues to bring Virginia in line with other states.

Health and Science: Deborah Johnston

•Owner and president of Care Advantage Inc., a personal and companion home health-care firm.

•Created the Hope for Health Care Nurse Aide Program in partnership with the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Human Relations & Faith in Action: Shawnee Weitzel Hansen

•Founded Richmond Friends of the Homeless, a grass-roots nonprofit effort to combat and alleviate hunger that serves 3,300 meals each week.

•Forged a Partnership with Richmond City Schools to ensure no child goes without food.

Nonprofit Management: Kathleen Burke Barrett

•Chief executive officer at St. Joseph's Villa and led the Villa's first capital campaign.

•Former chief executive officer for the American Red Cross, 2004-08, and served on the agency's disaster management team after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and Tropical Storms Isabel and Gaston.

•Member, Bon Secours Richmond Foundation board.

Volunteerism: Alice T. Goodwin

•Board member of The Virginia Home, a residential nursing facility for adults with severe physical disabilities

•Member, advisory board for VCU Massey Cancer Center, chair of the Research for Life Gala fundraiser.

•Executive committee member of the Medical College of Virginia Foundation and the Community Foundation board and distribution committee.

•Served as 2009 Richmond Christmas Mother, heading up funding for the program that is a joint effort of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Salvation Army.

tlsmith@timesdispatch.com

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