Honorees Announced for 20th Annual Women Who Light the Community Awards

Posted In: Other Good Stuff
Posted On: 4/24/2015


Honorees Announced for 20th Annual Women Who Light the Community Awards

All News Releases
April 24, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jane Lewis Boulder Chamber 303.938.2070 

Boulder Chamber to Honor Women Who Light the Community at 20th Annual Gala 
Five Remarkable Leaders to be Recognized During June 10 Celebration

Boulder, CO – April 24, 2015– Crowning 20 years of awards to outstanding women in the area, the Boulder Chamber will honor five new recipients at its annual Women Who Light the Community gala celebration. This year’s honorees have helped guide tomorrow’s business leaders, provided higher education opportunities to more students, worked to end hunger for our citizens, promoted Latino women’s self-empowerment and community involvement, engaged in global social and environmental issues, and enriched Boulder’s arts community. All have made significant contributions in improving our economic vitality and overall quality of life, and one—a first-grade student—exemplifies the promise of tomorrow’s budding community leadership.

Hosted by the Chamber’s Business Women’s Leadership Group, the celebration will take place on Wednesday, June 10th, from 4:00-7:30pm at the Lionsgate Event Center in Lafayette, Colorado. Along with the award ceremony, the event includes a dinner presented by Savory Cuisines, a pre-networking session, a non-profit expo and auction, and music by Boulder’s own Rebecca Folsom.

“The Chamber has taken great pride over the past 20 years in honoring exceptional women in our community,” stated John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber. “This year’s honorees continue that tradition, exemplifying all who have helped make Boulder a great place to live and work.” 

This Year’s Women Who Light the Community honorees are: 

Jane Miller – CEO and Founder, JaneKnows.com
Jane Miller is a noted business leader, mentor and author of the highly acclaimed book, Sleep Your Way to the Top (and Other Myths About Business Success).  Jane has spent three decades in the corporate world. She’s become the highest ranking woman in every company she's worked in, including such global firms as PepsiCo, H. J. Heinz, and others. From guiding giant businesses to prominence to mentoring young business students, Jane has had a profound influence in the workplace and beyond. She most recently steered Rudi's Organic Bakery to great success, capped by its purchase by the Hain Celestial Group. As a consultant for businesswomen and other entrepreneurs, Jane has provided executive support for the Unreasonable Institute and was a founding member of the Women’s Council at the University of Colorado’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. Her website www.JaneKnows.com offers advice to business owners and employees, continuing her support for the leaders of tomorrow. 

Hana Dansky - Founder and Executive Director, Boulder Food Rescue
Hana is the founder and executive director of Boulder Food Rescue, a non-profit that provides the homeless community food that would otherwise be discarded by local restaurants and grocery stores. She organizes volunteers, forms partnerships with grocery stores, and hand-delivers food by bike to people who need it. Hana is working with other communities, including Colorado Springs and Denver, on similar programs, spreading the mission beyond Boulder’s borders. Her dedication and care are evident in her work, as she inspires others to eliminate food inequality.  

Lori Canova - CEO, “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County
The “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County helps low-income youth achieve a brighter future through long-term educational and cultural programs. The foundation supports students throughout their school careers and grants opportunities for college scholarships, as well. Lori has helped turn the foundation into one of the most successful non-profits in the area, both for how it impacts the lives of disadvantaged students and for how it has achieved sustained growth, even through a challenging economy. Under Lori’s guidance, the Foundation has served more at-risk and low-income youths than ever before. Her commitment to other organizations, such as Foothills United Way and Big Brothers of Metro Denver, and her establishment of Mentors Matter and Crayons to Calculators, all demonstrate her enrichment of the community.

Elena Aranda – Director of the Compañeras Program at El Centro AMISTAD
Elena Aranda has worked tirelessly to fulfill the Compañeras program’s mission of promoting the well-being of women; enhancing their quality of life while expanding access to educational and cultural programs, developing political consciousness and collectively mobilizing social justice actions. Compañeras works with primarily Spanish speaking women to promote and strengthen a cultural solidarity with an emphasis on companionship, respect, equality and mutual support. For the past 8 years the Compañeras program has held an annual summit that attract hundreds of women and youth. It is unique in our community as the only summit by women for women who speak Spanish. In addition to her work with Compañeras, Elena has been a Parent-Infant Specialist in the Community Infant Program at Boulder Mental Health Partners for 19 years. Elena is a powerful leader in the Boulder community who has gained a reputation for compassion while garnering widespread respect for her professionalism and energy. 

Zoe Stith - First-Grade Student, Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies  
Zoe has awareness beyond her years of issues affecting not only the local community but also those on a national and global level. Starting at the age of three, Zoe organized fundraisers and letter-writing campaigns for important causes, encouraging her peers to do the same. Some of her areas of concern have included saving whales, the Humane Society, local park clean-up, and volunteering for the local food bank. Recently, she spearheaded a writing campaign to President Obama’s administration seeking recognition for Native Americans with a national holiday.  Zoe’s classroom is adorned with several documents they received in response. This social activism on local, national and global levels is enviable for most adults, much less for seven-year-old Zoe. Her efforts and encouragement of her peers embody community and inspire leaders of all ages.

To register for The Women Who Light the Community, please click here.  Or go to www.BoulderChamber.com

This years’ sponsors include CordenPharma, Savory Cuisines, Ramblin Jackson, Elevations Credit Union, Hazel’s Beverage World, Caplan and Earnest LLC, Kaiser Permanente, BizWest, Wells Fargo, Naropa University, and the Lionsgate Event Center.

About The Boulder Chamber: 
For more than 100 years, the non-profit Boulder Chamber has been the Boulder Valley’s flagship business association.  Through its economic vitality, advocacy and member support services, the Boulder Chamber helps sustain a strong local economy and helps businesses thrive. More information about the Boulder Chamber and membership benefits is available at: www.BoulderChamber.com. 

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Contact:
Jane Lewis, Events and Possibilities Manager
jane.lewis@boulderchamber.com, (303) 442-1044