“So many extraordinary people are nominated,” said Chief Executive Officer Judy Hutton in a recent conversation about the annual Princeton YWCA’s “Outstanding Women” awards. “It’s really hard to pick the winners, and it says something about the wonderful area we live in that there are so many.”

Princeton resident Suzanne McCroskey is this year’s Waxwood Award Recipient. The award is named for Susie B. Waxwood, Executive Director of the YWCA Princeton from 1958 to 1968, and the first African American woman to hold that post. “This is the greatest honor the YWCA Princeton can bestow upon one person,” said YWCA spokeswoman Jenn Attridge. “It is a lifetime achievement award, given to a woman who, over the course of many years, has made a truly distinguished contribution to the YWCA.” The award is only given when the YWCA identifies someone who is “justly deserving” of it. Previous recipients include Ms. Waxwood, 1999; Harriette McLoughlin, 2000; Marge Smith, 2002; Virginia Barr Selden, 2005; Margee Marper, 2006; and M. Katherine McGavern, 2008.

Other honorees this year include Pina Albo of Munich Reinsurance America in Princeton; Nola Bencze of Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C. in Titusville; Gloria Frederick, of The Institute of Wonderful Women Working for Empowerment in Ringoes; and Lawrenceville-based community activist Marilyn Grounds. Nancy Healey will be recognized for her work with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Central and South Jersey, as will Marlene Lao-Collins of the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton. Ferris Olin, who recently received a Women’s Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award, is also a YWCA “Outstanding Woman; as are Deborah Shepherd of Merrill Lynch; Denise Taylor, of “Great Looks 4 Less;” and Melissa Tenzer, of CareersUSA. They all will be honored at a dinner and awards ceremony on March 1 at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton.

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is this year’s Honorary Chair and keynote speaker for the program. Previous Honorary Chairs have included Eleanor Horne, 2007; Shirley Tilghman, 2008; Bridgette Heller, 2009; and Patricia Doykos, 2010.

Another award that is not necessarily given each year is the Fannie E. Floyd Racial Justice Award. There is no 2012 recipient for the award which was established in 2009 in honor of Fannie E. Floyd for her lifetime contributions to racial justice. Recipients of this award “have made a truly distinguished contribution to racial justice,” said Ms. Attridge. Previous winners include Ms. Floyd, 2009; and Irene Etkin Goldman, 2011.

Candidates for YWCA awards are nominated by managers, colleagues, and peers in the workplace and in the community. A selection committee comprised of former honorees, board members, and event chairs (roughly ten members in all) is assembled to evaluate all nominations. Roughly ten honorees are selected each year through what is described as an “extremely competitive process.”

Proceeds from the Tribute to Women support YWCA programs, including English as a Second Language; the Breast Cancer Resource Center; Women’s and Racial Justice Programs; Youth and Childcare Programs such as Nursery School, After School Programs and Summer Camp; Dance; Gymnastics; and Aquatics. The adapted swim and dance programs offer classes to children and adults with special needs, and scholarships are available for all fee-based programs.

Tickets for the March 1 event are $125 each. The 6:15 p.m. program and dinner will be preceded by cocktails (cash bar) and networking from 5:15 p.m. Advertising and sponsorship opportunities are sill available. For more information or to register visit www.ywcaprinceton.org/tributeto
women or call (609) 497-2100.

“For the past 29 years, the YWCA Princeton has honored over 300 women who have generously given of themselves for the good of others to empower women and to eliminate racism,” said Event Co-Chair Linda Richter. “We are honored once again to present to the community another class of remarkable women.”