Leader Luncheon
SAVE THE DATE FOR LEADER LUNCHEON 2026 - Thursday, May 14!
More than 350 people joined us for this year’s YWCA Elgin Leader Luncheon, presented by our Title Sponsor, The Schrieber Group. It was an inspiring day from beginning to end. We were proud to recognize an incredible group of nominees and honor eight outstanding individuals for their achievements and impact in the community.
A heartfelt thank you to the Leader Luncheon Committee for their hard work and dedication in making the event such a success. We’re also
especially grateful to our 2025 Honorary Chair, Elisa Lara, for her leadership and support.
One of the most meaningful moments of the event was the announcement that the Arts Award has been renamed in honor of longtime YWCA supporter Dr. Risé Jones. A special tribute featured Dr. Jones’ powerful voice, and it was deeply moving to hear her words again.
We’re truly thankful to the individuals and businesses who supported our programs through sponsorships and donations. Your generosity helps fuel our mission, and we’re honored to have you with us.
We were also proud to present the YWCA Elgin Youth Leadership Award and Scholarship, funded by the Schueneman Family, to Valerie Villegas, a senior at School District U-46. Valerie is an exceptional young woman, and we’re excited to see where her journey takes her.
Save the date: Next year’s Leader Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026. We hope you’ll join us!
Meet the 2025 Award Recipients
Your dedication, leadership, and impact in our community inspire us all. We’re honored to celebrate your achievements and grateful for the work you do to advance equity and empower others.
Award Recipients from left to right: Jess Rocha (accepted by her mother, Diana Rocha) Arts; Rachel P. Baer, MD FACS CGRA, Business & Professions; Erin Sauder, Communication & Technology; Nancy Coleman, Education; Judge Patricia Piper Golden (ret.), Public Service; Elizabeth (Liddy) Hope, Ph.D., Racial Justice; Noelle Dulabaum-Bohrer, Social Service; and Christy Schmidt, Volunteer & Community Service.
Special Tribute to Dr. Risé Jones
The 2025 YWCA Leader Luncheon is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Risé Dawn Jones. A lifelong resident of Elgin, Risé worked tirelessly to promote programs that have nourished countless lives through music and the arts. She was an enthusiastic and unrelenting advocate for the underserved, founding Hamilton Wings with her mother, Dr. Ann Jones, in 1996. This not-for-profit organization continues today, encouraging at-risk children to find their wings and excel in the performing arts.
Risé was a positive force in sharing her kindness, energy, laughter, leadership and graciousness with YWCA Elgin. She served as a member of the Board of Directors for 6 years, chaired numerous committees, including the 2009 Leader Luncheon Committee, and coordinated a variety of youth and women’s events for the Association. She was also the recipient of the YWCA Harriet Gifford & Hattie Griffin Award for Education in 2011 and the YWCA Margaret Hillis Award for the Arts in 2013.
Thank You, 2025 Leader Luncheon Sponsors!
2025 TITLE SPONSOR - $5,000
LEADER CIRCLE TABLE SPONSORS - $1,350
Anonymous
Gold Star Sponsors - $500
Art & Nancy Schueneman
Carol Elias
Karen & Dan Fox
Kathryn Canny
Lena Scheflow
Murna Hansemann
Robin and Mark Seigle
Steven and Betty Rauschenberger
Anonymous
Dana and Gary Vierck
Deirdre White
Elizabeth Hoeft
Felicia King, YWCA Elgin CEO
Fox Valley Interior Design
Silver Star Sponsors - $250
Circle of Friends Sponsors - $100
Patricia Chamberlain
Streamwood Village President Billie D. Roth (2)
Vern Tepe, Incoming Township Supervisor & Kane County Board Member
Gail Cohen
Jessica Carapia
Jessica Lee-Cole
Jody Schmeck
Joy Wener Bang
Kathleen Rusniak
Kyla Brittain
Alignment Collaborative for Education
Anonymous (3)
Dr. Clare M. Ollayos, Chiropractic Physician
Diana Palacios
Don & Marge Haefliger
Donna Anderson
Linda & Steve Knight
Larkin Lake Strategic Communications
Margaret Frisch Klein
Maureen Manning
Melissa Barbosa-Guzman
Nancy Gerner
Norma Grathoff - COUNTRY Financial
2025 Leader Luncheon Chair Elisa Lara
Elisa Lara has been a nurse for VNA Health Care for approximately 18 years. She has served as a clinical coordinator and nurse outreach and has assisted with COVID-19 services at the VNA.
Elisa obtained her Associate in Science and Arts at Elgin Community College (ECC) and began her nursing career at ECC, receiving her LPN (License Practical Nursing). She later attended Northern Illinois University, earning her RN and BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degrees.
As a nurse, she’s worked in several area hospitals, including Kishwaukee Community Hospital, Alexian Brothers, and St. Alexius. While working as a nurse in hospital settings, she realized the many needs within the Latino community, and she wanted to be a part of helping to meet those needs.
For the past 18 years, she’s been employed by VNA Health Care in their community health centers, where she’s been able to both help meet those needs and advocate for the Latino community. Giving back to the community has always been a driving force in her life, now so more than ever.
In addition to her work as a nurse, Elisa is currently involved with many organizations and events in Elgin. Host for Al Dia Con Elisa in the Elgin community that has grown in the last five years.
She is a Board of Trustee for the Gail Borden Public Library, a member of the Board of the Elgin Hispanic Network, a member of the City of Elgin’s Human Relations Commission, on the Board for the Latino Treatment Center, and contributes her time and energy and is a member of Knight Riderz Triathlete group.
Her curricular activities include doing triathlons, marathons, cycling, and dancing whenever possible.
Previous Award Recipients
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1984 Jane Chipman
1985 Lisa Boehm
1986 Eileen McNichol
1987 Rowena Swan
1988 Marcene Linstrom
1989 Clare Ollayos
1990 Donna Burnidge
1991 Molly Konitzer
1992 Mary Rauscher
1993 Lamar Blum
1994 Ethel Daeumer
1995 Phyllis Ziegler
1996 Edith Fitts
1997 Shirley Friedman
1998 Rose Goldstein
1999 Suzanne Smentowski
2000 Florence Jacobsen
2001 Pearle Brody
2002 Murna Hansemann
2003 Lila Jean Keltner
2004 Lois R. Myers-Bauer
2005 Julie Ford
2006 Mary Ellen Kanies Beckmann
2007 Kathy Matthews
2008 Jeanne Hebeisen
2009 Joyce Dlugopolski
2010 Rosalind Zager
2011 Mary Hatch
2012 Wilma Booth
2013 Risé Jones
2014 Solange Sior
2015 Sandra Kaptain
2016 Erin Rehberg
2017 Dr. Sojung Hong
2018 Amanda Harris
2019 Jane Erlandson
2021 Courtney Garcia
2022 Ivette De Santiago
2023 Tracy Dullea
2024 Cristina Colunga Ramírez
2025 Jess Rocha
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1984 Kay Martin
1985 Lois Lange
1986 Susan Cincinelli
1987 Pat Sjurseth
1988 Pam Jensen
1989 Madalena J. Vignocchi
1990 Darcy Dougherty
1991 Patricia Piper Golden
1992 Margo Quick
1993 Diana Miller
1994 Margarita Manzano
1995 Nancy Epping
1996 Monica Bates
1997 Jane Craddock Ryan
1998 Bonnie Hill
1999 Jo Ann Armenta
2000 Rhonda Pokoj
2001 Lisa West
2002 Lynn Schwartz
2003 Liz Wilmes
2004 Karena Schwarz
2005 Judith Brownfield
2006 Marcelle Bear
2007 Carolyn Kirk-Likou
2008 Kathy Hannell
2009 Pamela A. Urbanski
2010 Merrie Derderian
2011 Carole Medal
2012 Traci Ellis
2013 Linda Deering
2014 Cheryl Wendt
2015 Dorothea Poulos, M.D.
2016 Katherine Hurt
2017 Carol Gieske
2018 V. Guadalupe Fonseca
2019 Mary Martini
2021 Oletha Johnson
2022 Sheri De Shazo
2023 Judge Chantelle Porter
2024 Maria Borrero Véaz
2025 Rachel P. Baer, MD FACS CGRA
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1984 Fern Risley
1985 Elizabeth Armistead
1986 Carole Akemann
1987 Marianne Nelson
1988 Betty Brown
1989 Patricia M. Szpekowski
1990 Betty Mahoney
1991 LaNee Pfeiffer
1992 Kathy Woodman
1993 Marilyn Figgins
1994 Bernice Rabe
1995 Laura Carillo Barth
1996 Alice McCoy
1997 Debbie Wodrich
1998 Donna Lee Grimmett
1999 M. Ruth Tofanelli
2000 Diane Marie Stredde
2001 Bobbie Waschow
2002 Kathaleen Roberts
2003 Fay Dadzie
2004 Paula Amenta
2005 Gail Shadwell
2006 Carolyn O’Neal
2007 Vicki Kirkland
2008 Heather J. Gates
2009 Denise Raleigh
2010 Susan Salach-Cutler
2011 Tonya Hudson
2012 Krisilee Murphy
2013 Kimberly Gilmore
2014 Corinn Hilbert
2015 Kari Christensen
2016 Molly Center
2017 Toya Webb
2018 Amanda Garcia
2019 Natalie Kiburg
2021 Susan Anderson-Khleif
2022 Mary Dulabaum
2023 Donna Lake
2024 Karla Jimenez
2025 Erin Sauder
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1984 Edna Holland
1985 Marilyn Pounders
1986 Susan Moylan
1987 Mary Anne Stiegemeier
1988 Sister Annella
1989 Linda M. Hanson
1990 Ruth Tofanelli
1991 Gayle Saunders Starwalt
1992 Judith Pavlak
1993 Renate Matthaeus
1994 Barbara Juister
1995 Elizabeth Juergensmeyer
1996 Sharyl Marie Butzirus
1997 Susan Thompson
1998 Linda Hefferin
1999 Annabelle Rhoades
2000 Carol Morrison
2001 Eleanor MacKinney
2002 Dorothy Wiese
2003 Margaret Brady
2004 Barbara Bonner
2005 Jean Bowen
2006 Peggy Deichstetter
2007 Glenna Godinsky
2008 Roberta Nauman
2009 Donna Schuring Redmer
2010 Connie Orbeta
2011 Risé Jones
2012 Jill Russell
2013 Carole Peto
2014 Holly York
2015 Deborah Perryman
2016 Rebecca Jurs
2017 Kathleen Rusniak
2018 Christen Sundquist
2019 Dr. Ushma Shah
2021 Susan Timm Ed.D.
2022 Cathy Taylor
2023 Peggy Heinrich Ed.D.
2024 Amber Peters
2025 Nancy Coleman
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2003 Marie Yearman
2004 Donna Anderson
2005 Clare M. Ollayos, D.C.
2006 Billie D. Roth
2007 Loni Mecum
2008 Nancy Rohr
2009 Ruth Munson
2010 Jackie Tredup
2011 Janet Poyner
2012 Maria Cumpata
2013 Susan Harney
2014 Mary Camacho
2015 Cristina Castro
2016 Miriam Anderson Lytle
2017 Ana Lalley
2018 Eira L. Sepúlveda
2019 Kim Wascher
2021 Farrah Qazi
2022 Heidi Holthusen
2023 Lt. Heather Lencioni
2024 Jamie L. Mosser
2025 Judge Patricia Piper Golden (ret.)
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1998 Sylvia Murphy Williams
2000 Mary Vickers
2001 Sandra Buchheit
2002 Judy Jobe
2003 Phyllis Folarin
2004 Audrey Reed
2005 Mary Wheeler-West
2006 Lilia Feliciano
2007 Mary Ann Stephens
2008 Adriana Carpio de Palma
2009 Danise Habun
2010 Andrea Fiebig
2011 Helen Lopez Strom
2012 Joyce Fountain
2013 Kimberly Spagui
2014 Maria Christina “Tina” Viglucci
2015 Jane “Juanita” Barbosa
2016 Angelene Naw
2017 Danielle Henson
2018 Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein
2019 Paola Velasquez
2021 Reina Franco
2022 Brittney Nicole Walker
2023 Mary Shesgreen
2024 Julie Hyun Kane
2025 Elizabeth (Liddy) Hope, Ph.D.
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1984 Pat Wasmond
1985 Joan Berna
1986 Gretchen Vapnar
1987 Peggy Muetterties
1988 Elayne Pappas
1989 Joanne Nesler
1990 Sandra Freeman
1991 Carol K. Gieske
1992 Elizabeth Rice
1993 Nora K. MIller
1994 Cindy Ciancio
1995 Christine Tredup
1996 Adella Bedwell Wells
1997 Karen Beyer
1998 Sister June Does
1999 Lillian Dixon
2000 Julie Lichtenberg
2001 Dorothy Yeoman
2002 Carol Elias
2003 Mary Kae Hoffman
2004 Jane Kimball
2005 Nancy Pudelwitts
2006 JoAnn Stingley
2007 Kathy Fox
2008 Shelley Wasmond Lewis
2009 Amybeth Maurer
2010 Connie Patino
2011 Siobhan Cottone
2012 Kathy Hazelwood
2013 Marlene Pokorny
2014 Dr. Mae Hicks-Jones
2015 Maureen Manning-Rosenfeld
2016 Karen Oswald
2017 Vivian Maly
2018 Dr. Kimberly Schellin-Rog
2019 Lea Conrad
2021 Janeth Barba
2022 Sr. Leticia M. Lapid, OSF
2023 Bernadette May
2024 Rocio Robledo
2025 Noelle Dulabaum-Bohrer
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1984 Carol Harwood
1985 Barbara Belding
1986 Jackie Pierce
1987 Nancy Burnidge
1988 Sue Rakow
1989 Betty Marie Allen
1990 Cheri Lee Lewis
1991 Margaret E. Kenyon
1992 Jean Muntz
1993 Marlene Shales
1994 Taffy Hoffer
1995 Mary Jane Arnold
1996 Marianne Nelson
1997 Janet Thietje
1998 Ann Warner
1999 Kathe Pava
2000 Caren C. Nickelsen
2001 Laura Anderson
2002 Janine Kirkland
2003 Lena Scheflow
2004 Laurel Bault
2005 Dana Vierck
2006 Jeanette Mihalec
2007 Ronell DeLoncker
2008 Sheri Darmon
2009 Susan Angell-Case
2010 Elizabeth Hoeft
2011 Sigi Psimenos
2012 Donna Askins
2013 Deanna Young
2014 Patricia Harkin
2015 Deirdre Higgins White
2016 Catherine Olson
2017 Karen Schock
2018 Joann Hartmann
2019 Carri Laird
2021 Pam Katalinich Eggum
2022 Mary Jo Sheehy
2023 Jennifer Ford
2024 Robin Seigle
2025 Christy Schmid
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2003 Myrtle Spiegler Gerberding
2013 Marlene Shales
2014 Myra Becker