YWCA Women of Excellence Awards 2020 (6-18-20)

YWCA Women of Excellence Awards 2020 (6-18-20)

Joseph got quite the celebration today...the 19th annual women of excellence awards taking over the city... with watch parties at spratt stadium and wyeth tootle mansion...kq2's kilee thomas crashed a watch party to speak with one of the big awardees.

The 19th annual women of excellence event looks a little different this year the ywca from recognizing the inspiring women of st.

Joseph "we have 43 nominees this year.

These are women in our community that have done amazing things and have been recognized by their peers, employers, employees, community members for being fabulous women."

8 women were highlighted during the broadcasted event their positive impact on the communityone of them being eileen dyer of the lifetime achievement award for volunteerism"of course, very humbling.

There's so many wonderful volunteer women whose shoulders' i stand on who've come before me."

After 46 years of serving st.

Joseph's art, education and medical community,eileen has spent her entire life giving back more than a page full of committees she's contributed to..she currently sits on 9 committees and boards.eileen says her hope is to inspire young women"often i share with them what i'm doing in the community because i think it's important for them to see me as a participant and to open up these ideas to them as well as to young people."this year's theme is "it starts with us."

A powerful message right now...that members hope lights a fire in young women to contribute to change "our young women need to do that.

They're smart, they're energetic and they're full of good ideas and resources."

Women of excellence is also the ywca's biggest fundraising event of the year "it was a $7,987 that we've raised just today towards our steve craig match which we have to raise $30,000 today in order to get his $30,000 so it can make us $60,000.

It's a pretty big deal, so it's exciting already."

With watch parties all over the city getting the recognition they deservereporting in st.

Joseph kilee thomas kq2 news the women of excellence program will be aired again tonight at 6pm right here on kq2...you