The Junior League of Stark County, OH, Inc. is excited to announce the 2022 Women of the Year honorees: Linda R. Ganser, 2022 Community Award recipient; and Renee Powell, 2022 President’s Award recipient.
Linda R. Ganser was nominated by the Women’s Committee of Walsh University and Mercy Service League. For over forty years, Linda has given her time, talent and treasure to the greater Stark County community to benefit others. Under her leadership, according to her nominator Cindy Samolcyzk of the Women’s Committee of Walsh University, “Linda has transformed the Women’s Committee and Mercy Service League into the organizations that they are today.” Linda chaired Mercy Service League’s major fundraiser committee in 2019 and led the Silent Auction Committee for Wine, Women and Shoes, a service project that raises funds to assist underserved women in our community who face cancer, assuring that these women obtain the care and assistance they need.
Renee Powell was nominated by Women’s Impact, Inc. Her professional accomplishments as a former LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) golfer are truly known across the world; however, her work to improve her community may be lesser understood. According to her nominator, Shelley Schweitzer, Executive Director, Women’s Impact, Inc., “Renee has been a pioneer in many areas where she was the first female, or the first African American, or both, to break barriers and open doors for other women and people of color.” Her Clearview H.O.P.E. Program is highly valued by women veterans in the greater Stark County area who repeatedly articulate the benefits they have realized by being together on the golf course, including ways in which the program has helped them address issues of isoation and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
The 75th Annual Women of the Year event, where both of these outstanding volunteers will be recognized, will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2023, 10:00 am, at Brookside Country Club. The cost for the 75th Anniversary Sapphire celebration, including jewelry modeling, displays of recipients’ awards and memorabilia, and brunch will be $40. Additionally, Margaret DeLillo-Storey, PsyD, PCC-S, CDTLF, who trained under Dr. Brene Brown in Whole-Hearted Leadership, will speak on “The Strength of Being a Woman.”