You Are Invited!
May 8, 2026, at Marriott Madison West
YWCA Madison welcomes you to our first-ever Solidarity Sunset Soirée. This new signature event honors the transformative leadership of women, illuminates the impact of YWCA Madison, and brings together the shared power and love that sustains this community.
Rooted in the beloved traditions of Circle and Women of Distinction, this big celebration invites us into something expansive: a living reflection of where we have been, and a collective vision of what we are becoming.
Throughout the evening, we will move together through moments of connection and celebration, including shared conversation, heartfelt tributes, vibrant art, nourishing food, and joyful dancing.
Notably, we will celebrate 50 years of Women of Distinction, a sisterhood of radiant women across generations whose leadership has shaped our local justice movements, while uplifting the impact of YWCA Madison’s work and nurturing a spirit of solidarity that continues to grow within our community.
Guests are invited to embrace sunset tones (e.g., orange, yellow, pink, purple, cream) and hints of gold as an expression of the warmth and radiance we carry together.
Ticket Types
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General admission to the Solidarity Sunset Soirée, including a three-course dinner, social hour, full evening program, and access to the Afterglow dance party.
$150.00
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Gather your community at a dedicated table for 10 at the Solidarity Sunset Soirée. This experience includes a three-course dinner, social hour, full program, and the Afterglow dance party.
$1,000
Order of Events
5:30 PM | Doors Open and Social Hour
6:30 PM | Dinner Service Begins
7:00 PM | Program with Fund the Need Opportunities
8:00 PM | Afterglow Dance Party
Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
“Hard times require furious dancing.” - Alice Walker
Bold & Spirited
Our theme, Bold and Spirited, reflects the energy of this precious moment. Even as the world dims, there is a collective fire among us, steady, luminous, and growing. This light lives in our gathering, our generosity, our refusal to turn away, and our commitment to one another.
Join us in YWCA Madison’s golden hour as we come together in community to honor what has shaped us, stay present to the movement we are tending, and look toward what is emerging just beyond the horizon. Together, we carry forward the warmth, courage, and imagination that make a new day possible.
Celebrating 50 Years of Women of Distinction
Since 1974, YWCA Madison has proudly honored nearly 300 exceptional leaders as Women of Distinction. This annual celebration recognizes women in the Madison area whose community leadership, professional dedication, and lived values reflect YWCA Madison’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women.
1974
Louise Marston Conklin
Constance A. Elvehjem
Velma Hamilton
Jessie McCanse
Margaret Russell
1975
Shirley Abrahamson
Marlene Cummings
Helen Matheson Rupp
Midge Miller
Betty Vaughn
1977
Milele Chikasa Anana
Kay Clarenbach
Beth Heiden Reid
Rosalie Mayer
Leslie Spense
1979
1980
Veatrice Baugh
Gladys Bronson
Beth Emshoff
Mary Lou Munts
Annetta Rosser
Agnes Cammer
Bea Kabler
Marsha Lindsay
Pam Moore
Rebecca Young
1981
Morlynn Frankey
Donna Jones
Fayth Kail
Elaine Marks
Barbara Nichols
1982
Roberta Gassman
Lucille Kimball
Beverly McCord
Verona Morgan
Carol Toussaint
1984
Peg Geisler
Rosalie Rohl
Marian Thompson
Rita Wlodarczyk
1983
1985
Joyce Erdman
Mary M. Graye
Carla Hagermann
Mardi O’Brien
Helen Vukelich
1986
Marian Bolz
Sue Driscoll
Katherine Lyall
Kit Saunders Nordeen
Sue Wiskowski
1987
Jacqueline Cochran
Gayle Langer
Gail Selk
Maureen Torphy
Rosemary Troia Baker
1988
Mary Breunig
Lenore Landry
Judie Pfiefer
Petie Rudy
Linda Weimer
Susan Hobart
Eunice Meske
Mary K. Rouse
Betty Smith
Emma Zitzer
1989
Jean Manchester Biddick
Dolores Buchler
I. Lorraine Davis
Mary McKenzie Mohs
Elizabeth Spencer
Diane Young Kaav
1990
1991
Mary Ellen Beach-Ela
Jane Coleman
Ida Gear
Virginia Henderson
Sue Herbst
Toya Nelson
1992
Betty Bamforth
Ellen Buck
Sandra Dutch
Fannie Hicklin
Edith Hilliard
Norma Madsen
Margaret Monroe
1993
Alma Baron
Joann Elder
Gloria Jones-Bey
Carla Smith
1994
1995
Marla Ahlgrimm
Friedie Carey
Shelley Peterman Schwarz
Fannie Taylor
Muriel Bissell
Inger Kay
Linda McIsaac
Betty Reneau Rowe
Marjorie Singer Tobias
Carolyn Taylor
Cora White
1997
Nan Cheney
Joan Gillman
Sharyl Kato-Nilson
Mercile Lee
Judith Ward
Hermetta Williams
Tammy Baldwin
Deloris Bell
Amy DeBower
Robin Douthitt
Mary Moen
Donna Marie Robinson
Sister Mary David Walgenbach
1998
Nan Brian
Jean Davis
Joyce Dismuke
Betty Franklin-Hammonds
Kay Lindblade
Hannah Rosenthal
1999
2000
Barbara Arnold
Mary Kay Baum
Linda Farley
Leslie Ann Howard
Helene Nelson
Vicki Washington
Andrea-Teresa Arenas
Holly Cremer Berkenstadt
Doris J. Hanson
Kathleen A. Kelly
Sadie M. Pearson
Judith Wilcox
2001
Betty Barrientos
Molly Carnes
Nancy Christy
Ann Haney
Frances Huntley-Cooper
Sue Ann Thompson
2002
Marion Brown
Hermine Davidson
Louise Root-Robbins
Andrea Potter
Mary Louise Symon
Martha Vukelich-Austin
2003
2004
Marilyn Beach
Michelle Behnke
Charlie Daniel
Gloria Sarto
Kathleen Woit
Florence Zmudzinski
2005
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff
Connie Ferris Bailey
Martha Gaines
Gwedolyn Jones
Lindsay McClernan
Jeanan Yasiri
Elizabeth Barnhill
Nancy Giffey
Jo Handelsman
Sharron Hubbard-Moyer
Carmen Skilton
Barbara Snell
2006
Eve Galanter
Rita Kehl
Gloria Ladson-Billings
Margold S. Melli
Anne E. Ross
Mai Zong Vue
2007
2008
Marcia Anderson
Mary Burke
Theola Carter
Vera Riley
Cheryl Rosen Weston
2009
Brenda Brown
Sharon Chamberlain
Iris Christenson
Jeanette Schreier
Mary Lang Sollinger
2010
Bettsey Lutz Barhorst
Betty Harris Custer
Annette Miller
Carola Peterson-Gaines
Kathy Price
Fabiola Hamdan
Anne Hartwig
Gloria Hawkins
Lisa Kvistad
Marion Morgan
2011
2012
Frances Bicknell
Fabu Phillis Carter
Naomi Carter
Karen Christianson
Nan Cnare
Sarah Gillmore
2013
Betty Banks
Andreal Davis
Tehmina Islam
Salli Martyniak
Becky Steinhoff
Mona Adams Winston
2014
Sadat Abiri
Emily Auerbach
Dawn Crim
Sally Miley
Laurel Rice
Teresa Téllez-Girón
Hershey Barnett-Bridges
Nia Enemuoh-Trammell
Lilada Gee
Enid Glenn
Beth Kille
Renee Moe
2015
2016
Gina Carter
Deidre Green
Sherry Lucille
Stephanie Nash
Corinda Rainey-Moore
Mary Strickland, CFP
2017
Keetra Burnette
Robin Dalton
JoAnn Gruber-Hagen
Therese Gulbransen
Dr. Joann Pritchett
Angela Russell
2018
2019
Barbara Katz
Libby Lee
Kay Simmons
Alondra Quechol
Jacquelyn Boggess
Silvia Gomez de Soriano
Lynn Green
Carolyn Morgan
Nichelle Nichols
Rep. Shelia Stubbs
Annie Weatherby-Flowers
Marisela Gomez Castellanos
Women of Distinction was not held during the COVID-19 Pandemic. During this time, we celebrated the community and support that was given during the pandemic.
2020
Christy Clark-Pujara, Ph.D.
Brenda Gonzalez
Andrea Jones
Candace McDowell
Lucia Nuñez
Dr. Hazel Symonette
2021
Jannet Arenas-Pineda
Roxie Hentz
Jacquelyn Hunt
Adrian Jones
Jenny Pressman
Nasra Wehelie
2022
2023
Jasmin Banks
Alex Lindenmeyer
Dr. Christina Outlay
Lisa Peyton-Caire
Nancy Saíz
Rosa Thompson
2024
Keena Atkinson
Charlotte Cummins
Kristie Goforth
Efrat Livny
ananda de oliveira mirilli
Jan Miyasaki
Carolyn Stanford Taylor
2025
Prenicia Clifton
Cindy Diaz
Brandi Grayson
Alexis London
Hedi Rudd
Karen Menéndez Coller, PhD
Dr. Martha Stacker
2026
Who will they be?
Announcements coming soon!