COMMUNITY SERVICE award
Isabel Yates Community Service Award
About
The Isabel Yates Community Service Award honors Lexington’s ‘First Lady of All Things Good’ in recognition of her many contributions to the community. The award honors a Kentucky woman or nonbinary person whose community service has made a lasting impact on the lives of people in their community.
See Criteria & Eligibility
CRITERIA
Civic Involvement ● The nominee has demonstrated, through their civic involvement, how the quality of life in their community has been enhanced.
Leadership ● The nominee has demonstrated ability to inspire and encourage others.
Achieves Outcomes ● The nominee has demonstrated ability to overcome challenges and obstacles.
Diversity ● The nominee demonstrates a commitment to diversity through their work within the community.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
• The nominee should have a charitable commitment to their communities of at least 10 years.
• The nominee must be a Kentucky resident and performed most of their community service within the state.
• The nominee will have served on nonprofit boards, commissions, community groups, or as the leader of a nonprofit organization.
• The nominee must not be a candidate for any political office in the year they are nominated.
Past Recipients
Susan Douglas
CEO, Wilderness Road – Girl Scouts Council
2024
Gail Reece
Executive Director, iTNBluegrass
2023
Patty Breeze
President & Founder Breeze Financial
2022
Janet Holloway
Women Leading Kentucky Founder
2021
Isabel Yates
Former City Council Member
2020
Path Lighter award
Janet Holloway Path Lighter Award
About
The Janet Holloway Pathlighter Award honors the founder of Women Leading Kentucky for her unwavering passion and commitment to elevating women. This award recognizes a Kentucky woman or non-binary person who has demonstrated achievement, growth and success in their profession. The recipient will be someone who inspires, mentors, and empowers other women through their work, ideas, and example.
See Criteria & Eligibility
CRITERIA
Leadership ● Proven track record of growth, success and influence in their profession. Recognized as an influential trailblazer whose vision inspires others through their work, ideas and example.
Mentoring ● Ability to elevate women by building relationships and encouraging success.
Commitment to Improving Lives ● A role model whose accomplishments and contributions improve the lives of others.
Diversity ● Demonstrates commitment to diversity inside and outside their profession.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
• Must be a woman or nonbinary person who is a current resident of Kentucky and who has done the body of their work within the Commonwealth.
• Must be a current Kentucky resident who has done most of their work within the Commonwealth.
• Must have a minimum of five years of professional leadership.
• Must not be a candidate for any political office in the year they are nominated.
Past Recipients
Dr. Janice Wyatt-Ross
Fayette County Public Schools
2024
Raquel Carter
Owner of Guide Realty
2023
LEGACY award
Martha Layne Collins Legacy Award
About
The Martha Layne Collins Legacy Award honors former Governor Martha Layne Collins (1983-1987) for her contributions to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its people. This lifetime achievement award honors a Kentucky woman or nonbinary person whose leadership has made a lasting impact on their profession. Honorees will have inspired and motivated others through their professional lives. They are visionary leaders whose innovative leadership skills have fostered effective change within their profession.
See Criteria & Eligibility
CRITERIA
Leadership ● The nominee will be a visionary whose innovative leadership skill has advanced effective change within their profession.
Mentoring ● Fosters and participates in professional and community mentoring relationships.
Commitment to Improving Lives ● Shows evidence of professional and community leadership, involvement, and life experiences that results in improving the lives of others.
Diversity ● Demonstrates commitment to diversity inside and outside their profession.
Giving Back to the Community ● Demonstrates evidence of giving back to women and/or the community.
Lifetime Achievement ● Demonstrated legacy of achievement over an expansive career.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
• Must be a woman or nonbinary person who is a current resident of Kentucky and who has done the body of their work within the Commonwealth.
• Must have a minimum of 25 years professional work experience.
• Must not be a candidate for any political office in the year they are nominated.
Past Recipients
2024
Karen Harbin – President – Commonwealth Credit Union
2023
Ouita Michael – Owner + Chef – Holly Hill & Co.
2022
Renee Shaw – Director of Public Affairs Moderator, KET
Mary Noble – KY Supreme Court Justice (ret.)
2021
Dr. Eugenia Toma – University of Kentucky
Judge Julie Goodmann – Fayette Circuit Court
2019
Laura Boison – Truist
Sharon Currens – KY Coalition Against Domestic Violence
2018
Karen Hill – Baptist Health
Elizabeth Griffin McCoy – Planters Bank
2017
Danielle Clore – Kentucky Nonprofit Network
Dr. Ardis Hoven – University of Kentucky
2016
Paula Hanson – Dean Dorton
Dr. Augusta Julian – BCTC
Marta Miranda – The Center for Women and Families
2015
Debra Hensley – State Farm Insurance Agency
Diane Medley – Mountjoy Chilton Medley LLP
Audrey Tayse Haynes – Sec. of Cabinet for Health & Family Services
2014
Roszalyn Akins – Fayette County Public Schools
Josephine Richardson – Arts Advocate & Community Leader
Cathy Zion – Today’s Woman Magazine
2013 – Lindy Karns, Jean Hale, Vicky Yates Brown
2012 – Pam Miller, Crit Luallen, Lois Combs Weinberg
2011 – Jackie Nicholson
2010 – Dr. Mary Sias
2009 – Cynthia Shain
2008 – Nawanna Privett
2007 – Rebecca Messenger Moore
2006 – Maria Alamario-Rosenbaum
2005 – Jane Stephenson
2004 – Lillian Press
2003 – Beverly Watts
2002 – Alayne White
2001 – Kim Burse
2000 – Beverly Raimondo
1999 – Sharon Darling
1999 – Gov. Martha Layne Collins
