Crisis Hotline (716) 433-6716

Niagara Awards: A Tribute to Women

The Niagara Awards was created in 1997 by the YWCA Board of Directors as a biannual event to recognize the achievements of Niagara County women. In 2004, the event was recreated as an annual fundraising dinner recognizing women from all parts of Niagara and Erie counties and consisting of 9 individual award categories. In 2013, the Friend of the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier Award was added and in 2019, the Lifetime Achievement Award was added. Proceeds from this event go to fund the YWCA Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Programs.

Thank you to all who supported the YWCA and the wonderful women honored at the 2022 Niagara Awards.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 SPONSORS!

EVENT SPONSORS

OXFORD CONSULTING, Inc.

AWARD SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSOR

GOLD LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

Brown & Company

Montondo’s Seafood, Inc.

Niagara’s Choice Credit Union

Reid Petroleum Corp.

The 2022 nomination period has closed.

Award recipients will be selected in one of the nine award categories (there may be more than one recipient in each category) and will be recognized at the dinner and their picture and bio will appear in local press articles and the event program. The award recipient(s) in each of the award categories will be notified by the YWCA Selection Committee prior to the dinner.

In addition, a pre-selected recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award as well as the Friend of the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier Award will be honored and presented with an award at the dinner. 

What are the criteria for nominating women for the Niagara Awards?

Women nominated should be those who have consistently demonstrated through their employment, self-employment, volunteer service, or lifestyle, an outstanding commitment to the mission of the YWCA — the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. — in one of the following awards categories:

  • ART – Women who have excelled in any level of the arts, such as painters, sculptors, photographers, musicians, vocalists, and conductors, arts educators, arts historians, museum and gallery staff, actresses etc. while also supporting the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
  • EDUCATION – Women who have excelled at any level of education, including religious or community, in any position, including superintendent, principal, teacher, teacher’s aide, college dean, assistant dean, professor, assistant professor, instructor, teaching assistant, professional staff, etc. while supporting the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
  • EMERGING LEADER –  Women who have begun to exhibit initiative in developing themselves and others in their professional or volunteer life, while supporting the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
  • ENTREPRENEUR – Women who have excelled as owners of their own companies, businesses, or organizations while also supporting  the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
  • FRONT LINE – Women who have excelled as support personnel, such as receptionists, sales associates, clerical workers, secretaries, bookkeepers, administrative assistants, cashiers, bank tellers, customer service representatives, while also supporting the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
  • HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES – Women who have excelled as health care providers, case managers, nurses, physicians, social workers, etc. while also supporting the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
  • MANAGEMENT – Women who have excelled as top executives and/or officers of corporations, businesses, non-profit organizations, directors, supervisors, managers, etc. while also supporting the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
  • MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDER – Women who have gone above and beyond the call of duty as members of the military or first responders, showing their dedication, diligence, and caring to both their service and the people they serve while also supporting the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
  • SOCIAL CHANGE AGENT – Women who have excelled in helping an organization or their community advance positive social change while supporting the YWCA’s mission of the empowerment of women, the elimination of racism, and the promotion of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.