Each year in Pittsburgh, Cribs for Kids hosts the Women of Achievement Awards honoring exemplary women in the Pittsburgh region. This event highlights their amazing work within their fields and communities.
In March 2024, Cribs for Kids will be recognizing 20 Women of Achievement and 5 Junior Women of Achievement at the 17th Annual Women of Achievement Awards.
Nominations are now open and will close on November 1, 2023, at 11:59 PM. Our planning committee will select and notify the honorees in December. Use the button below to nominate a Woman or Junior Woman of Achievement in your life.
17th Annual
Women of Achievement Awards
March 2024 (Date TBA)
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Omni William Penn Hotel
Grand Ballroom
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Note: You will be redirected to our applications manager Submittable.
Congratulations to our 2023
Distinguished Women of Achievement Honorees
Phyllis Barber: Highmark
Iyana Bridges: The Birthing Hut
Keri Brown: Giant Eagle
Isis Chatman: Ruth’s Way, Inc.
Terri Ducsay: Pittsburgh Technical College
Kathi Elliott: Gwen’s Girls
Ellen Freeman: Ellen Freeman Immigration Law
Kelly Frost: PEEL: Pittsburgh’s Elevated and Emerging Leaders
Natalie Furgiuele: Mon Vale Health Care
Hollie Geitner: Duquesne Light
Blayre Holmes Davis: Pittsburgh Steelers
Stacy Juchno: PNC
Kelli Komondor: K2 Creative, LLC
Sherry Jo Matt: Stop the Judgement Project
Laura Ditka Award for Advocacy & Service
Mónica Méndez: Children’s Museum Pittsburgh
Nicole Molinaro: Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
Vivian Petticord: UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital
Latrice Rose: Melanin Mommies Pgh, Inc.
Alexis Trubiani: Clairton City School District
Christy Uffelman: Edge Leadership Solutions
Marissa Vogel: Open Up
Lori Winkler: SSM Cardinal Glennon
National Woman of Achievement: Making the Difference Award
2023 Junior Women of Achievement Honorees
Molly McKenna: Mt. Lebanon High School
Priyasha Itani: Upper St. Clair High School
Ashlynd Warba: Ashlynd’s Homeless Project
Audrey Wetterau: Socks with a Mission
National Women of Achievement Awards
Each year at the annual Women of Achievement Awards, Cribs for Kids honors two National Women of Achievement.
Laura Ditka Award for Advocacy and Service
In 2019, we introduced the Laura Ditka Award for Advocacy and Service in memory of Laura Ditka, who unexpectedly passed away in October 2018 at the age of 55. Laura Ditka was a Woman of Achievement in 2008 for child advocacy. Her life revolved around serving others as she dedicated her life to public service, law enforcement, and supporting victims.
Laura spent her legal career as a prosecutor serving for 25 years in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office, before joining the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office as supervisor of the western region criminal division. In her honor, the Laura Ditka Award for Advocacy and Service will be awarded each year at this event. Laura will always be an example of an inspirational Woman of Achievement.
National Woman of Achievement: Making a Difference Award
The National Woman of Achievement: Making a Difference Award celebrates women who have spent their lives and careers serving others. At Cribs for Kids, we are incredibly inspired by women who represent a positive force for good. Each day these women demonstrate their strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment to their cause. They are exemplary models of what it means to persevere in the face of adversity.
Whether their influence can be seen in the non-profit sector, legislative action, volunteer work, or philanthropy, these women walk with a purpose and use each day to work towards creating a better community and a better world.
Each year, Cribs for Kids recognizes one woman, nominated by her peers, who demonstrates strength, resiliency, compassion, and commitment to being a force for change. This woman will be known as the National Woman of Achievement.
Take a Look Back at our 2020
Distinguished Women of Achievement Honorees
Rachel Berger, MD, MPH: UPMC
Jan Brimmeier, AIA, NCARB: Architectural Innovations, LLC
Belinda Callaghan, MSN, RN, NE-BC: Allegheny Health Network
Patrizia Costa, PhD: The Brother David S. Baginski FSC Scholars Program at Central Catholic High School
Rosamaria Cristello: Latino Community Center
Sloane Davidson: Hello Neighbor
Fafa Dedji: PPG Architectural Coatings
Christine S. Ferguson, BSE, MBA: Ferguson Financial Consulting, Inc, Prima Eventi, Inc
Angela Garcia: Global Links
Amera Gilchrist: City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS
Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, PhD: Pittsburgh Technical College
MariAnn Hathaway, Esquire: Law Offices of MariAnn Hathaway
Jennifer M. Joseph: HIAS PA
Leilani Mears, PMP: PNC Bank
Rosemary Mendel: Senior Nonprofit Executive
Michelle Muccio: Elk County Coroner’s Office & Lynch-Green Funeral Home
Emily Nugent: Christ the Redeemer Diaper Pantry
Lisa J. Perry, MPM: Jeremiah’s Place
Mary Ellen Ramage: Borough of Etna
Lisa Kay Schweyer, MPM: Carnegie Mellon University Traffic21 Institute
Jada Shirriel, MS, CLC: Healthy Start, Inc.
Rebecca J. Watters, PhD: University of Pittsburgh
Senator Lindsey Williams: PA Senate, 38th Senatorial District
Sister Linda Yankoski, CSFN, EdD: Holy Family Institute
A Special Thank You to Pittsburgh Digital DJs and DigiBooths for providing our Selfie Booth for our 2020 Women of Achievement Awards.
