Each year since 1987, the Women’s Resource Center has honored local employers who have made significant contributions to help the women in their organizations succeed. These companies are recognized for empowering women through their innovative and progressive recruitment, retention, and advancement policies. The Women’s Resource Center considers them to be “pillars of support” and their efforts are highlighted at the annual Huntington Pillar Awards luncheon.
The 24th annual Huntington Pillar Awards luncheon will take place this year on Thursday, March 21 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and the award recipients have recently been announced for this public event.
Express Employment Professionals, Porter Hills Retirement Communities, and an employer-led, re-entry initiative called 30-2-2 will each be recognized for empowering women in the workplace and for their commitment to talent diversity.
As this year is the 40th anniversary of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), the Pillar Awards will occur during a yearlong celebration of the organization’s longevity. Executive Director Sharon Caldwell-Newton estimates WRC will serve its 40,000th client sometime this summer, too.
Currently, WRC works with approximately 1,000 women a year. These women are typically unemployed or underemployed and many are going through a life transition such as a divorce or the loss of a job they’ve held for many years.
While the WRC tends to work with low-income, single mothers or women who’ve had a criminal record in the past, Caldwell-Newton says the “doors are always open” to anyone.
WRC helps the women with resume building, interview practice, wardrobe assistance, job searching, career development, and more. Basically, Caldwell-Newton says her organization provides ways for the women to “get on their feet again.”
“Women’s Resource Center impacts hundreds of women and their families each year,” she says. “Not only do we help them prepare for and secure employment, but we help them find their self-confidence and hope for the future.”
To start working with the organization, new clients are asked to attend a free, hour-long orientation session, usually offered twice a week. They get a tour and learn about all of the services available to them.
Regardless of what employment services are needed, rebuilding the women’s confidence is one of the first steps in helping them achieve economic independence and that’s what WRC focuses on.
Tickets for the March 21 Huntington Pillar Awards luncheon are $60 each, or $650 for a reserved table with 10 seats. It runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and more than 500 business and community leaders are expected to attend. Guests will learn more about the award winners’ best practices in empowering women and how that benefits the community as a whole.
“These employers understand the value women bring to their operation and that the return on investment of workplace diversity and best practices is worth the initial cost and effort,” says Caldwell-Newton.
WRC expects to raise approximately $50,000 at the event and it will use this to continue helping unemployed and underemployed women find meaningful careers.
The organization is always looking for volunteers, donations, and employers willing to hire WRC’s female clients. If you’d like to get involved, here is more information:
- Visit the
Women’s Resource Center online to find out more about them.
- Attend the
Huntington Pillar Awards luncheon on Thursday, March 21 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
- Become a sponsor of the Pillar Awards by calling 616-458-5443 ext. 114 or visiting the website.
-
Volunteer your time and skills.
-
Donate to the Women’s Resource Center.
- Like them on
Facebook.
- Follow
@grwrc on Twitter.
Source: Sharon Caldwell-Newton, Executive Director at the Women's Resource Center
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor
Images provided by the Women’s Resource Center.
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