{"id":73646,"date":"2026-03-26T21:37:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T01:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=73646"},"modified":"2026-03-26T21:37:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T01:37:23","slug":"ywca-of-genesee-county-announces-2026-women-of-inspiration-honorees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/26\/ywca-of-genesee-county-announces-2026-women-of-inspiration-honorees\/","title":{"rendered":"YWCA of Genesee County announces 2026 Women of Inspiration Honorees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Press release\/provided photos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Batavia, NY \u2014 The YWCA of Genesee County is proud to announce the honorees for the 2026 Women of Inspiration Awards Luncheon, taking place on Sunday, April 19 from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Batavia Downs. This annual event celebrates extraordinary women and community partners who exemplify leadership, resilience, and a deep commitment to uplifting others. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The event will feature keynote speaker Peggy Marone and honor four outstanding women alongside one exceptional local business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s honorees include Anita Strollo, Julie Ann Carasone, Lynn VanDerBeck, <\/em><\/strong>and Molly Haungs<\/em><\/strong>, as well as Jagged Edges Salon, owned by Amanda Lowe<\/em><\/strong>. Each honoree has made a profound and lasting impact on the Genesee County community through service, advocacy, and leadership\u2014embodying the YWCA mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jagged Edges Salon <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jagged Edges Salon has become a true beacon of community support, consistently lifting up individuals and organizations in times of need. Under the leadership of Amanda Lowe, the salon has organized food and clothing drives, hosted fundraisers such as a Girls Night Out event for the YWCA, and actively advocates for survivors. Their commitment to safety and awareness is exemplified through discreetly providing YWCA resources in their space and being the first local salon to complete the national Cut It Out training. Their compassion and action continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Anita Strollo <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anita Strollo\u2019s journey is one of remarkable resilience and determination. After leaving an abusive marriage with no income, she rebuilt her life from the ground up\u2014launching a business while raising her daughter and caring for her family. She has since become a powerful force for good in Genesee County, championing fundraising efforts for the Justice for Children Advocacy Center, helping to launch the county\u2019s first Pride Parade, and dedicating her career to supporting students through education and workforce development. Today, she continues to inspire as Program Coordinator for the Genesee County Business Education Alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Julie Ann Carasone <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie Ann Carasone exemplifies compassion, strength, and unwavering service. As Program Manager for Care Coordination and Community Engagement at Oak Orchard Health and leader of the Warming Center, she ensures that vulnerable individuals and families have access to critical resources and safe spaces. While bravely battling cancer and supporting her family through significant health challenges, Julie continues to lead with grace, advocate for others, and strengthen community partnerships. Her resilience and selfless dedication are a powerful testament to true leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Lynn VanDerBeck <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lynn VanDerBeck\u2019s leadership and passion for service have left a lasting mark on the community. Since joining Rotary in 2020, she has led impactful initiatives including food recovery efforts, environmental sustainability projects, and regional collaboration on human trafficking awareness. Now serving as Rotary President, Lynn embodies the principle of \u201cService Above Self,\u201d guiding projects that support families, youth, veterans, and community organizations. Her thoughtful and empowering leadership style continues to drive meaningful and lasting change.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Molly Haungs <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Molly Haungs has dedicated her career and community involvement to empowering the next generation. As Marketing Manager at LandPro Equipment, she uses her platform to advocate for women and youth, particularly in industries where representation has been limited. She played a key role in launching GLOW With Your Hands, one of Western New York\u2019s largest hands-on career exploration events, connecting thousands of students to career pathways. Through mentorship, education, and workforce development, Molly continues to inspire and expand opportunities across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo many incredible women were nominated this year, it was difficult for the committee to narrow it down to just four,\u201d said Executive Director Jamie Rada. \u201cThese honorees are true changemakers. Together, they have impacted over 20 nonprofit agencies in Genesee County alone, in addition to countless community initiatives. They truly embody the mission of the YWCA and the spirit of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets for the Women of Inspiration Awards Luncheon are $45 each. To purchase tickets, visit www.ywcagenesee.org<\/a> or mail a check to the YWCA of Genesee County, 301 North Street, Batavia, NY 14020, Attn: Women of Inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Press release\/provided photos Batavia, NY \u2014 The YWCA of Genesee County is proud to announce the honorees for the 2026 Women of Inspiration Awards Luncheon, taking place on Sunday, April 19 from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Batavia Downs. This annual event celebrates extraordinary women and community partners who \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":72902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[3636],"class_list":["post-73646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genesee-county","tag-women-of-inspiration-awards"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-j9Q","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":63603,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/batavia-ywca-of-genesee-county-to-honor-outstanding-women-at-the-2025-women-of-inspiration-awards-luncheon\/","url_meta":{"origin":73646,"position":0},"title":"BATAVIA\/YWCA of Genesee County to honor outstanding women at the 2025 Women of Inspiration Awards Luncheon","author":"aka","date":"April 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release Batavia, NY \u2013 The YWCA of Genesee County is proud to announce the 2025 Women of Inspiration Awards Luncheon, set to take place on Saturday, May 3, from 12:00 PM \u2013 2:30 PM at Terry Hills Banquet Facility in Batavia. This year\u2019s event will honor women in five\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot_20250411_224633_DuckDuckGo-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot_20250411_224633_DuckDuckGo-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot_20250411_224633_DuckDuckGo-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C585&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot_20250411_224633_DuckDuckGo-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C585&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot_20250411_224633_DuckDuckGo-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C585&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":74424,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/04\/19\/genesee-county-ywca-2026-women-of-inspiration-awards-held-at-batavia-downs-on-sunday\/","url_meta":{"origin":73646,"position":1},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/YWCA 2026 Women of Inspiration Awards held at Batavia Downs on Sunday","author":"aka","date":"April 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"2026 Women of Inspiration Standing from left-\u00a0Georganne Elia\/\u00a0YWCA Board\u00a0Chair, Jagged Edges Salon employees, Jamie Beedham-Rada\/YWCA Executive Director. Seated from left-Julie Carasone, Lynn VanDerBeck, Anita Strollo, Molly Haungs. The YWCA of Genesee County held their 2026 Women of Inspiration Awards Luncheon at Batavia Downs on Sunday. This annual event celebrates extraordinary\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260419_141838-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C686&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260419_141838-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C686&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260419_141838-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C686&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260419_141838-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C686&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260419_141838-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C686&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":72897,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/02\/ywca-of-genesee-county-opens-nominations-for-2026-women-of-inspiration-awards\/","url_meta":{"origin":73646,"position":2},"title":"YWCA of Genesee County opens nominations for 2026 Women of Inspiration Awards","author":"aka","date":"March 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release\/provided photos BATAVIA, NY \u2013 The YWCA of Genesee County has opened nominations for its 2026 Women of Inspiration Awards, an annual event that recognizes outstanding women who make a meaningful impact in Genesee County. The celebration will take place April 19, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30p.m. at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Peggy-Marone_2025-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Peggy-Marone_2025-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Peggy-Marone_2025-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Peggy-Marone_2025-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Peggy-Marone_2025-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Peggy-Marone_2025-2.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50681,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/02\/13\/batavia-the-ywca-2024-women-of-inspiration-awards-nominations-are-now-open\/","url_meta":{"origin":73646,"position":3},"title":"BATAVIA\/The YWCA 2024 Women of Inspiration Awards nominations are now open","author":"aka","date":"February 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release Batavia, NY \u2013 The YWCA of Genesee County is pleased to announce the 2024 Women of Inspiration Awards on April 28, 2024 from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. 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