YWCA Bethlehem will celebrate the volunteer achievements of local women and teens at the 46th annual Women & Teens of the Year Awards Thursday, April 22. The virtual event presented by Title Sponsor Capital Blue Cross represents the longest-running local event honoring local women for their volunteerism and service to Bethlehem. The Women & Teens event starting at 5 p.m. will also feature an online silent auction to benefit the YWCA’s empowerment programs. Registration for the free event is available at www.ywcabethlehem.org.

The 2021 Golden Laurel Award will be presented to Vicki Doulé of BSI Benefits. The YWCA Mission Award will be presented to Veronne Demesyeux. Michelle Chrin, Qiana Cressman and Marci Martinez-Howey will be honored as Women of the Year.

This year YWCA Bethlehem expanded its longtime Teen of the Year scholarship programs. Four teens – Sarah Brown, Sarah Elhussini and Jewel Levy, all of Freedom HS and Mia Senick, Liberty HS – will be recognized with one-time Educational Empowerment awards. Carol Fernandez of Liberty will receive the inaugural A Path Forward award, a two-year scholarship to support continuing studies at Northampton Community College.

Air Products Foundation will present the premier scholarship – The YWCA Mission Scholarship. The new award recognizes a Bethlehem teen whose school and community activities demonstrate a deep personal interest in the YWCA’s mission of racial justice and women’s empowerment. The Mission Scholarship represents a four-year scholarship commitment to assist the student at the college of her choice. The YWCA and Air Products will honor Augusta Chelsea Dunkwu of Freedom HS with the first-time Mission Scholarship.

The annual Women and Teens of the Year Awards ceremony is made possible by generous support from Title Sponsor Capital BlueCross, Gold Sponsors ASR Media and Highmark Blue Shield, and Platinum Sponsor St. Luke’s University Health Network. Silver Sponsors include Chip and Diane Harpster, HCSC/Miller-Keystone Blood Center and PNC Financial Services Group. Bronze Sponsors are Bank of America, BSI Corporate Benefits, M&T Bank, PPL Corporation, and Wind Creek Bethlehem. Signature Sponsors include B. Braun Medical, Inc., DaVita, Inc., Moravian Village, and Walter Investment Partners of Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC.

Proceeds will benefit YWCA’s Women and Girls’ Empowerment Programs as well as the agency’s Adult Day Services Center for seniors. YWCA Bethlehem’s Empowerment Programs serve over 400 girls and women annually through their afterschool TechGYRLS STEM programs, Prom Dress Day, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and the Community Voices Series. The Adult Day Services Center cares for senior women and men aged 60 and older who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities.

Founded locally in 1927, YWCA Bethlehem is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Programs of YWCA Bethlehem include Community Voices Series, TechGYRLS, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of the Lehigh Valley, Pop-Up Prom Shop, Circles, Great Decisions Foreign Policy Lecture Series, Adult Day Services Center, and Senior Housing and Case Management.

For more information about the Women & Teens of the Year Awards or YWCA Bethlehem programs, please contact Denise Pierson-Balik at developmentdirector@ywcabethlehem.org.