Community Impact Program Award
The GFWC Community Impact Program Award offers GFWC clubs’ a financial incentive to implement projects designed to impact a specific problem in their community. The CIP Award is designed to accommodate the many ways that clubs currently function and to provide added flexibility in the implementation of up to three projects that have a meaningful im-pact on a particular problem, from “done in a day” efforts to those that could require more rigorous planning and implementation. This award is given once every two-year period.
Virtually any existing club project can develop into a CIPA project. Identify and assess the needs of your community; partner with other organizations or agencies in your municipality; check out the planning tools in the GFWC manual under Awards, Contests and Grants. Any size club can be a winner! So go out and “Make a Difference”.
Community Impact Program Award Chair: Sharon Phelps
General Information - Due March 1, 2024
GFWC Jennie Award
The GFWC Jennie Award is the only national honor bestowed by GFWC that recognizes individual members for personal excellence. Club members are nominated by their clubs to compete at state, regional, and national levels for the Federation’s highest honor. The Jennie Award is named in honor of GFWC’s founder, Jane Cunningham Croly, who wrote for national newspapers under the pseudonym “Jennie June.” The award is an occasion to highlight extraordinary clubwomen who epitomize Jennie’s spirit through their roles as volunteers within their clubs, representatives of their community, and as members of a family or extended family. The Great Lakes Region is allowed to nominate two candidates. The winner from the Region will be announced at the 2026 GFWC International Convention in Arizona This year’s Wisconsin nominee was not selected as the Great Lakes nominee, but that does not diminish her amazing accomplishments to GFWC-Wisconsin.
GFWC Jennie Award Chair: Sue Sands
Nomination Form - Due June 1
Junior of the Year Award
The Junior of the Year must exhibit outstanding leadership and volunteer efforts with an emphasis on her family and community. She should have the ability to interact positively with other members; the ability to listen and communicate; good attendance at club meetings and events; community participation outside her club; cooperation; dependability; enthusiasm and positive attitude; innovative ideas and creativity; leadership potential; open mindedness; sense of humor; and willingness to share ideas.
GFWC-WI Junior of the Year Award Chair: Tammy Welter
Nomination Form updated 01/25 - Due March 1 (This is a Word document so check your “Downloads” folder.)
Theodora Youmans Citizenship Award
The Theodora Youmans Citizenship Award is one of the most treasured awards given by GFWC-Wisconsin since 1937. At its onset, Mrs. Youmans provided in her will that the award should be made for the most honorable contribution to citizenship. This award recipient need not be a member of a GFWC-WI woman’s club. There is only one winner, but it is an honor to be nominated. The award’s namesake was born Theodora Winton in Ashippun, Wisconsin in 1863. She was raised in New Berlin where her father was a merchant. In 1889, she married Henry Youmans, Editor of the Waukesha Freeman. In 1898 she was elected President of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs. Her influence had a marked bearing on Federation policies and growth for many years. She was a woman who worked tirelessly for women. Following her death in April 1932, a reporter for the Waukesha Free-man wrote: "We find a remarkable combination of talents and abilities in one woman that gave her predominance among women and men alike.”
GFWC-WI Theodora Youmans Citizenship Award Chair: Abby Lorenz
Nomination Form - Due April 1 (Note, this is a Word document so check your downloads folder.)
Woman of Achievement
This lifetime achievement award is to honor a Wisconsin Clubwoman who has made an outstanding contribution to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. This woman should have received recognition for her work in any of the GFWC Service areas.
GFWC-WI Woman of Achievement Award Chair: Michelle Munoz
Nomination Form - Due April 15 (Note, this is a Word document so check your downloads folder.)
LEADS Candidate
(GFWC Leadership, Education and Development Seminar)
The GFWC LEADS program is intended to identify GFWC members at the grassroots level who have the potential and the desire to assume leadership positions in GFWC beyond their club. Participation in GFWC LEADS can help these members gain the capabilities, confidence and commitment necessary to pursue and achieve higher office and serve with distinction. The LEADS program is held annually the day before the official opening of the GFWC International Convention. Each state is allowed one candidate.