Luncheon honors four women for community efforts

Four women were honored for their efforts to better the community during the Women’s Leadership Council Luncheon Feb. 27 at the Four Seasons’ ballroom.

Mary Ann Allison received the 2013 Commitment to Health Award. Allison, a medical oncologist at Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, co-founded The Caring Place, a Las Vegas nonprofit organization that provides adjunctive therapies to cancer patients. Carla Perez introduced her.

The 2013 Commitment to Education Award recipient was Gina Polovina, vice president of government affairs for Boyd Gaming Corp. She coordinates the company’s political activities and serves as its lobbyist on local, state and national issues. Polovina has served as the chairwoman of the United Way’s Commitment to Educational Council for four years. Ruby Collins introduced her.

Linda Smith, associate executive director of Opportunity Village, was presented with the 2013 Commitment to Financial Stability Award. Smith developed multiple fundraising strategies including million-dollar capital campaigns to benefit thousands of disabled people. Nancy Wong introduced her.

Charlotte Hill received the 2013 Commitment to Volunteerism Award for her 50 years of volunteer service to the community. She was one of the first volunteers of United Way and served 32 years helping United Way of Southern Nevada grow. She also served on the board of governors for United Way of America. From 1954 to 1976, she was president and executive director of the Frontier Girl Scouts. In 1971, Hill founded Friends of Southern Nevada Public Television and she still serves as the station’s volunteer coordinator. An elementary school on Eldorado Lane bears her name. Judy Kropid introduced her.

The Women’s Leadership Council was established in 2007 as part of the United Way of Southern Nevada. This influential group of women leaders is working to inspire others to create long-lasting change in the community through education, health and financial stability.

About 470 women attended the luncheon, which also included a fashion show. The event’s main sponsors were Donna Karan New York (DKNY), MJ Christensen Diamonds and Wirtz Beverage Nevada.

The luncheon’s co-hosts were Punam Mathur and Shauna Khorrami, KLAS-TV, Channel 8 morning news anchor. Cindy Brinker and Deb Mele-Blanchard, co-chairwomen of the Women’s Leadership Council, introduced the DKNY representative from the store at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

Members of the Women’s Leadership Council modeled the latest in DKNY’s spring portfolio.

The reception offered opportunity tickets to be purchased for lovely donated items.

Seen among the many luncheon guests were Bill Boyd, Barbara Lee Woollen, Ira Sternberg, Janet and Steve Linder, Melinda Brown, Candy Schneider, Annie Huynh and Linda Wade.