Thank you letter for the week of March 19, 2023

Thank you, merci, danke, gracias, gunalchéesh.

This photo shows AWARE’s 2023 Women of Distinction (left to right) Kate Wolfe, Jennifer Brown, LaRae Jones and Susan Bell. (Courtesy Photo)

This photo shows AWARE’s 2023 Women of Distinction (left to right) Kate Wolfe, Jennifer Brown, LaRae Jones and Susan Bell. (Courtesy Photo)

Thank you, Women of Distinction supporters

AWARE is extremely grateful for all supporters of our 26th Annual Women of Distinction Gala. It was a privilege to join with our community in celebrating Susan Bell, Jennifer Brown, LaRae Jones and Kate Wolfe. Their incomparable contributions to our community and their words of wisdom and inspiration made the evening a wonderful celebration! AWARE’s annual fundraising event was made possible by generous gifts of expertise, energy, and heart. Our thanks to emcee Kris Sell for hosting, Tom Locher and Clay Good for providing opening music, Amy Carroll for designing the printed program, and Jeanette St. George for producing table name cards. Thanks to Juneau Live! Our event videographers and photographers and to Rie Munoz Gallery for the artwork. This year, we also give a very special thank you to Rose Khamis, for her exquisite sharing of courage and words. The Women of Distinction Gala is a wonderful opportunity to honor women who have made outstanding contributions while supporting work to end violence in our community.

The generous financial support of our Corporate Sponsors helps make this event all that it is: Gold Sponsor: First National Bank Alaska and Silver Sponsor: Central Council Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska; our Precious Gems: Diamonds: Anthony & Mandy Mallott, McKinley Research Group, SAIL, Inc., and Sealaska Corporation, Emeralds: The Alaska Community Foundation and Jensen Yorba Wall, Inc., and our Rubies: Marcie Colpas, Elgee Rehfeld, LLC, and Hansen Gress. A special thank you to KTOO Public Radio and the Juneau Radio Center for their very generous in-kind contributions as well.

Deep gratitude to our door prize donors and live auction donors: Alaska Airlines, Alaska Seaplanes, Alaska Robotics, Annie Kaill’s, Devil’s Club Brewing Co., Cheryl Eldemar, Gigi Monroe, Gold Town Nickelodeon, Loren & LaRae Jones, Mar y Sol, Mercedes Munoz Pottery, Judy Mills, Nugget Alaskan Outfitter, Out-of-Paper Designs, Elizabeth Pisel-Davis, Kris Sell, and Wings Airways. We also thank the many dessert donors who created delicious and beautiful desserts for our silent dessert auction.

Thanks to AWARE’s dedicated Board of Directors: Officers: Bailey Woolfstead, Camille Severance, Corey Wall, and Linda Hoven, and members Naomi Davidson, Matt DuBois, Amy Dressel, Isabel Lee, Supanika Ordonez, Diana Paul, and Pat Race. The board joins me in extending deep appreciation to our event coordinator Mandi Canady who worked tirelessly to bring the details of the event to life.

AWARE’s ability to work with survivors of domestic and sexual assault is greatly enhanced by Juneau’s community support. Proceeds further AWARE’s work with those impacted by domestic and sexual violence, and in our community-wide prevention efforts. Together we can help keep our community and survivors in stronger, safer relationships. Gunalchéesh! It would not happen without you!

Mandy Cole,

Executive Director of AWARE

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