On Wednesday, Feb. 6, twelve Northeast Florida women committed to leadership, advocacy, passion and hard work will be recognized at the third annual Women with Heart Luncheon to benefit Volunteers in Medicine.
The event is presented by Florida Blue and will take place at the company’s conference center on the Florida Blue Deerwood Campus. The 2019 “Women with Heart” honorees are:
• Martha Baker — Community trustee and incoming board chair for The Community Foundation
• Vickie Cavey — Former JEA vice president and current president of the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach
• Inger Geraghty — Board member for American Heart Association and board member for See the Girl
• Virginia Hall — Senior director, advocacy and community engagement, Ascension/St. Vincent’s Healthcare
• Rev. Dr. Helen Jackson — Women of Color Cultural Foundation, Inc.
• Helga Langthon — Vice president/owner, Soho Network Solutions, Inc.
• Eleanor Lynch — Senior vice president, Operations Memorial Hospital
• Velma Monteiro-Tribble — Director of grants and programs, Florida Blue Foundation
• Dr. Pam Rama — Cardiologist, Baptist Heart Specialists; Chief of staff and medical director of Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Baptist Beaches Hospital
• Ellen Wiss — Community trustee and former president of the Women’s Giving Alliance
• Sol Wynter — Multi-lingual Consulting Group Services and community organizer
In addition, Sherry Magill will receive top honor with the Dorion-Burt “Heart of Gold” award at the luncheon.
“We are thrilled to honor Sherry with this award,” Volunteers in Medicine Co-Founder Dottie Dorion said. “She was at the Jessie Ball duPont Fund when we started Volunteers in Medicine and was instrumental in helping us get up and running.”
Whether it’s leading efforts for real change or providing financial support for the development and implementation of vital health and social service programs, Volunteers in Medicine CEO Jennifer Ryan said these women’s advocacy, volunteerism and commitment to the health of the community sets the bar for others to exceed.
“We are honoring them for their dedication to the health and well-being of our community,” Ryan said.
The “Women with Heart” Luncheon will kick off a year-long signature awareness and fundraising campaign for Volunteers in Medicine, a nonprofit organization that serves the working uninsured. Each honoree has committed to a month of advocacy and service to the clinic. During their month of service, Women with Heart honorees will wear the new 2019 “Heart of Jacksonville” — a $15,000 diamond necklace custom designed by Allen’s Jewelers. The necklace will serve as a conversation starter to further increase awareness of the mission of Volunteers in Medicine.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, we are thrilled to recognize all of these caring women,” Board Chair Michael Boylan said. “We appreciate that each will be hosting their own events to advance the message and mission of Volunteers in Medicine.”
The luncheon will not only honor these 12 local leaders, it will also feature a premier opportunity to win the 2018 honorees’ Heart of Jacksonville necklace donated by Beard’s Jewelers and valued at $7,000. Tickets for the drawing are still available for $100. Only 150 tickets will be sold, and you need not be present to win.
Sponsors of the event include Florida Blue, Allen’s Jewelers, Publix Charities, Bacardi, Baptist Health, Martha and Tom Baker, Dr. and Mrs. Jim Burt, Dottie and Dr. George Dorion, Mayo Clinic, Medtronic, Prime Therapeutics, Smith Hulsey and Busey and United Healthcare.
Limited tables and tickets for the luncheon are available. Call (904) 399-2766 for sponsorship or ticket information.
