The National Organization for Women – Peoria celebrated National Women’s History Month at Lakeview Library with their annual awards ceremony. The event included a silent auction to help raise money for the Betty Friedan Tribute.
For the first time ever, the Peoria chapter of the National Organization for Women presented their annual award to a group. The Women’s History Month Award has traditionally gone to individuals “in recognition of exceptional contributions to justice, equality and the empowerment of women.”
This year one of the recipients was a local Latina women’s cooperative, Por Amor. The name means “with love” in Spanish. Housed in the Friendship House of Christian Service, the program helps Latina women gain independence while retaining and celebrating their Mexican heritage.
Local human rights activist and founder of the Peoria Peace Network, Jack Ryan been involved with NOW—Peoria for many years and never misses the Women’s History Month event. Referred to as a “true brother” by NOW—Peoria, Ryan was honored with a 2010 award.
Retired journalist Elaine Hopkins said, ““Betty Friedan made me a feminist.” But, for years, she was unable to join NOW due to conflict of interest because she was a local reporter for the Peoria Journal Star. Now that she is a member, she was honored with a 2010 Women’s History Month Award by her peers.
Marilyn Leyland, a local historian and activist, was honored as well. Leyland is well-known in the Peoria area but few people may know that her father attended school with Betty Friedan in Peoria.
Mention the arts in the Pekin-Peoria area, and Sharon Samuels Reed comes to mind. Founding artistic director of the Heritage Ensemble and founder of the Youth Heritage Ensemble, Reed said, "I thank God for organizations like NOW. I thank God for the arts. It is through the arts that I am a survivor."
Several items were offered during the silent auction to raise money for the Betty Friedan Tribute. Betty Friedan lived in Peoria until she graduated as valedictorian and left home to pursue her education at Smith College. The Betty Friedan Tribute project has raised about one-third of their goal of $100,000 to rename the YWCA Peoria childcare center as the Betty Friedan Family Child Care Center. The funds go toward renaming the center, in addition to assisting in operational costs of the YWCA.
To read about this year's recipients, click on the links below.
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