INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Lalita Janke was named this year’s Woman of the Year by the Junior League of Indian River at its second annual Woman of the Year Luncheon, presented by Stewart Evans Stewart & Emmons.
The luncheon was held Wednesday at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club, attended by 250 guests who lauded the contributions of each of the 29 influential women who had been selected as finalists from nominations in four categories: Business/Professional, Civic/Non-Profit Professional, Volunteer, and Rising Star.
The committee was led once again by Erin Grall, assisted by Nicki Maslin, Erin Rains, Cris Ryan, Michelle Servos, Chrissy Stephens and Kelley Williams.
To ensure impartiality, nominees were judged by members of Junior League of the Palm Beaches.
In her welcome, League President Michelle Servos, commented that the local chapter was founded 24 years ago by women with a passion for serving the residents of our community, specifically in areas of unmet needs.
They do so through individual community impact projects and through initiatives that are meant to spin off as lasting programs, such as the Youth Volunteer Corps, Sneaker Exchange and Valued Visits.
The League’s current ground floor initiative is Whole Child Indian River, a free, confidential web-based program connecting families to local services and providers.
Kelley Williams, Whole Child executive director, spoke of a recent partnership with Highlands Elementary School, where they have set up a Connection Corner, thanks to a grant from Quail Valley Charities, so that parents can have access to a computer to discover resources available to them.
Janke was also presented with the first award of the day, in the Volunteer category.
She and her husband, Dr. Walter Janke, founded the Walter and Lalita Janke Charitable Foundation, which supports those in need both locally and internationally.
Through her quiet persistence and strong leadership, Camp Haven, a 20-room transformational living facility for homeless men, became a reality, and philanthropic support enabled the purchase of two homes by the Substance Awareness Center for women transitioning out of substance dependencies.
Nurturing the next generation, their foundation has partnered with the Hibiscus Children’s Center’s Career Pathways to Independence Program, and by providing scholarships for foster children to attend Indian River State College.
As board president of the UN Women, East Florida Chapter, Janke is a voice for positive change through gender equality and eliminating violence against women worldwide.
Jacquelyn Carroll, a senior at Saint Edward’s School, was selected in the Raising Star category.
The founder of Bakers for Birthdays, she brightens the lives of children at the Hibiscus Children’s Center, Samaritan Center and Youth Guidance, baking personalized birthday cakes; in many cases the first in their young lives.
Karen Deigl, President/CEO of the Senior Resource Association, was selected in the Civic/Nonprofit Professional category for helping to enrich the lives of seniors through programs and services such as Meals on Wheels, the Adult Day Care Program and the Community Coach, and providing transportation to all through the Go Line.
Elizabeth Moulton, owner and publisher of Vero Beach Magazine, was selected in the Business/Professional Category for her support of nonprofit organizations over the past 17 years through the magazine, which highlights the remarkable community and its residents.
“There are such wonderful women in this community; there are a lot of role models,” said Janke, accepting her Woman of the Year award.
“It is the women in every organization, professional and nonprofit, who are the foundation in how things run. They earn 79 cents for every male dollar, but they give 100 percent.”
Other nominees included Patti Clements, Mary Cone, Cyn DeLee Dalton, Georgia Irish, Colene Israel and Beverly Paris for Business/Professional; Kerry Bartlett, Connie Cotherman, Barbara Hammond, Lin Reading, Mary Silva, Ann Marie Suriano, Camilla Wainright, and Toccara Williams-Byrd for Civic/Non-Profit Professional; Susan Adams, Cathie Callery, Ann Catchick, Ruth Ann Fleckenstein, Barbara Hoffman, Lalita Janke, Brenda Lloyd, Chris Loftus, Andrea Smith, and Katherine Washington for Volunteer; and Leah Reinhard, and Hunter Sullivan for Rising Star.
“This event certainly recognizes and emphasizes the important role that women play in the life of this community,” said Alma Lee Loy. “It’s exciting.”
