YWCA Honors Achievements of Local Women

A developer, a municipal court judge and a mayor were among the accomplished women of Orange County honored Sunday at the YWCA’s “A Tribute to Women.”

About 200 people attended the celebration at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The $60-per-person luncheon was co-sponsored by the YWCA of North and South Orange County.

Role Models

Kathryn Thompson, chairman and chief executive officer of the Kathryn G. Thompson Development Co., received the YWCA’s inaugural Dignit e Award for her personal and professional achievements and support of the YWCA.

“In the past there hasn’t been enough recognition of all the things women have contributed to the county, but that’s changing,” Thompson said.

The awards recognize female leaders who are role models to others.

“It’s particularly important to impress upon young girls that there are great women out there,” said Mary Hornbuckle, mayor of Costa Mesa and award recipient. “Every year is the year of the woman.”

Receiving community awards were: Municipal Judge Margaret Anderson; Mary Evelyn Bryden, community leader and mental health advocate; Gayle Byrne, coordinator of Hands Across the Campus at Ocean View High School; Luvena Hayton, Corona del Mar business leader; and Teresa Salvidar, entrepreneur and Hispanic woman of the year in business. Honorees were nominated by YWCA members and former recipients.

Corporate award winners nominated by Orange County companies were: Patricia Buttress, Linda Gilleland and Catherine Elaine Kimbrough, all from Southern California Edison; Ruthe Gorman, vice president with J. Ray Development, and Rosemarie DiLorenzo, general manager of Holiday Inn.

The YWCA has held its tributes to women since 1978. Members have found a growing number of worthy candidates to nominate for their awards as women rise through the ranks of business and public service.

“Finding outstanding women is fortunately pretty easy these days,” said Becky Brundage, president of the YWCA of South Orange County.

Said event co-chairwoman Carole Sherman, president of the YWCA, North Orange County: “Every year we do this, the honorees are more exciting.”

United They Stand

This is the first year the two county chapters of the YWCA united to present the awards.

“The idea was to put our efforts together,” Brundage said. “We wanted to honor some of the same women, so it was very logical to join forces.”

Before the awards ceremonies, guests enjoyed a luncheon of grilled pesto chicken with goat cheese and chocolate crepes with chocolate sabayon and raspberry coulis.

Also attending were event co-chairwoman Gwenda Watson, Jean Aldrich, Geni Bennets, Lee Bright, Patricia Emison Cox, Mary Douglas, Beverly Glen, Adleane Hunter, Mary Jones, Marjorie Kauth, Joan Lars, Peter and Mary Muth, Bonny Schumacher, Florence Schumacher, Robert and Barbara Shelton, Kimberly Stauffer, Lee Steelman, Alicemarie Stotler and Fran Williams.