Login
 Search  

 Woman of the Year

It was in 1919 that women were admitted to the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee, a year before the passage of the Women’s Suffrage Amendment. The Democratic Party historically and presently has been responsible, to a conspicuous degree, for the modern development that has given women recognition in government.
In one of her newspaper columns of 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt suggested that there be a Democratic Women’s day celebration. Her proposal was taken up immediately, and Women's Day has become an annual event since then.
Each federated club in Pennsylvania is urged to celebrate Women’s Day with a fund-raising event for the benefit of the State Federation. The Federation then gives 25% of Women’s Day proceeds to the Memorial Scholarship Fund. The remainder is used for Federation operating expenses.

As each club and member forward their Women’s Day donation to the federation they accompany it with a nomination for PFDW's Woman of the Year. From these nominations the annual PFDW Woman of the Year is selected and is recognized at a special dinner during the Annual Convention. 

 

Woman of the Year Award   

 2011  Dorothy Gallagher
2010 Helen Whiteford
2009 Janet Spleen & Harriet Eshleman
2008 Joanne Messenlehner
2007 Dr Michele Bortner
2006 Ruth Raglin
2005 Dolores "Dee" J. McAliste
2004 Joan Kelley
2003 Catherine Baker Knoll & Rosalie Sim
2002 Shirley Protzman
2001 Patsy Hebor
2000 Martha Smith
1999 Winnie James
1998 Mary Uehlein
1997 Peg Hain
1996 Anna Abajace & Shirley Wanamaker
1995 Leona Bogdanski
1994 Mabel Meixell
1993 Winnie Williams & Phyllis Hrutkay
1992 Susan Rutt
1991 Louise John
1990 Rena Baumgartner
1989 Helen Masloff 
1988 Sophie Masloff 
1987 Barbara Bruno 
1986 Marianne McManus 
1985 Dorothy Price 
1984 Anna Cunha 
1983 Genevieve Morrow 
1982 Ruth C Rudy 
1981 Mamie Furmanski 
1980 Marilyn Newberry 
1979 Rita Wilson Kane 
1978 Anna Mae Dugan