Recognizing Claremore women – and the fight against breast cancer – will be the focus of the upcoming Leading Ladies Gala, a banquet, auction and awards presentation hosted by the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce and Claremore Main Street on Oct. 11 at the Claremore Conference Center, 1400 Country Club Drive.
Formerly the Leading Ladies Expo, the Gala has a different format and feel this year as a sit-down dinner with a cocktail hour, a short presentation, a decorated bra contest called BRAvo!, a short presentation and the nightcap – the Leading Ladies Awards.
“As the Leading Ladies Awards have grown bigger, we really wanted to shift the focus of the entire event more toward a celebration of the winners,” said Jessica Jackson, Claremore Main Street director. “We’ve also always felt like women’s health was an important feature, which is why we have the breast cancer focus this year.”
The Leading Ladies awards honor seven women in the community who go above and beyond the call of duty and are nominated by their peers. All nominations are sent out of town for judging.
“We are thrilled to have so many qualified and outstanding women nominees and look forward to recognizing the following Leading Ladies 2018 award winners at the Gala on Oct. 11,” said Barby Myers, Claremore Area Chamber president and CEO.
The 2018 Leading Ladies Award winners and presenting sponsors are:
- Behind the Scenes Award, presented by CIEDA, honors Carolyn Robison, Rogers County Youth Services
- Business Leadership Award, presented by Wallace for Life, honors Brenda Reno, Sailor Antiques
- Community Supporter Award, presented by Claremore Market, honors Ashley May, MoreClaremore, Inc.
- Leader in Health Award, presented by A New Image, honors Brooke McIntyre, Hillcrest Hospital – Claremore
- Nonprofit Leadership Award, presented by Claremore Reveille Rotary, honors Layla Freeman, Light of Hope
- Rising Star Award, presented by Dr. Melinda Steelmon, honors Katelyn Gamble, Rogers State University student
- Leading Lady of the Year, presented by Northeast Tech, honors Crystal Campbell, SWABO Properties
Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. Doors to the banquet hall open at 6 p.m., and the presentation and dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and now on sale at the Chamber of Commerce office, 419 W. Will Rogers Blvd., or online at claremore.org. Corporate tables of eight are available for $300.
The presentation will feature two guest speakers – Edie Tolbert, breast cancer survivor telling her story, and Hillcrest Hospital’s Dr. Kyle Hrdlicka, who will be giving some facts and early-detection tips about breast cancer.
New this year is the BRAvo! bra decorating contest. Local businesses and individuals can decorate bras to be auctioned off during the event. The proceeds of the live and silent auctions will go to the Stonebrook Project, a Catoosa-based nonprofit that provides spa services to cancer patients and caregivers to provide a sanctuary of relaxation, pain management, physical and emotion healing for cancer patients.
Hillcrest Hospital is the Presenting Sponsor of the event. TTCU is the Entertainment Sponsor, and RCB Bank, Speedy Lube, The District on Main and The Stonebrook Project are the Ladies Loot Sponsors.
Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce and Claremore Main Street, nonprofit organizations designed to better improve the quality of life in Rogers County and enhance business success in the area.
For additional information about the Gala, please call the Claremore Chamber at (918) 341-2818 or Main Street at (918) 341-5881.
