LEWISTON — On Thursday, Oct. 27, the YWCA of Central Maine hosted the second annual Women of Achievement Awards Gala at the Agora Grand Event Center in Lewiston.

The YWCA was joined in a celebration of women’s leadership in the community by more than 160 guests, including community members, friends and family of the honorees, and members, staff, and board of the organization.

The event included a festive reception, dinner catered by Mac’s Grill of Auburn, and tribute films to each of the award recipients. The Women of Achievement Awards Gala master of ceremonies for the evening was WMTW News meteorologist Sarah Long.

The YWCA presented three awards to women from the Lewiston-Auburn community.

The Tonie Ramsey Service Award recognizes exceptional, long-term commitment to improving communities and the lives of others through service. This year’s Tonie Ramsey Service was presented to Marilyn Simonds of Auburn.

The Lee Young Leadership Award honors excellence in professional, community, political or artistic fields and was presented to Rep. Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston.

The evening’s final award, the Priscilla Gendron Legacy Award, highlights extraordinary investment in public enrichment through philanthropic giving and service and was presented to Barbara Trafton of Auburn.

The celebration concluded with two surprise announcements. The first included a recognition of the Gendron family’s legacy of generosity to the YWCA.

Six years ago, when the YWCA nearly closed its doors due to financial hardship, Dolard and Priscilla Gendron of Lewiston began a fundraising campaign known as the Gendron Challenge and raised $50,000.

YWCA Executive Director Kathy Durgin-Leighton shared with guests of the Women of Achievement Awards Gala that the family’s philanthropic support of the YWCA will continue. The YWCA will announce specific developments in the coming weeks.

The YWCA was also honored to reveal a fourth Women of Achievement Award during the evening’s program — the Marcia Baxter Social Justice Award. The YWCA created this award to honor women in the local community and state of Maine whose work has focused on the advancement of the YWCA mission and who have demonstrated commitment to principles of equity and justice.

The Social Justice Award is named in honor of the work of Marcia Baxter of Auburn. Baxter’s work with the YWCA Central Maine and the YWCA USA, beginning with racial justice education for teen girls in the early 1970s, embodies the organization’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. The Social Justice Award will be presented annually in honor of Marcia Baxter’s legacy.

To learn more about the awards, how to submit nominations, or to sponsor the 2017 Women of Achievement Awards Gala, contact the YWCA at 207-795-4050.