Friday, March 6, 2026 | 11am – 2pm
Westwood Country Club – Vienna, VA
With the help of our event supporters, we raised over $208,000 to support Women Giving Back’s mission!
Every year we celebrate International Women’s Day in March by hosting our Empowerment Luncheon. In partnership with event sponsor M&T Bank, we invite influential trailblazing women from a diverse variety of backgrounds and industries to join us in connecting with and further inspiring each other.
The Luncheon is a fun and uplifting opportunity to gather and hear about the exceptional impact that Women Giving Back is having on the women and children we serve. During the program there are testimonials from Women Giving Back clients, and attendees learn how they can also get involved through volunteerism and programmatic partnerships.
Meet This Year’s Keynote Speaker:
Kathy Bonnafe
CEO
Combined Creative
We’re Excited to Welcome as
Event Emcee:
Shawn Yancy
News Anchor
NBC4
Host Committee Members
Event Chair: *Cecilia Hodges – Regional President, M&T Bank
Lauren Bauer, VP, PhD – Finance & CFO, Elm Street Development
Irma Becerra, PhD – President, Marymount University
Jennifer Bognet – Executive Vice President, Bognet Construction
Jackie Bradford – President, NBC4/Telemundo 44
Mary Brady – President and CEO, The Economic Club of Washington DC
Cliff Chiet – Chief Integrated Marketing Director, iHeart Media
*Diane DuBois– Retired, Washington Post
Guitty Ejtemai – Vice President, The Abdolhossein & Guitty Ejtemai Foundation
Lorin Fantaskey – Senior VP of Suites, Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Nancy Greene, Chairman, President & CEO, Miles & Stockbridge
Melonie Johnson – President & COO, MGM National Harbor
Anne Kress, PhD – President, Northern Virginia Community College
Monica Modi Dalwadi– Eastern Regional Managing Principal, Baker Tilly US, LLP
Patsy Norton, Owner, Great American Restaurants
Linda Rabbitt– Founder and Executive Chairman, rand* construction corporation
Susan Riel– President and CEO, Eagle Bank
Kimberly Roy – CEO, HITT Contracting
Janis Schiff– Partner, Holland & Knight
Courtney Spaeth– CEO, growth[period]
Patricia Steis– Managing Director and Global Engagement Partner, Marsh
Lynn Stith Bennett – Managing Principal and Chief Strategy Officer, Coakley & Williams Construction
*Leslie Strittmatter – Retired, New Homes Guide
Julie van der Vate – COO of Finance and Strategic Growth, Van Metre Companies
*Lauren Vanni Kinard– President, First Excel Title LLC
*Women Giving Back Board Member
Table Sponsors
In-Kind Donors
Baker Tilly
The Capital Grille Tysons
Chip McCrea Photography
Coakley & Williams Construction
EagleBank
The Economic Club of Washington DC
First Excel Title
Great American Restaurants
iHeart Media
King Spa
Karin’s Florist
M&T Bank
Marymount University
MGM National Harbor
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
NBC4/Telemundo44
Van Metre Companies
The Washington Nationals
Yasemine Kemp
