YWCA Dayton is preparing to pull back the curtain on its 2027 Women of Influence class, with the organization selecting six honorees for the coming year's celebration.
The 2027 celebratory event will be held at the Dayton Convention Center, according to the Dayton Daily News. YWCA Dayton itself frames the program as more than a feel-good ceremony: on its website, the organization describes Women of Influence as an annual celebration honoring six of Dayton's most influential women and calls it the organization's largest annual fundraiser. The nonprofit's 2027 Partnership Guide also highlights opportunities for sponsors and supporters to get involved with the signature celebration.
A Tradition Stretching Back More Than Two Decades
The Women of Influence awards have recognized local women for their voices, vision and leadership for more than 25 years, per a report from Yahoo. That track record has made the luncheon a fixture on Dayton's philanthropic calendar, and this year's program follows a well-worn format: honorees are feted at a sit-down event, with the organization using the occasion to raise money for its broader mission.
Event listings on the ticketing platform GiveSmart show the Dayton Convention Center as the program's home base, with sponsorship packages that include a table with premier seating along with sponsor listings in the digital program, website and annual report. Those listings underscore how central the fundraiser is to the organization's finances, even as the focus each year stays on the honorees themselves.
Looking Back At The 2026 Class
Last year's version of the event drew more than 700 people to the Dayton Convention Center for the March 12 luncheon, with the program photographed by Nick Graham. That 2026 class honored five women for their community impact alongside one additional recipient of a lifetime achievement award, under the theme “Writing our Future Together,” the Dayton Daily News reported at the time.
The 2026 honorees included Debbie Blunden Diggs, CEO and artistic director of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and Myla Cardona Jones, CEO of Brunner Literacy Center, along with Robyn Lightcap, Heather Salazar and Lisa Wagner, according to Yahoo's account of the event. Yahoo spelled the honor the Betsy Whitney Lifetime Achievement Award and named Vicki Giambrone as its recipient.
What Comes Next For 2027
With six honorees for 2027, YWCA Dayton is preparing for its upcoming celebratory event. The organization directs the public to ywcadayton.org for event information as details continue to roll out ahead of the Dayton Convention Center gathering.
