The 2025 Women Inspired Network Launch, “Time to Give, Gather and Grow” was held Tuesday, March 11, at the August Hill Tasting Room in Utica, Illinois. Speakers included WIN co-chair and co-founder Cherie Reynolds, Grants and Events chair Debbie Buffington, Scholarship Chair Jane Goetz, and La Salle County Sheriff’s Chaplain Dave Van Laar.
Scholarship Committee Chair Jane Goetz said establishment of the Young Women Leaders Scholarship in 2021 was “testament to WIN’s commitment to empower the next generation of women leaders.”
For the first time this spring, WIN will award two $3,000 scholarships. A record 40 students applied for the fall 2025 awards.
“Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the success of the WIN golf outing … we have made a profound impact on the lives of young women in our community,” said Jane. She credited Carol Kuzmich of Ottawa for leading the golf fundraisers.
Jane also noted, “WIN is more than just a scholarship program: it is a movement to put the power in the hands of the women in our community – a movement to ensure better opportunities, both in the workforce and in our personal lives.
“Together we can stand for change, advocate for equality, and lift up the voices and futures of women who are ready to make their mark.”
Chaplain Van Laar thanked WIN for making the first significant investment in his program when it granted it $4,500 to strengthen its ability to assist individuals in crisis by addressing urgent needs such as food, clothing, and transportation. WIN “validated” the work his program is doing, he said.
Guest speakers were Jennifer and Stephanie Bias of Camp Aramoni, the boutique campground in Lowell.
