Monique Stanton honored for her work in the community with the 2020 Athena Award

When people talk about the progress that Michigan women have made it often includes those who call Macomb County home and have been nominated for the Macomb Foundation’s Athena Award.

“The Athena Program is a way to honor and celebrate the contributions individuals in our community have made to the cause of women’s leadership,” said Macomb Foundation CEO Kelley Lovati.

Historically, the ATHENA Award gets its name from the dynamic goddess of Greek mythology, who had the deity of resolute courage and wisdom and was guided and enlightened by reason.

It is also part of an international nonprofit that works to empower women in a leadership environment. They support and assist women and those who inspire them through specific, powerful programs that positively impact and develop the leader within them. By recognizing those talents within a woman, the organization is able to strengthen them through leadership training and prepare them to take on the world.

The Macomb Foundation has been recognizing its outstanding leaders since 1999 including Shirley Trewy-Conkins (2000), who was recognized for her work in supporting the county’s youngest residents at Small Wonders Early Learning Centers.

Over the years other top honors have gone to women of uniform including Leslie Wilson-Smith (2014), a military leader at U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command and Sue Coats (2007), the founder and former director of Turning Point, a nonprofit group that works to support victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Each year since an even longer list features those who were nominated for the work they’ve done – in their chosen profession and industry or community, and while only one nominee receives the prestigious award everyone is honored during a gala event hosted by the Macomb Foundation.

This year’s celebration was scaled back.

Due to the pandemic Thursday’s event at the Italian American Cultural Society and Banquet Center in Clinton Township was a small soiree of 100 people – but still as important as those held in previous years.

Especially to this year’s winner, Monique Stanton, former president and CEO of CARE of Southeastern Michigan, who dedicated her life to improving the child welfare system.

She was instrumental in the opening of a literacy center for Leaps and Bounds Family Services. She’s also expanded CARE’s presence throughout the region by helping to increase funding for recovery, created partnerships with multiple local hospitals and drug centers and started one of the largest peer recovery programs in Michigan.

To read the full article from The Voice: click here.