Susan Adams was presented with the 2016 Woman of the Year Award in recognition of her numerous contributions to the community at the fourth annual Woman of the Year Awards Luncheon, hosted by the Junior League of Indian River.
Adams received the award in front of a packed house at the Oak Harbor Club last Wednesday, at an event that honored the accomplishments of 22 outstanding women nominated in the categories of Business Professional, Civic/Non-Profit Professional, Volunteer and Rising Star, capped off by the Woman of the Year designation.
The women had been nominated by various community organizations and were selected by members of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches based on applications listing their achievements as role models, organizational and volunteer contributions, ethical standards and community involvement.
“These are community leaders and wonderful women that have given their time to the community,” said Nicki Maslin, committee member. “What the Junior League does is to say thank you to those women. Every person nominated is a winner in our community.”
In her welcome address, JLIR President Ann Bixel stressed the impact these women have had on the local community. Committee members Meredith Egan, Leah Hamilton, Vanessa Larson and Kerryane Monahan listed the impressive accomplishments of the women in each category before announcing the winners: Business Professional, Nellie Quiros; Civic/Non-Profit Professional, Susan Adams; Rising Star: Abigail Bailey; and Volunteer: Sharon Wolf.
Adams, a former mayor of Fellsmere and the owner/operator of the Marsh Landing Restaurant, was presented the Woman of the Year award by event chair Allison Cloughley. Adams was applauded for her involvement with the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival, which has donated $1.1 million over the years toward Fellsmere youth programs. Among other organizations, Adams is involved in the Senior Resource Association Meals on Wheels program and is currently chair-elect of the United Way of Indian River County Board of Directors.
“This is like nothing you ever expect,” said Adams of the award. “It is just an honor to be among these other women who do so much in our community. It is awe inspiring.”
Adams said her parents always told her, “If you want to be part of your community, you have to take part in it.”
“Working with Susan over the last couple of years has been wonderful; she is just fun to work with. She’s sharp and she serves a community that so many folks may ignore out in Fellsmere,” said United Way CEO Michael Kint, who nominated Adams for the award. “She is such a special lady and I am very excited for her.”
Although all the awards were meaningful, JLIR Membership Vice President Kerryane Monahan said that the Rising Star award spoke to what the organization stood for – women mentoring the next generation of girls who will become the community’s future leaders and volunteers.
“These are the young women that are influencing others today to carry us through tomorrow,” said Monahan. “They will be the women who are in the Women of the Year categories in the future.”
Proceeds from the luncheon, attended by roughly 250 guests, will assist the JLIR to continue its mission of fulfilling the unmet needs of the community through effective action and volunteerism. The league has instituted and spun off programs such as the Youth Volunteer Corps, Sneaker Exchange, Valued Visits and the Non-Profit Forum. Their current initiative, Whole Child Indian River, is an online program, www.wholechildirc.org, which connects families with resources, assessing their needs and referring them to the appropriate services.
