Women of Distinction honored by Soroptimists
Soroptimist Beth Barclay, the executive director of ICARE Children and Family Advocacy Center, recently received the Soroptimist Women of Distinction Award in community service at the 25th annual Women’s Forum Women of Distinction awards luncheon.
Soroptimist is an international organization for business and professional women who provide volunteer services to their communities.
Barclay and eight other women were honored for their commitment, compassion and dedication. Other recipients were: Kathie O’Brien, Arts and Culture; Business and Professional, Michelle Fink; Community Activist, Midge Smock; Education, Hilary Banger; Health, Pam Harris; Public Service, Nancy Cota; Senior, Carolyn Crollard; and Spirit of the American Woman, Laura Fulton.
Barclay leads ICARE, a nonprofit, child abuse prevention agency that partners with parents to build strong families. Their goal is to reduce the risk factors that challenge families by offering strategies to strengthen families in need of extra support. ICARE services are free, and there are no financial qualifications or age limits for children
This year in Kootenai County more than 950 children will be abused or neglected according to ICARE statistics. People who are abused as children often experience problems later in life involving juvenile crime, poor academic performance, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, obesity, poor physical health, teen pregnancy and suicide.
Barclay learned from her tenure as founder and former director of Project Safe Place, that the prevention of violence must focus on the early childhood experiences of all children. In response Barclay has been instrumental in beginning programs at ICARE that offer training and education.
O’Brien was praised for her dedication and hard work for the Lake City Playhouse. She has served on the board, as a costumer, actress, writer and executive director, and has been instrumental in bringing renewed success to the Playhouse.
Fink, North Idaho Title Co. president and Kootenai County Task Force for Human Rights president, was honored as a business woman who continuously gives back to her community through a variety of causes.
Smock, an owner of Windermere Realty, was recognized as a community leader whose passion has been helping children. She spearheaded the effort to build a home for Shasta Groene, as well as many other community projects.
Banger, a counselor at Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities, has been instrumental in helping students succeed and excel with interventions, trainings and special programs.
Harris, a TESH director who began the innovative program Pathways to Independence, has been instrumental in teaching developmentally disadvantaged clients independent living skills. She provides job counseling and spends her off time helping clients shop, run errands and do daily chores.
Cota, executive assistant for the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, has held her position for 15 years. According to nominator Chief Wayne Longo, Cota is part of the “talented staff behind the front lines that makes our job not only possible but has a direct effect on the officer’s ability to perform and respond.”
Crollard has served as Cancer Community Charities president, is a Coeur d’Alene Library and Symphony board member and Opera Plus treasurer. She was honored for her extensive volunteer efforts which help to make the Coeur d’Alene community a better place.
The Spirit of the American Woman award went to Laura Fulton who died unexpectedly last June from a staph infection.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Cynthia Hammond, director of Lewis-Clark State College in Coeur d’Alene and a past recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award in Education.