The EmpowHer Newtown Award Committee, presented by the World Heritage Cultural Center (WHCC), reminds readers that the inaugural awards will be celebrated during a public event this month.

The goal of the EmpowHer Awards is to recognize members of the community who help make positive changes and inspire others in the community, according to a statement from the Award Committee following its inaugural gathering in May. The award will honor and recognize the accomplishments of women and their allies who lead, inspire, and motivate.

“There are so many people that do so many things but never get spotlighted or noticed. They deserve that spotlight,” Sattie Persaud, founder of WHCC, told The Newtown Bee in May.

Persaud is a member of Forbes’ Nonprofit Council thanks to her work with WHCC being recognized by the magazine in 2023.

There are six awards: Game Changer Entrepreneur Award, Trailblazer Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Rising Star Award (ages 12-18), SupportHer Award, and a SupportHer Award for ages 12-18.

According to the awards committee, EmpowHER awardees will be role models who inspire those around her to be more and do more. She uses her influence and position of power to inspire change in her network, workplace, or community. She is admired and respected for her resilience, leadership, and humility.

In addition, the honorees have grit and fight for what they believe in, regardless of the barriers. They are not afraid to roll up their sleeves. They ignore the naysayers and fearlessly step outside their comfort zone to pave the road for others to follow.

The SupportHer Award is for men in the community who go above and beyond supporting women and their efforts in the area. A male ally is a man who recognizes and supports women’s qualities in the workplace and in society. They recognize that gender inequality exists and advocate for fairness and equity. They advocate for gender diversity and support women’s advancement. They may use public acts of advocacy and sponsorship to drive systemic improvements to organizational culture, and they may also force challenging dialogues to push boundaries.

Nominees for any of these awards must live or work in Newtown.

Nominations are still being accepted; deadline has been extended to August 15.

To nominate an individual, visit mywhcc.org/nominate and fill out the first form on the website.

To vote for someone, fill out the second form on the page with the person’s name.

The goal of the EmpowHer Newtown Awards is to bring WHCC into the Newtown community.

“We have built this robust, global network and we are ready to share that,” Anindita Nanda, co-chair of the EmpowHer Newtown Awards Committee, said.

“We have an amazing judging committee board that is being set up,” fellow co-chair Alex Villamil said.

The awards will be presented Saturday, August 24, at HillTop Kitchen, 4 Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. The ceremony will take place from 6-10 pm and the attire is formal. Tickets are $80 each, and available at mywhcc.org/empowher-tickets.

Proceeds from the tickets will go into a scholarship fund to give back to the community for future generations of children to expand their learning opportunities.

Villamil this week said he and others are looking forward to the next few weeks.

“It’s been a fun process and we’re excited about the event being so near,” he said August 7. “Nominations close on August 15 so folks can still nominate people they think deserve recognition.

“We are in countdown mode and eager to be meeting the winners.”