Nominations sought for Women & Girls Fund Award

Amelia “Amy” Blades Steward, center, received the 2024 Women & Girls Fund Award at the Annual Grants & Awards Luncheon, held April 29, 2024 at the Tidewater Inn. Pictured from left, then-Board President Karen Kaludis, Amy Steward, and Alice Ryan, Women & Girls Fund founder. Photo credit: Star Democrat

The Women & Girls Fund of the Mid-Shore is accepting nominations for its annual Women & Girls Fund Award, which will be presented to the recipient at the annual Grants & Awards Luncheon in the spring.Established in 2004, the award honors a community member from Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, or Talbot counties who has made outstanding professional or personal contributions towards addressing the needs of local women and girls.

Candidates for this award should have demonstrated leadership, vision, integrity, compassion, cooperation and generosity of time and talent in their efforts to improve the lives and opportunities of women and girls.

The 2024 Women & Girls Fund Award was presented to Amelia “Amy” Blades Steward, of Easton, for her outstanding professional and personal contributions to the Mid-Shore.  As a volunteer and board member, both locally and statewide, she has been active with numerous organizations, including Talbot Arts, Talbot Community Connections, Channel Marker, Character Counts, Waterfowl Festival, Shore Leadership Alumni Association, and Bay to Ocean Writer’s Conference Committee. As the owner of Steward Writing and Communications, she has helped elevate the visibility local nonprofits through marking, public relations, and fundraising services.  And, as a regional storyteller, Amy has focused her writing on telling the stories of those who are often overlooked in our community.  She has made long-lasting contributions to improving the lives of women, girls, and families in the Mid-Shore.