Corporate Pillar Spotlight: Virtual TWIN Awards

This year marks the 27th anniversary of the WCA’s Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Awards, given to outstanding professional women in our community by organizations that celebrate their leadership and strength positions. It is an elite group of over 1,100 leaders who represent a wide range of industries and careers. The reason that we are celebrating these women is as important as it was at its inception in 1994. Due to the pandemic this year’s TWIN Awards celebration was virtual and aired on September 1. You are invited to watch the video. The words are important. The message is crystal clear.

The 2020 TWIN Honorees are definitely determined to make the world a much better place, especially for those in our community who need it the most.

We are so incredibly grateful to our Corporate Pillars, the businesses and organizations that provide opportunities and support to recognize and empower women leaders. Unique in its format, the TWIN award allows organizations to celebrate women leaders while supporting the work of the WCA, an organization providing safety, healing and freedom to those who have suffered domestic abuse and sexual assault. Our business partners recognize this important need, and since the inception of TWIN have contributed close to $3 million to the WCA, helping to fund our critical programs and services. These businesses and organizations know that women who suffer abuse and sexual assault face issues that sometimes endanger or impact their very survival.

Businesses and organizations have been the essential backbone to allow many in our community to heal from trauma, break the cycle of abuse and create a healthy life for themselves and their children. The need for our services has never been greater than during this pandemic, and so on behalf of all those seeking our services — we are so grateful. And to the recipients of this award, we are so proud of and celebrate them. We honor these remarkable 48  2020 TWIN Honorees. Click here to view the list of our 2020 TWIN Honorees.

One of this year’s Honorees is K9 Bella, an 11-year-old recently retired employee of the Boise Police Department. With her handler Officer Antony Damer, Bella has served our community and the country as part of a very successful explosive detection unit. During her service, Bella has been deployed hundreds of times for cargo sniffs, bomb threats and sweep of major events, such as presidential visits and the Super Bowl. Also important, Bella spent over 1,700 hours out of the public eye at the Boise Airport making sure travelers saw them and felt safe. Here is Bella’s TWIN video clip.

Though an unusual TWIN Award recipient, we thank Bella for her important service to keep out community safe. We wish Bella well in her retirement at home with Office Damer. She has made hundreds of friends over the years and loves walks on the Boise Greenbelt and taking naps next to the family fire.

 We also welcome and greatly appreciate new business supporters to contribute in a way of their choosing  – financial or in-kind – to the critical work we do for the community. For more information on the WCA’s corporate and business partners program, please contact Lisa Uhlmann at [email protected].

Congratulations to the 2020 TWIN Honorees and the businesses that support them on a daily basis.  We count our lucky stars these exceptional women and their businesses are there to help our community.  We couldn’t do our work without them. No doubt.

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