Girls Inc. Athena Awards & Fundraising Dinner
Join us for this exciting first year of a combined event featuring both of our community’s long-running events:
ATHENA International Leadership Awards & Girls Inc. of Wayne County Signature Event.
Friday, August 22, 2025
– Tickets Not Yet Available –
To become a sponsor and reserve your sponsor table, please email tmuldoon@girlsincwayne.org
At this year’s event, guests will join us as we honor and celebrate our 2025 ATHENA award winner, our Girl of the Year,
and more while supporting programming for Girls Inc. of Wayne County.
This event is a fundraiser for Girls Inc. of Wayne County, a local nonprofit that has been a pro-girl space for over 55 years.
Thank you to our sponsors
EVENT PREMIER TITLE SPONSORS
EVENT DECOR SPONSOR
STRONG SPONSOR
Wayne Bank and IU East Announce Transfer of Hosting of Wayne County
ATHENA Leadership Awards to Girls Inc. of Wayne County
Richmond, IN – February 28, 2025 – After jointly hosting the Wayne County ATHENA
Leadership Awards since 2014, Wayne Bank and Indiana University East (IU East) are
proud to announce the transfer of event hosting responsibilities to Girls Inc. of Wayne
County. Both organizations remain strong advocates for the continued success of the
ATHENA Leadership Awards and will serve as title sponsors for the 2025 event.
The ATHENA Leadership Awards recognize outstanding women who have
demonstrated exceptional leadership, community involvement, and commitment to
empowering others. For over a decade, Wayne Bank and IU East have worked together
to honor these leaders, celebrating the achievements of women who inspire positive
change and progress in Wayne County and beyond.
“Wayne Bank has been privileged to be a part of the ATHENA Leadership Awards since
the beginning, and we are thrilled to see the event continue under the capable
leadership of Girls Inc. of Wayne County,” said Mike Gaddis, President and CEO at
Wayne Bank. “We are confident that Girls Inc. will carry forward the spirit of this
important event, and we’re excited to continue our support as title sponsors for 2025.”
IU East Chancellor, Dennis Rome echoed these sentiments: “This partnership has been
a wonderful opportunity for IU East to celebrate and support the outstanding women
leaders in our community. We look forward to seeing how Girls Inc. will build on this
legacy and continue to elevate the voices of women leaders in Wayne County.”
Girls Inc. of Wayne County is excited to assume the role of host for the prestigious
event and to continue advancing the mission of the ATHENA Leadership Awards in their
new capacity. “Girls Inc. has long been dedicated to empowering young women in our
community, and we are honored to take on this new responsibility,” said Tai Muldoon,
Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Wayne County. “We are grateful for the continued
support of Wayne Bank and IU East, and we look forward to a successful and inspiring
event in 2025.”
The 2025 Wayne County ATHENA Leadership Awards will be held on August 22, 2025,
with more details to be shared as the event date approaches.
For more information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, please visit
girlsincwayne.org or contact Tai Muldoon, CEO.
About Wayne Bank:
Wayne Bank has been serving the Wayne County community since 1882. With a strong
commitment to providing personalized financial solutions, Wayne Bank supports local
businesses and individuals with a focus on exceptional customer service.
About Indiana University East:
IU East is a regional campus of Indiana University, offering a wide range of
undergraduate and graduate programs. Located in Richmond, Indiana, IU East is
dedicated to providing high-quality education that fosters academic excellence and
community engagement.
About Girls Inc. of Wayne County:
Girls Inc. of Wayne County is a nonprofit organization that inspires girls to be strong,
smart, and bold through life-changing programs and experiences. Girls, Inc. empowers
girls to take risks, reach their full potential, and achieve their dreams.
About ATHENA International:
Founded over 30 years ago, ATHENA International is a women’s leadership
organization that supports, develops, and honors women leaders through the programs
it administers. ATHENA’s flagship program, the ATHENA Leadership Award® Program,
has honored over 7,000 women leaders from hundreds of cities and eight countries
since its inception in 1982.