By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
The National Association of Negro Business Women and Professionals Toledo Club held its annual Founder’s Day Celebration at City View Event Center Saturday, February 14. The organization honored the legacy of the NANBPWC Founders and recognized seven local school counselors for their service to the community.
“Today is our Founders’ Day event,” said Tyra Smith-Williamson, president of NANBPWC Toledo Chapter. “Along with celebrating our women’s history and our ritual that we do to commemorate our Founders and the shoulders that we stand on, today we honor our local celebrities.”
“Local celebrities are the ones that make a change and a difference. This year, we decided to honor our African American counselors that are in schools, that may get looked over, but they actually run everything,” she continued.
“We invite their families, close friends and their school leaders and so that we can spread love around them. We read their bios and tell about all the goodness that they do and they receive an award [for their service],” concluded Smith-Williamson.
The NANBPWC, Inc. 2026 Founder’s Day Celebration Honorees:
- Kimberly Castaneda (Old West End Academy)
- Pascha Jackson (Robinson Elementary & Glenwood Elementary)
- Chanell Phenix (Rosa Parks Elementary and Pickett Elementary)
- Ardelia Shuler (Grove Patterson Elementary)
- Devin Shuler (Reynolds Elementary)
- Terrina White (East Broadway Elementary)
- Stephanie Teamer (Rogers High School)
The event included the singing of the Black National Anthem, Introduction of NANBPWC Toledo Club Members, lunch, a Tribute to the NANBPWC Founders and Presentation of the Honorees.
Upcoming events for the NANBPWC Toledo Club include the Females Empowerment Event March 14 that will be held at the City View Event Center. The annual Cotillion, which is one of the clubs’ biggest fundraisers, will be held May 23rd.
The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. founded in 1935, emerged as a national non-profit organization in light of the need to promote and protect the interests of women business owners and professionals. (source: nanbpwc.org)
The Mission of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. is to promote and protect the interests of African American business and professional women; to serve as advisors for young people seeking to enter business and the professions; to improve the quality of life in our local and global communities, and to foster good fellowship. (source: ned-nanbpwc.org)
To learn more visit The Toledo Club NANBPWC, Inc. Facebook Page or the organization’s national website at nanbpwc.org .
