RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- YWCA Richmond awarded eight women Tuesday, May 12, for their contributions across the Greater Richmond region. The 2026 YWCA Richmond's Outstanding Women Awards inducted eight women into a group of more than 300 female leaders, selected for the meaningful change they drive l ocally. "It's really just a celebration," said Angela Patton, honoree in Nonprofit Leadership. "Of all the parts that we play and making sure the world is more just, especially for women and girls." "To be part of that feels unreal, and I'm just beyond privileged to be a part of this network, and I will never take this honor for granted," said Cari Tretina, honoree in Faith in Action Human Relations. The women were nominated and selected for their leadership and shaping of the Greater Richmond region. Tretina is the Executive Director for the Henrico Economic Development Authority. There, she creates pipeline for careers, enables access to childcare and ensures a high quality of life for her residents. "One of the specific pathways that we try to uplift the women in Henrico County, is supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs," Tretina said. "A lot of times we have women who are trying to figure out, they have a really great idea, they have this business that they want to grow and they just don't know where to start. And so our team works night and day to figure out how to get them the right resources.” Patton is the founder and CEO of Girls for a Change. "Girls for a Change's mission is to prepare Black girls for the world, and the world for Black girls," Patton said. "The YWCA is so in line with the work that we do at Girls for a Change, really making sure that women are seen and heard and celebrated," Patton said. "Uplifting us, protecting us, supporting us and providing access to opportunities. So when an organization that is extremely on the same page as you and, you all are just in sync, it definitely is extremely rewarding." YWCA leadership said this event reinforces their decades-long history of working to make the lives of women, families and children in the Richmond area better. “I'm going to be in the room with women who are mighty warriors, and that have the tools, the resources, the backs that are built for this," Patton said. "And then we're going to make sure that that change, that we all are striving for, will continue.” This year’s honorees include: Sue Davies, Markel - Business Vanessa Walker-Harris - Health Science Amanda Lynch - Education Angela Patton - Nonprofit Leadership Daphne Maxwell Reid - Arts Culture Nannette Shor - Volunteerism Martha Shickle - Law Government Cari Tretina - Faith in Action Human Relations The event raised funds for the YWCA's work as the largest domestic violence resource provider in the region. ...read more read less