Lead the Change

Thursday, October 23

11:30 AM — 1:00 PM

455 N. 10th St.

Our history table, store pop-up shop and photobooth opportunities start at 11:00 AM.

Doors to the ballroom open at 11:20 AM with the program beginning at 11:45 AM.

Event Schedule

Special Presentation

Remarks by Jo Giles

Video Presentation

Keynote by Ashley Judd

#LeadTheChange

Make a Bigger Impact

Your gift, in any amount, will help us continue to work on the most critical issues—economic security, freedom from violence, sexual literacy and leadership. Invest in our community’s future. Invest in gender equity.

Donate online with credit, debit or Venmo via our form!

Registration has closed. Event details and seating information will be sent soon.

Featured Speaker

ASHLEY JUDD

Actor, Humanitarian, Daughter, Sister and New York Times Bestselling Author

Ashley Judd is a Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress, a feminist and social justice humanitarian. She is the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for the sexual and reproductive rights and health for girls and women worldwide. She serves on several boards, including the International Center for Research on Women, the Rape and Incest National Network, Demand Abolition, the Gloria Steinem Sex Equality Fund to End Trafficking in Women.

Ashley was Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2017 as one of the Silence Breakers. In 2019, the United Nations honored her as Global Advocate of the Year. 

Marian Ivers Community Leadership Award

ADITI RAI

2025 Award Recipient

Aditi Rai leads with compassion, connection, and a drive to help others thrive. A senior at UNO majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Chemistry, she balances a rigorous academic load with a deep commitment to service—from supporting Ukrainian students to volunteering at CHI Health and Nebraska Medicine. Through global nonprofits like Aid2Day and Interns4Good, she’s raised thousands for children with cancer and connected peers to meaningful projects.

At UNO, Aditi has served as Chair of the College of Information Science & Technology Student Advisory Board and now as Student Body Vice President, advocating for collaboration and inclusion across campus. “Making a difference doesn’t always mean big projects—it means showing up, creating space, and making opportunities for everyone,” she says.

Rai hopes to merge her passions for technology and medicine to improve patient care—embodying the spirit of the Marian Ivers Community Service Leadership Award.

Marian Ivers’ life is an example of the value of hard work and positive support of the organizations and people around her. As a single mother, she raised two daughters while working full-time. She had a secretarial degree, coupled with an intense drive and great vision. She started a 27-year career at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce in 1962 as executive secretary. During her career, she constantly worked to promote Omaha, the chamber, countless staff and volunteers.

She quietly served the Omaha Chamber, always promoting others, until the last ten years of her career when she directed her talent to helping nonprofit organizations. Marian was a founding member of many organizations, including the Women’s Fund of Omaha and was honored numerous times for her visionary leadership and ability to develop community support.

After her death in 2013, her friends made the decision to honor her memory by raising funds to develop the Marian Ivers Community Leadership Award and the Marian Ivers Internship. Both are designed to inspire and encourage University of Nebraska at Omaha students to develop critical leadership skills.

Because Marian was so critical to the early success of the Women’s Fund as well as countless women leaders in our community, we are honored to recognize her contributions through this award.

2025 Sponsors

With the generous support of the individual donors and corporate supporters, the Women’s Fund is able to identify issues, fund solutions and lead change to ensure a bright future for every person in our community.

ANNIVERSARY SPONSORS

CATALYST SPONSORS

Mutual of Omaha

CHAMPION SPONSOR

Caring for People Services_Logo Black
CoxCommunications2025
FNBO-Black
Fiserv- color
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methodist women's hospital
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CELEBRATION SPONSOR

Annette and Paul Smith

Clark Creative Group

Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine

Holland Basham Architects

Kiewit

Koley Jessen

McGrath North

Metropolitan Utilities District

RDG Planning & Design

Signature Performance

Tifany Somer-Shely MD

 

TABLE SPONSORS

Baird Holm LLP

Buildertrend

Elizabeth J. Campbell

Sarah E. Campbell  

Children’s Nebraska

City of Omaha

Cline Williams

Colliers

Dvorak Law Group

Eide Bailly LLP

Equal Opportunities Consulting

Godfather’s Pizza

I Be Black Girl

Investors Realty

Koenig|Dunne, PC, LLO

Lorraine Chang

METGreen Solutions

Methodist Women’s Clinic

Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition

Omaha Community Foundation

planit inc.

Pride Health Clinic

QLI

Together

Tonya Bousquet, Silverleaf Wealth Management

UNMC – College of Public Health

Weitz Family Foundation

Weitz Fellows

WoodmenLife

Emily Young

 

Past Keynote Speakers

DawnStaley

2024
Dawn Staley

2023
Geena Davis

2022
Anita Hill

2021
Tarana Burke

Valerie Jarrett

2019
Valerie Jarrett

Aly Raisman

2018
Aly Raisman

Octavia Spencer

2017
Octavia Spencer

2016
Lisa Ling

Corcoran - Head shot

2015
Barbara Corcoran

Sallie Krawcheck

2014
Sallie Krawcheck

Frequently Asked Questions

There is limited in-person seating available for the event to be hosted at CHI Health Center (455 N 10th Street, Omaha).

You can contact our Senior Marketing Manager Jill Johnson via email at JJohnson@OmahaWomensFund.org for questions about your ticket or the event.

No refunds are available for reserved event seating.

We care about the health and well-being of our community and know you do, too. We ask all attendees and event staff who are not vaccinated or at elevated risk to wear a face covering in the space.

Yes, lunch will be provided for all event attendees. All lunches are gluten-free and nut-free.

There is a Mamava suite available for breastfeeding parents who need a private space to pump or breastfeed. Please see an onsite staff member for the location.

A health and quiet room will also be available for anyone needing medical attention or a quiet space during the presentation. This space will be right outside of the main ballroom doors.