Riverside County Women of the Year Named

Five Riverside County women were named 2011 Women of the Year in a ceremony held today.

Here in the United States presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have been issuing a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month” since 1995.

Here in Riverside County, the Board of Supervisors and the County of Riverside’s Commission for Women are making no exception, a news release stated.

After a thorough review of this year’s applicants, the County of Riverside Commission for Women was pleased to announce the 2011 Women of the Year Award Recipients:

· 1st District Woman of the Year, Lisa Dryan
· 2nd District Woman of the Year, Lori Wood
· 3rd District Woman of the Year, Judy Harter
· 4th District Woman of the Year, Bea Main
· 5th District Woman of the Year, Joan Butters

These outstanding women have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their communities, by working to improve the status of women and their families in Riverside County, the news release stated.

Here are biographies of the women as posted on the Riverside County Commission for Women website.

Lisa Dryan, 1st District: In February 2009, Greg Burchett came home early from work to find a traumatized wife. Two days later Lori Burchett was accused of murdering her 17-month old son Garrison. This event triggered something in Lisa and she had to act on behalf of little Garrison (now gone), his 3-year old brother, and father grieving and confused. Lisa was funded a grant to begin (IEPMHC), Inland Empire Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, whose aim is to advocate for an underserved population of families needing help by identifying resources and training professionals. In 2010, Lisa founded Capable Girls. What started a need for her daughter and other girls who have trouble making and keeping friends, turned out as a movement to connect youths together. 

Lori Wood, 2nd District: Lori lived in foster care and on the streets of Hollywood at the age of 13. Although having issues of being bi-polar, she never lets that stand in her way and is very open about her status. Lori is a resident leader at the women’s shelter Riverside Set Free. Her room is smaller than most of our closets and she leads by example. She has walked in most shoes worn by the women who reside at the shelter. Lori has conducted countless daily activities that provide at risk women with the opportunity to get involved in a positive way to help the community of Riverside. Lori understands the importance of education. Although Lori has never attended a University, she recently achieved certificates on Drug Counseling and Social Homeless Counseling from Riverside Community College with outstanding grades. 

Judy Harter, 3rd District: For the past eight years, Judy has organized an event called “Support our Troops” where Family Readiness Officer’s (FROs) from active duty Marine Corps units are contacted and a selection of special circumstances beside active duty families are selected to participate with this moving event. Thirty families were “gifted in 2011”, and no child was left behind in receiving gifts from Santa Claus and many prestigious sponsors throughout southwest Riverside County. Judy also launched a program called “Wheels for Warriors”. To date, Judy and her Foundation “All From The Heart” has gifted 92 power chairs to wounded warriors. Her most recent project (initiated by Judy) is her “Devine Equine” horse therapy project assisting veterans who suffer from traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Judy says the horses sense the stress and bonds with vets. One story involves a 64-year-old Vietnam vet who slept in his car for the past eight years. Three weeks into horse therapy, he is now able to sleep in his own home.

Bea Main, 4th District: Bea is part of many sewing clubs that make blankets for kids, charity and the poor. She has donated numerous hours of her time over the years to Child Help. She has donated time and money to a community center for the residents of Mecca, Thermal and Coachella. This center has been given her name, San Jose & Bea Main Learning Center. To date she has helped approximately six girls attend college or specialized school. She set up a private foundation that will provide three scholarships a year to girls after she is deceased. Bea is a determined 90-year old who plans to live until she’s 110. The world would be so lucky to have her forever. 

Joan Butters, 5th District: Joan is the founder of Suicide Awareness Requires Action (S.A.R.A.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing suicide through education. She began this organization after her daughter Sara committed suicide, at the age of seventeen. Joan is very much responsible for opening dialogue about suicide in Riverside County. While suicide is often considered a taboo subject, the fact remains that it is the third leading cause of death among people ages 15-24. Joan travels all throughout Southern California giving presentations on suicide prevention to thousands of teens and her efforts have helped prevent many suicides by helping provide the information, tools and resources to help identify and assist at risk youth. In the summer of 2010, Joan was diagnosed with breast cancer, and ultimately underwent a mastectomy. Joan had presentations scheduled throughout the fall of that year, and she made every single presentation.