Riverbend Family Ministries’ Tammy Iskarous was recently included among a select group of women honored as 2018 Women of Achievement.
Iskarous is one of 10 extraordinary volunteers from the St. Louis metropolitan region to receive the 2018 honor. The St. Louis Women of Achievement Award, which was founded in 1955, is the oldest, ongoing program in the area whose sole mission is to honor and recognize the volunteer service and volunteer leadership of women.
“A hard-working volunteer who has clocked more than 30,000 volunteer hours and believes there is always she would be the first one to tell you that there’s more work to be done,” the St. Louis Women of Achievement announcement said of Iskarous. “She had a vision to bring smaller nonprofits all under one roof in order for them to work together holistically for families in crisis due to violence, addiction, homelessness and poverty.
“She founded Riverbend Family Ministries, an incubator model of care that has been recognized by leaders in Madison County and Illinois. She has served on the boards of other nonprofits, including YWCA-Alton, Wood River Library, Phillips 66 Community Action Panel, Wood River Business Alliance, Wood River Women Club, and was a past Wood River Rotarian and PEO. She is active in her local church and has a strong voice in the mission work that is done through her congregation.”
Iskarous was chosen for her “social enterprise.”
“The Women of Achievement Class of 2018 is a strong, inspiring group of women who have decades upon decades of impactful volunteerism,” said Women of Achievement President Gwendolyn Packnett, Ph.D. (Class of 2006). “It’s truly an honor for us to recognize these outstanding women and highlight the many years and many ways they’ve donated their time, energy, talent and leadership to enhance our region’s nonprofits and make a noticeable difference in the community.”
“The annual luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis is our special way of celebrating the honorees alongside their families, friends, civic and community leaders, and nonprofit organizations they volunteer with,” said Phyllis Langsdorf, chair of the 2018 Women of Achievement Luncheon. “Not only do the honorees receive their awards and enjoy a gourmet lunch, but we also feature a 30-minute video about the honorees and their history of volunteer service. It’s a touching gesture that reminds us of the power and unity in volunteering.”
Women of Achievement honorees are selected from nominations from the St. Louis metropolitan area, including Metro East Illinois, who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the betterment of the St. Louis region through voluntary contributions, volunteer leadership and a significant breadth of a volunteer career. Women of Achievement considers nominees with significant volunteer impact in areas such as, but not limited to, education, arts, health and human services, youth and family, philanthropy, social justice and advocacy. For additional information about the awards, luncheon and honorees, please visit www.woastl.org.
