Each year, The Business Forum hosts two events that are administered by
ATHENA International:
Both events honor men and women who help women build their leadership skills and attain professional excellence. Proceeds from both these events support The Business Forum's scholarship giving.
ATHENA AwardŽ Program
The ATHENA AwardŽ Program honors both women and men who have achieved excellence in their profession or life's work, devoted time and effort in their communities to improve the quality of life for others, and actively helped women realize their full leadership potential.
The ATHENA AwardŽ Program is The Business Forum's largest fundraising event. Proceeds benefit our
scholarship giving. The continued success of both the event and our scholarship giving is due to considerable community support and sponsorships.
We use the nomination and selection criteria set by
ATHENA International, which administers the ATHENA AwardŽ Program worldwide.
Past
ATHENA nominees have included business people, government employees, police and firefighters, health care professionals and members of the academic community.
The 2011 ATHENA Award Event
Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 2011 ATHENA AwardŽ Program. It will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
The event will begin at 5:30 PM with cocktails and networking. Dinner will be at 6:30 PM and the award ceremony and program will follow.
TBF and the ATHENA AwardŽ Program
TBF's involvement with this event began when D.J. Ahrens, president of Ahrens Oldsmobile, learned about the ATHENA AwardŽ Program. He approached the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) and United Way of Dane County about sponsoring a local ATHENA Award event. This group then asked the women's organizations in Madison if they would host the event. The Business Forum welcomed the opportunity to bring the community together to recognize women's achievements and to raise money for its growing scholarship giving.
TBF hosted the first ATHENA Award event, originally named the Celebration of Excellence, in 1998. Then as now, the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and United Way continue to support our efforts. In addition, numerous businesses and organizations have supported the event through sponsorships and media coverage.
