Women Helping Women
Women Helping Women is the Center’s annual luncheon to provide counseling, education, trainings and other services for women, children and families who are underinsured or from low-income households.
Join us for the 26th Annual Luncheon:
Friday, May 17, 2024
Click on the button below to purchase a reservation to Women Helping Women.
Click on the button below to become a sponsor or leader-level donor. Level of support determines the number of reservations received.
Since 1999, Women Helping Women has raised more than $2 million to support those struggling with the challenges of life.
See the current list of 2024 Women Helping Women sponsors and donors >
The inspiration from the 2023 Women Helping Women continues!
Here are some highlights to enjoy…
We gathered 600 people for an inspiring luncheon at Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines on May 19, 2023! A celebration of 25 years of honoring women who inspire with kindness and lead with purpose, we enjoyed a dynamic program from our 2023 honoree, Connie Isaacson, and our keynote speaker Jann Freed, PhD, who inspired us to ponder “What if the rest of your life is the best of your life?”
The energy in the room was palpable as we honored all of the women who have helped make the event a success for the last quarter-century! This year’s event surpassed last year’s record-breaking fundraising total, raising $300,000 to provide services for women, children, and families who otherwise couldn’t access the mental health care they deserve.
Be inspired by Connie and Jann’s influential messages and gain a renewed sense of purpose and worth.
Watch the video of the entire program! Save the date to attend next year’s event on May 17, 2024 for more inspiration and an opportunity to support mental health services in Iowa.
Photo highlights of the 25th Annual Women Helping Women
See highlights of Women Helping Women from the last few years >
Thank you to our generous sponsors and donors for supporting our 26th annual Women Helping Women Luncheon!
Presenting Sponsors – $10,000+
Carol Bodensteiner, in memory of Teree Caldwell-Johnson
Barbara and Michael Gartner
Susan and Carl Voss
Leadership Sponsors – $5,000
Kate Garst
Charlotte and Fred Hubbell
Rusty Hubbell
Toni Urban
Sally Wallace
Supporting Sponsor – $2,500
Pamela Bass-Bookey
Jann Freed and John Fisher
La Donna and Rich Matthes
Shirley Poertner
Rachel Stauffer
Sally Wood
Kathi Zimpleman
Contributing Sponsor – $1,500
Barbara Beatty
Debbie Hubbell
Martha James
Susan and Bill Knapp
Nancy Main
Todd and Sue Mattison
D.J. Newlin
Jill Oman
Mary M. Riche
Rebecca Shaw, in memory of Dr. Deb Turner
Nan Stubbs, in memory of Iola Tollakson
Michele Whitty
Special Friends – $1,000
Joan Betts
Suzie Glazer Burt, in memory of Ellie Glazer Ziegler
Pam Carter
Nora and Dave Everett, in honor of Jill Everett
Shayla From
Sharon Goldford, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Mary Gottschalk
Leslie Heimbach
Starr Hinrichs
Ann and Tom Holme
Joanie Houston
Robbie G. Malm
Claudette and P.J. McDonald
Brenda Mouw
Pauline and William Niebur
Barb and Andy Nish, in honor of Laurie Betts Sloterdyk
Lynsey Oster
Leigh OTool
Katie Patton
Jackie Saunders
Kathleen K Stahl
Sarah and Andy Susanin, in honor of Laurie Betts Sloterdyk
Marti Wade
Dr. Teri Wahlig
Meg Whitty
Kim and Rich Willis
Judy Winkelpleck
Alan Zuckert
Leader Plus – $500
Anonymous
Stephanie Asklof
Connie Beasley
Annie S. Brandt
Suzan Kelsey Brooks
Alicia and David Claypool
Cynde Cronin
Denise Essman, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Jane Fogg
Diane Glass and Jeff Means, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Rachel Hardin
Sarah Hayes, M.D.
Kathleen Hoegh, in honor of Dr. Mark Minear
Michelle Hogan
Anne M. Kelly
Cyril Mandelbaum
Lorraine May
Cathy McMullen and Don Worrell
Liz Neumann
Jeanne O’Halloran
Donna L. Paulsen and Thomas E. Press
Jackie Romp
Patrice Sayre
Susan Moritz Scharnberg
Brenda and Jaey Sedlacek
Kendra Simmons
Terri Mork Speirs
Char Vukovich
Linda Weidmaier
Leaders – $250
Anonymous (2)
Susan Ackelson
Nancy Adrianse, in honor of Laurie Betts Sloterdyk
Cindy Ambroson
Becky Anthony
Beverly Apel
Janice Bannister, in honor of Laurie Betts Sloterdyk
Mary K Bartine
Elizabeth Baustian, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Mary Ann Beard
Carrie Bening
Brooke A. Benschoter, in honor of Roberta Yoder
Sandy Benson Johnson/Benson Family Foundation, in memory of Evelyn Adams Benson
Cathy Besh
Connie Boesen
Nancy Bone, in memory of Paula Duncan
Margaret Platt Borgen
Nicole Boyington
Dan Breitbach, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Diane Caldbeck
Marilyn Carroll
Nancy Cheeseman
Diane Child
Polly L Clark
Holly Craiger
Diane Cutler
Darcy Darrah, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Suzanna de Baca
Sheryl DeMouth
Christine Dietz, in memory of Isabel Dietz
Marsha and Ellery Duke
Kelly Edmister
Peggy Fisher
Homes of Oakridge Human Services, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Fran Fleck
Shawna Gisi
Linda Goeldner
Mary Helen Grace and David Grace
Courtney Greene
Cheryl Hamilton, in memory of Verona Johnson
Lynn Heggen
Barbara L. Hein
Susan Hemminger
Christine Hensley
Mark and Kara Heston (K. Heston Accounting)
Jennifer and Jack Hilmes, in honor of Jackie Hilmes
Dixie Hoekman
Connie Isaacson
Joanne Johnson
Beth Stelle Jones
Amber Juffer
Jane M. Keairns, APR, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Maureen Keehnle
Lola Kenworthy
Connie Klug
Mary Kramer
Mary F. Kunkel
Sheila Starkovich Lingwall
Marian Lyddon’s Daughters, in memory of Marian Lyddon
Sandy McClelland
Andy McGuire
Susan Vujnovich McRoberts
Reo Menning
Joan Middleton
Diane Morain
Kurt and Melissa Ness
Charlotte Noble
Katie Gibson Overby
Eliza Ovrom
Nina Socarras Pack, in honor of Laurie Betts Sloterdyk
Sen. Janet Petersen
Diann M. Peyton
Susan Pogge
Artis Reis
Susy Robinette
Helen Robinson
Katie Roth
Patricia and Dr. Louis Schneider
Pat Schoffner
Kim Shadur, in honor of Alexa MCarthy, PhD
Laurie Betts Sloterdyk, in honor of Connie Wilson
Ellen Strachota
Erin Strawn
Mary Stuart
Gail Stubbs
Sarah Sullivan
Karen Novak Swalwell
Cheryl Sypal
Jana Teachout
Joyce and Harold Templeman
Marsha Ternus
Karen Unrau
Terri Vaughan
Marilyn Warling
Fritz Wehrenberg and Jennie LeGates
Deb Wiley and John Schmidt
Dee Willemsen
Jean Williams
Emily Williams-Bouska
Connie Wilson, in honor of Laurie Betts Sloterdyk
Janie Wine
Roberta Yoder
Young Leaders- $125
Rachel Bruns
Jenna Knox, in honor of Laurie Sloterdyk
Ali Makris
Kathleen McGuire
Anne McMahon
Ann-Charlotte Meyer
Rev. Dani Musselman
Anne Roth, in honor of Laurie Betts Sloterdyk
Heather Stuyvesant, in honor of Laurie Betts Sloterdyk
Emily and Maeve Webb
Table Hosts – $750
Ebony and Ivory Book Club, sponsored by Carol Bodensteiner
Oakridge Neighborhood, sponsored by Carol Bodensteiner, in memory of Teree Caldwell-Johnson
Sue Caley, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Elizabeth Coonan
Mary Gottschalk
Shirley Poertner
Friends of the Center Support – $250+
Aimee/Amy Hassebrock
Delta Dental of Iowa
ITA Group Foundation
Kemin Industries
Donations – $50+
Anonymous (4)
Mary C. Brooks
Eva and David Christiansen
Joanne Cutler
Julie Fleming
Robin Fortney
Jane M. Hemminger, in honor of Emily Kessinger and Kathy Stuart
Victoria L. Herring
Jean Mountain
Tracy Mullen
Laura Sands and Dave Busiek
Penny Thomsen, in honor of Carol Bodensteiner
Teresa Weidmaier
Media Sponsor
2024 Planning Committee
Stephanie Asklof
Cathy Besh
Annie Brandt
Melissa Cano-Zelaya
Kathy Giles
Shawna Gisi
Sharon Goldford
Kelly Isaacson
Kate Juelfs
Anne Kelly
Paula Kerman
Ann-Charlotte Meyer
Leigh OTool, co-chair
Stephanie Pearl
Shirley Poertner, co-chair
Anne Price McMahon
Kelly Sparks
Susan Voss
Connie Wilson
2024 Underwriting Cabinet
Pam Bass-Bookey
Beth Coonan
Jann Freed
Shayla From
Rachel Hardin
Renee Hardman
Sarah Hayes
Starr Hinrichs
Debbie Hubbell
Connie Isaacson
Andrea James
Emily Kessinger
Claudette McDonald
Katie Patton
Mary M. Riche
Anne Roth
Katie Roth
Kathy Stuart
Marti Wade
Sally Wallace
SAVE THE DATE
27th Annual Women Helping Women
May 16, 2025
The Center is planning another inspiring annual luncheon to address Iowa’s mental health crisis by assisting women, children and families who are uninsured or underinsured. We look forward to your support!
For more information, contact Laurie Betts Sloterdyk, Director of Development
Office: 515-564-5122 | Cell: 515-778-5436 | Email: lsloterdyk@mindspiritcenter.org