Morris Leader

The Morris County Advisory Committee on Women is currently accepting nominations for the 6th Annual "Seeds of Change" Volunteer Award. This award, to be presented in March 2025, recognizes women who have volunteered to improve their community and have been leaders and inspirations to other women in the county.

Nominations are open until January 6, 2025, and must be submitted online. The award was inspired by the late State Senator Leanna Brown, who passed away in 2016. It aims to celebrate women who support other women through grassroots volunteer work.

Leanna Brown served on the Chatham Borough Council from 1969 to 1972 and was the first woman elected to the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders (now known as the Board of County Commissioners), becoming its Director in 1976. In 1978, she became president of the New Jersey Association of Counties. In 1983, she was also the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate. Brown was a champion for women's causes and mentored many women entering politics. She played a key role in establishing the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women.

The "Seeds of Change" Volunteer Award has been awarded annually since April 2018, except during the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. Previous recipients include Lila Bernstein (2018), Phyllis Chanda (2019), Mary Ledyard (2022), Alice Cutler (2023), and Debby Seme (2024).

While it is preferred that nominees are involved with causes currently prioritized by the Advisory Committee on Women—such as housing and homelessness, human trafficking, incarcerated women, military servicewomen, female veterans—this is not a requirement.

For more information or inquiries about nominations, Sydney Ugalde can be contacted at sydney@thebiscaynegroup.com before January 6, 2025. The selected honoree will be notified after this date and invited to attend an award ceremony at a March meeting of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners.