5th Annual MOWIT Blue Collar/Black Tie Tradeswomen Awards Gala set for Oct. 6

Organizers seeking award nominations, sponsorships

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Missouri Correspondent

Missouri Women in Trades, a non-profit group dedicated to helping women enter and succeed in the building trades, is hosting its 5^th Annual Blue Collar/Black Tie Tradeswomen Awards Gala on Friday, Oct. 6.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36 Grand Hall, 2319 Chouteau Ave., in St. Louis. It will include dinner, the award ceremony, a silent auction and cash raffles. The gala is black-tie optional and will include a credit/debit card bar.

AWARD CATEGORIES
MOWIT is seeking nominations for the following award categories. If you are interested in nominating a tradeswoman, union or contractor, submit your nomination by Sept. 8. The award categories include:

• Tradeswoman of the Year – This is a currently working tradesperson with at least four years of experience. She has achieved a skill level respected by her peers, supervisors and the community, shows passion for her work and mutual respect for co-workers.
• Breaking Barriers – Union/Apprentice Progam of the Year – MOWIT’s goal is to honor unions who support, advocate and sustain women in the workplace. How has this union made innovations, broken barriers and improved the status of women in the skilled trades?
• Breaking Barriers – Contractor of the Year – The group’s goal is to honor contractors who support, advocate and sustain women in the workplace. How has this company made innovations, broken barriers and improved the status of women in the skilled trades?
• Gina Walsh Legacy Award – This award will be given to a tradesperson or inclusive ally who has made significant and lasting contributions to the community or the industry over a period of time.

To nominate a sister, visit mowit.org/gala-nominations.

GROUP AWARDS
In addition to the individual awards, MOWIT will be calling up two groups for recognition: tradeswomen who have entered into an apprenticeship in the last year and tradeswomen who have journeyed out in the last year.

The evening will also do a brief roll call of tradeswomen recognized by their years of service for five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and over 25 years.

SPONSORSHIPS
MOWIT is seeking sponsorships for the gala fundraiser. Sponsorship levels include:

• Platinum ($3,500) – Listing in program booklet and in MOWIT video, a full-page color ad and table of eight.
• Gold ($2,500) – Listing in program booklet and in MOWIT video, a half-page color ad and table of eight.
• Silver ($1,500) – Listing in program booklet and in MOWIT video and a one-quarter-page color ad and four seats.
• Bronze ($750) – Listing in program booklet and in MOWIT video.

TICKETS AND PROGRAM BOOK
Tickets for the event are $85 per person or $680 for a table of eight. Tickets for apprentices are $60. Advertising in the program book is available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the following prices:

• Full-page, black-and-white – $600.
• Half-page, black-and-white – $350.
• Quarter-page, black-and-white – $225.

Email ads in a .pdf or .jpg format to info@mowit.com.

DEADLINE
The deadline for tickets, ad submissions and sponsorships is Sept. 8. For more information or to register, visit mowit.org/registration or call 636-926-6948.