OCEAN CITY – Four local women were named 2024 Women of Wonder at an awards luncheon held Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Flanders Hotel.
The honorees were Deborah Brasch, executive director of Caring for Kids; Christina Clemens, managing broker for the Chris Clemens group at Tim Kerr Sotheby’s International Realty; Amy Mahon, partner and chief operating officer for Reich Asset Management, and Denise Venturini-South, a commissioned chaplain and a founding director of Cape Hope.
Since 2011, the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation and the Cape May County Women’s Commission has presented the Women of Wonder award to recognize women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and dedication to their community.
In addition, the awards luncheon is a fundraiser for the scholarships awarded by the college foundation. According to Jean McAlister, the foundation’s executive director, the foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships since 2011.
Violet Rixey, treasurer of the Women’s Commission, introduced Brasch, whom she called “a very dear friend,” an inspiration and someone “who always had a smile.” Seeing her work through Caring for Kids, Mahon said, one would never know her husband was going through treatment for cancer.
Brasch thanked friends and family and spoke about how Caring for Kids has grown since it was started in 2001. She said the organization started by helping 13 families, and it has grown to assisting 54 families; it could do more, she said.
Krista McConnell, a Women’s Commission member, director of the Cape May County campus of Atlantic Cape and a Wildwood commissioner, presented the award to Clemens, who has been active in her community and is an Atlantic Cape trustee, appointed in 2014.
“I’ve always supported the school,” Clemens said, “but I never thought I would be getting this honor.”
Clemens has been involved in various efforts to support the arts and was appointed to the state Supreme Court Ethics Committee.
Jacqueline Fiore, a Women’s Commission member, introduced Mahon, saying the award to her was “well-deserved.” Mahon is active in the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce , is president of the Love of Linda Cancer Fund Inc. and is a member of the Women’s Commission.
Speaking to the luncheon attendees, Mahon said, “If you have the opportunity to mentor someone, do so.”
Patricia Gentile, Ph.D., introduced Venturini-South, who was a founding member of Cape Hope and who took a hands-on approach to combatting homelessness. A commissioned chaplain, Venturini-South takes this work as a “divine command” to help those who are hungry, homeless or imprisoned. She has traveled to Poland and Ukraine to work with refugee women and children.
Besides the foundation’s awards, county Commissioner Melanie Collette presented each Woman of Wonder with a resolution from the New Jersey General Assembly, signed by all three members of the 1st Legislative District team, and county Commissioner Robert Barr presented each woman with a proclamation from the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners.
Editor’s note: Denise Venturini-South is the wife of Herald reporter Christopher South. Contact Christopher South at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
