Iowa Women’s Foundation honors Washington business owner

The Iowa Women’s Foundation honored Washington business owner Lorraine Williams in the eighth installment of its annual booklet, “Ovation: A Tribute to Iowa Women and Girls.”

Foundation President Dawn Oliver Wiand said the book was part of the foundation’s mission to improve the lives of women through economic self-sufficiency.

“We produce Ovation as a way to recognize women across the state and to raise funds for the work that we do,” she said. “You’re honoring a woman and helping other women by giving them a hand up.”

Oliver Wiand said the booklet was an effective fundraiser. The process includes tribute coordinators, who arrange donations to the IWF based on the amount of space dedicated to their nominee.

Williams was nominated by her daughter, Isabella Santoro, who said her mother’s reputation preceded her.

“Honestly, the foundation reached out to me because they thought she’d be a great candidate,” Santoro said. “She’s always looking out for everybody, helping out. We do a lot of fundraisers through the restaurant and that’s very much her thing. It’s hard to put into just a few sentences why she’s awesome.”

Though she isn’t in it for the attention, Williams said she was honored by the recognition.

“It’s always a pleasure and honor to be recognized,” she said. “It feels good to know that people are noticing and paying attention.”

Williams, who is a trustee for Kirkwood Community College, informal caretaker for loved ones and a weekly host of fundraisers, said she was driven by a passion for “being the change she wants to see.”

“I really feel that everyone of us has to do the most and the best that they can to really make the world a better place,” she said. “We can’t sit on our laurels and think somebody else should do that. I have a lot of energy, but I really feel a lot of responsibility to do what I do, to make the difference.”

Williams, the only nominee in Washington County, said she hoped the foundation’s tribute to her would bring attention to other highly involved women in the community.

“It kind of starts with me because I’m a little more visible,” she said. “But we can continue to highlight and let the corridor see other women down here that are making a huge difference … we want to spread the knowledge of the women down here that are the next ones that should be honored.”