Honoring Her Service: YWCA Northern New Jersey’s Operation Sisterhood Celebrates Women Veterans and Receives Major Grant
June 18, 2025 – Hackensack, NJ — YWCA Northern New Jersey’s (YWCANNJ) Operation Sisterhood proudly hosted its annual Women Veterans Appreciation Day dinner and ceremony on Thursday, June 12, at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus in Madison. The event brought together veterans, community leaders, and advocates from across the state to celebrate the courage, service, and leadership of New Jersey’s women veterans.
This year’s gathering honored 12 outstanding women veterans and community leaders, all selected through a public nomination process for their dedication to service and their alignment with YWCANNJ’s mission of empowerment and equity. Special remarks were shared by Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-25) and State Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40) who recognized the honorees and paid tribute to the contributions of women in uniform.
A highlight of the evening was the State Medal Ceremony conducted in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NJDMAVA). Twelve women veterans - including two YWCANNJ honorees - were presented with official state medals in recognition of their distinguished military service.
Following the event, YWCANNJ announced that it has received a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State to support Operation Sisterhood. This transformative funding will allow the organization to expand vital services for women veterans, including mental health support, career readiness programs, and opportunities to strengthen community connections.
“We are beyond excited to receive this generous support from Impact100 Garden State,” said Helen Archontou, CEO of YWCA Northern New Jersey. “With this funding, we can deepen the impact of Operation Sisterhood and continue ensuring that women veterans receive the respect, recognition, and resources they deserve - not just during commemorative events, but every day.”
Launched as a program of YWCANNJ in 2024, Operation Sisterhood is dedicated to supporting women veterans as they transition to civilian life. The initiative offers a platform of support and wraparound services designed to meet the specific needs of women who have served.
“Women veterans often feel invisible, despite their sacrifices,” said Lucy Del Gaudio, Equity Initiatives Specialist for YWCA Northern New Jersey – Operation Sisterhood and a U.S. Army veteran. “This event is about visibility, connection, and giving these extraordinary women the recognition they’ve earned and so often go without.”
Observed each year on June 12, Women Veterans Appreciation Day commemorates the anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. While not yet a federal holiday, it is recognized in New Jersey thanks to legislation signed by the late Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.
With over 2 million women veterans in the US today – accounting for 10% of the total veteran population, and projected to reach 18% by 2040 – Operation Sisterhood continues to advocate for more inclusive and equitable veteran support services.
YWCANNJ would like to thank the community partners and sponsors whose support made this event possible: Horizon Blue Cross, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group, New Jersey State of Veteran Chambers, Office of Veteran Services at Fairleigh Dickinson, and Catholic Charities.
For more information including the list of honorees and their biographies, visit: https://tinyurl.com/WomenVeteransDay.
About YWCA Northern New Jersey
For over a century, YWCA Northern New Jersey has improved the lives of thousands of women, girls, and families and is on the forefront of the fight against gender and racial discrimination. We work to build more just and inclusive communities through programs for women and girls, anti-racism training, and policy advocacy. We operate healingSPACE, Bergen County’s only Sexual Violence Resource Center (hotline number: 201-487-2227) and provide year-round child care, and senior wellness programs. YWCA Northern New Jersey serves Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic counties. To learn more, visit ywcannj.org and follow @ywcannj on social media.
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