Over 70 years of Honoring Charlotte Woman Leaders

The Charlotte Woman of the Year award honors exceptional service and exemplary civic leadership to the Charlotte Mecklenburg community. The award has been given annually for over 65 years, recognizing a woman who has made a significant civic impact.

In 1955, WBT Radio sponsored the first Charlotte Woman of the Year (CWOY) award. The honoree was Martha W. Evans. Mrs. Evans was the first woman elected to the Charlotte City Council and was an advocate for universal kindergarten and the licensing of daycare centers.

When the sponsorship from WBT ended in 1991, the group of former honorees chose to continue the award. They designed a nomination process and each year, the nomination packet is shared with a diverse list of non-profits and businesses in Charlotte, requesting nominations for the award.

Over the years, CWOY has partnered with a variety of organizations to present panels and programs focused on civic leadership and shine a light on how women in this community are engaged. Partners have included the Levine Museum of the New South, The Lee Institute and the Foundation for the Carolinas. Programs have been presented during Women’s History Month – with the Levine Museum of the New South, and Roundtables for Emerging Leaders were conducted with The Lee Institute, bringing together past CWOY Honorees and young female leaders interested in connecting with established female leaders to understand the history of women’s leadership, with a focus on dialogue to encourage civic engagement for current needs and the future.

Martha W. Evans receiving the first Charlotte Woman of the Year in 1955.