Diane Nguyen, co-chair of the Heroines of Washington event and chief financial officer of Microsoft Federal, became involved with the March of Dimes out of her passion to improve the health of mothers and babies.
“I feel truly honored to help elevate awareness and raise funds that directly impact maternal and infant health,” she said. “These causes are personal to me as I have a nephew and a daughter of a dear friend who have directly benefited from the services of the March of Dimes, and I believe that every child deserves a healthy start in life.”
Now, she’s looking forward to the Heroines of Washington gala, which honors inspiring women who balance extraordinary volunteer work with successful careers. Finalists come from industries like technology, health care and the public sector, making this a unique event that unites companies and community organizations.
The March of Dimes Heroines of Washington Awards gala, presented by ASRC Federal, is set for Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia. All event funds support the March of Dimes mission to improve maternal and infant health through education, advocacy and more.
Nguyen is co-chairing this year’s gala with Holly McKenzie, a partner at PwC who chaired the event for the past three years. Through her work, Nguyen has met many Mission Moms and Dads and heard how March of Dimes’ research and advocacy supported them and their children, leading to success stories that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
“It’s been an honor to serve on the Heroines ELT with a group of talented, like-minded women and men who are giving back to our community,” Nguyen said. “I’m particularly excited about our Heroines, who represent remarkable stories of resilience and dedication. Their leadership and community service inspire us all and highlight the profound impact we can have when we come together.”
The 2024 Corporate Heroine Award winner, Julie Smith, was announced earlier this summer for her efforts leading Bozzuto’s corporate philanthropy, Rise by Bozzuto. The program empowers the company’s 3,300 employees to participate in regional community service projects.
“Each year, we’re blown away by the generosity and dedication of our Heroines. 2024 is no exception,” McKenzie said. “The Heroines of Washington Awards is a one-of-a-kind event designed to celebrate the accomplishments of these women, acknowledge their altruism and raise awareness for an array of noble causes.”
This year’s gala sponsors are ASRC Federal, Carahsoft, PwC, JBG Smith, Microsoft, Cubic Corp. and iHeartMedia.
Since 2001, the Heroines of Washington Awards has recognized 151 Heroines and raised over $4.9 million to support the March of Dimes mission — to fight for the health and wellness of all moms and babies.
The 2024 Heroines of Washington finalists are:
Alisa Rosenberg, Junction Development
Amita Vyas, George Washington University
Amy Dantin, Chicago Title Insurance Company
Bailey Hamilton, ServiceNow
Brittany Wilson, CMA Technologies
Dayana Villanueva, M&T Bank
Evelyn Baltimore, Malloy Auto Group
Jacklyn Wynn, GDIT
Joanne Cash-Neverdon, Peraton
Kader Gümüs
Kate Kovaarovic, Grumpy Combat Veterans + Friends
Kate Rock, Guidehouse
LaToya Staten, Fearless Digital
Laura Gordon, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Laura Evans Manatos, Laura Evans Media
Lauren Kim, HITT
Lt. Colonel Phi Tran, Defense Healthcare Management Systems
Mahsa Dornajafi, pgEdge
Maria Coakley David, C.J. Coakley Co., inc.
Michelle Corder, EY
Nancy Kuhn, Shulman Rogers
Nicole Miller, Savills North America
Pam Promisel, George Mason University
Shyamali Roy Hauth, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Hunter Mill District
Stewi Corno, Microsoft
Susan Sonley, Kent Commercial
Tina Swallow, Hirondelle Solutions
