WDAS Announces 9th Annual Women of Excellence Luncheon

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, February 11, 2025 | 3:03pm CT

Women of Excellence Luncheon

iHeartMedia's 105.3 WDAS, the home of Philly's Best R&B and Throwbacks, has announced the recipients of its ninth annual "Women of Excellence Luncheon." The celebratory event is set for Saturday, April 12 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown. This year, the luncheon will honor a distinguished group of women, including Sherri Shepherd, who will be receiving the Legend Award for Film & TV Achievement, and Lalah Hathaway, recipient of the Legend Award for Musical Achievement.

Additional honorees are Dr. Beverly Coleman, Chief of Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Development at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Lisa Blunt Rochester, the first female Democratic U.S. Senator from Delaware; Aziza Shuler, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist and CBS3 Weekend Anchor; Dr. Dorothy Johnson Speight, Founder and Executive Director of Mothers In Charge; and Kendra Van De Water, Co-Chief Executive Officer of YEAH Philly.

The station will acknowledge four outstanding women nominated by its listeners. Among them, one will be awarded the prestigious "Mary J. Blige Award for Perseverance and Courage," named after the Grammy Award-winning artist honored at the first luncheon in 2015. This award celebrates women who demonstrate formidable perseverance and courage, reflecting the traits of Mary J. Blige herself.

The event will be hosted by WDAS-FM's air personalities Patty Jackson, Frankie Darcell, Mimi Brown and Loraine Ballard Morrill. Attendees can also look forward to special guest performances, details of which will be announced closer to the event.

iHeartMedia Philadelphia Senior Vice President of Programming Derrick Corbett stated, "Recognizing and uplifting the contributions of remarkable women throughout the Tri-State area is a privilege, and we are thrilled to once again honor an inspiring group of honorees who have left a lasting impact on our community and culture. This event continues to be a highlight of the year, bringing together excellence and empowerment in one room."

Since its inception, the "WDAS Women of Excellence Luncheon" has recognized numerous phenomenal women from the Philadelphia community, including past honorees like Mary J. Blige, Patti LaBelle and Queen Latifah.

Tickets for the event go on sale today and include lunch, discounted parking, and no hidden fees. Interested parties can visit wdasfm.com for more information and to purchase tickets.