Steinem, Richards to Receive Gracies Torch Award

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | 2:42pm CT

Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF)

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) will honor activist and author Gloria Steinem and producer, writer, and activist Amy Richards with the inaugural Gracies Torch Award during the 51st Annual Gracie Awards Luncheon on June 16 in New York City.

The new award, created in partnership with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), recognizes leaders whose influence creates opportunities for others and reflects BBB's leadership principles of Character, Culture, Customers, and Community. AWMF said Steinem and Richards were selected for their decades-long commitment to advancing equality, amplifying underrepresented voices, and fostering future generations of leaders.

Richards has been a prominent figure in feminist activism since co-founding the Third Wave Fund in 1992. Through her work with Soapbox, Inc., Feminist Camp, and numerous writing and production projects, she has focused on building platforms that support emerging voices and leadership development.

Steinem, a writer, lecturer, and organizer, has spent much of her career advocating for gender equality and social justice. Her work has helped shape the modern feminist movement and inspired generations of activists around the world.

"Amy Richards and Gloria Steinem have spent decades creating opportunities for others, amplifying voices that deserve to be heard, and demonstrating the power of leadership rooted in generosity and shared purpose," said Becky Brooks, President of AWMF. "Their impact embodies the spirit of the inaugural Gracies Torch Award."

The luncheon will be hosted by Rebecca Jarvis, Chief Business, Technology and Economics Correspondent for ABC News. Jarvis is known for her reporting across ABC News platforms and as creator and host of the podcast and television series adaptation of The Dropout.

The event, scheduled for Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, is part of the annual Gracie Awards program, which honors outstanding content and achievements by, for, and about women in media. The luncheon focuses on local and student media professionals, complementing the national Gracie Awards gala held in Beverly Hills.

During the event, AWMF will also recognize Hannah Carranza, recipient of the Make Her Mark Scholarship, created in partnership with Hallmark Media. Carranza is pursuing a degree in Television and Film at Hofstra University and was selected for her commitment to storytelling and media careers.

Additional presenters scheduled to appear include Andrea Canning, Crystal Rosas, Sara Sidner, and Scott Stanford.