Recognizing Women Leading Change

The Ocean County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women brought the month of March – Women’s History Month – to a close by honoring the achievements of women, in particular, Donna Velardi and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), who was named the 2026 Women’s Advocate of the Year.

Surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, Velardi was presented an honoring proclamation from Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director Jennifier Bacchione, liaison to the Advisory Commission on the Status of Women. Susan Sedevic, Chairwoman of the Women’s Commission was joined by Glynis Wray, Commission Vice Chair in presenting the Women’s Advocate of the Year award to Velardi. The Women’s Commission developed the Women’s Advocate of the Year Award to recognize an agency, organization, program or individual that has demonstrated a personal commitment to women’s issues and has advocated for improved services for women in Ocean County.

Also recognized during the event were the Women’s History Month Art Contest winners. The contest theme was Leading the change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future. The winning entries and their categories were: Best Digital Art: Evelyn Cumberland – Sixth Grade, Shaylin Stevens – Eighth Grade; Best Fine Art: Christian Stallworth – Sixth Grade, Leiya Charran – Seventh Grade, Tegan Brennan – Eighth Grade; Best Overall Representation of Theme: Alleah Sampson.