{"id":198,"date":"2026-03-24T12:19:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T12:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/?p=198"},"modified":"2026-03-24T12:20:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T12:20:41","slug":"2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Women&#8217;s Advocate of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Ocean County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women brought the month of March \u2013 Women\u2019s History Month \u2013 to a close by honoring the achievements of women.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The event held March 21, 2026, also highlighted the Ocean County Prosecutor\u2019s Sexual Assault Response Team, SART and its Coordinator Donna Velardi, who was named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year, and the Women\u2019s History Month Art Contest Awards and its winners. Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione and Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer were in attendance at the day&#8217;s celebration.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-198 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/womens-commission\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Womens-Commission-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/bacchione\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bacchione-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/billhimer\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Billhimer-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/sedevic-velardi-billhimer\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Sedevic-Velardi-Billhimer-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/sedevic-velardi-billhimer-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Sedevic-Velardi-Billhimer-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/bacchione-velardi-billhimer-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bacchione-Velardi-Billhimer-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/wray-velardi-sedevic\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Wray-Velardi-Sedevic-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/ocpo-sedevic\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OCPO-Sedevic-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/sedevic-miles\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Sedevic-Miles-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/saunders-bacchione-brennan-deangelis\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Saunders-Bacchione-Brennan-DeAngelis-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/saunders-bacchione-charran-deangelis\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Saunders-Bacchione-Charran-DeAngelis-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/saunders-bacchione-cumberland-deangelis\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Saunders-Bacchione-Cumberland-DeAngelis-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/saunders-bacchione-stallworth-deangelis\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Saunders-Bacchione-Stallworth-DeAngelis-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/saunders-bacchione-stevens-deangelis\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Saunders-Bacchione-Stevens-DeAngelis-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/2026-womens-advocate-of-the-year\/winning-entries\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Winning-Entries-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Donna Velardi named the 2026 Women\u2019s Advocate of the Year\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ocean County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women brought the month of March \u2013 Women\u2019s History Month \u2013 to a close by honoring the achievements of women.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":212,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-photo-galleries"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=198"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":214,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198\/revisions\/214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/OC\/OCDHS\/HSGalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}