On Jan. 5, Girls Inc. Of the Island City (GIIC) announced its 2023 Women Who Dare awardees.

The Women Who Dare awardees are women who are powerful role models and outstanding examples of what it means to be strong, smart, and bold. This year’s awardees are Amy Schneider, Jeopardy champion and LGBTQ+ advocate; Kirsten Allen, special assistant to President Joe Biden and press secretary to Vice President Kamala Harris; Capt. Jackie Leverich, Coast Guard Alameda Commanding Officer; Annie Liu, senior at Alameda Community Learning Center; and Joyce Denyven, an Alameda community volunteer. Denyven will also receive the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award.

Along with winning the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions, Schneider is a Trans advocate who was named one of Out Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.

Before joining Harris’ office, Allen was the National Press Secretary for Coronavirus Response at the Department of Health and Human Service.

Leverich oversees delivery of operational mission support to 19 tenant commands, 6,000 personnel, and four National Security Cutters across the Eleventh Coast Guard District.

Liu was selected to the National Teen Advocacy Council (TAC) that advises Girls Inc. on issues facing girls. Through TAC, she lobbied Congress for the Real Education Access Health Youth Act which provides comprehensive sex education for youth.
Denyven has volunteered with the Alameda Girl & Boy Scouts, Alameda Welfare Council, AUSD School Board and PTA, Alameda Girls State, and many more.

The awardees will be honored at the 24th Women Who Dare Gala on Saturday, March 18, at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr. Tickets to the gala are on sale at www.GIICWomenWhoDare.org. Last year’s gala was held virtually.

A silent auction and a raffle will also be held at the event. The raffle prize is a trip for two to the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa. The silent auction will consist of items donated to GIIC. To donate items for the silent auction, visit https://tinyurl.com/34u62jes.

GIIC is the Alameda affiliate of the national nonprofit, Girls Inc. GIIC began in 1964. It is an award-winning after-school program that serves an ethnically and economically diverse population of girls, ages 6-18. Their mission is to inspire all girls to be strong (healthy), smart (educated), and bold (independent) through innovative programs, activities, and advocacy.