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Women’s Council celebrates ‘Sheroes’ for community impact
Women’s Council celebrates ‘Sheroes’ for community impact
Proceeds from May 7 luncheon benefit scholarships, Student Impact Fund
ANN ARBOR, Michigan (April 28, 2026) – Three passionate community leaders and innovators will be honored at the 29th annual Washtenaw Community College (WCC) Foundation Women’s Council Celebration Luncheon.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 7, in the Morris Lawrence Building on campus.
The 2026 honorees are Irene Butter, Ph.D., author of From Holocaust to Hope: Shores Beyond Shores; Dr. Lynette Findley, President and CEO of LMF Strategic Initiatives LLC; and Linh Song, a nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of experience.
Irene Butter
Dr. Butter, born into a Jewish family, grew up in Nazi-occupied Europe and was deported to two prison camps, including Bergen-Belsen, where her former neighbor, Anne Frank, was a fellow prisoner. In her memoirs, From Holocaust to Hope: Shores Beyond Shores, Dr. Butter comes to terms with a horrific event with determination as a survivor instead of as a victim of the Holocaust. Professor Emerita of Public Health at the University of Michigan, Dr. Butter is co-founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Medal and Lecture Series, and co-founder of Zeitouna, an Arab/Jewish Women’s Dialogue group.
Lynette Findley
Dr. Findley is a dedicated leader, educator and community advocate whose career reflects a deep commitment to equity, service and student success. During her 29 years at Eastern Michigan University, she championed academic support programs for students, including foster youth and displaced workers, while helping secure more than $5 million in grant funding to expand educational access and opportunity. Dr. Findley has served organizations such as United Way’s Power of the Purse, Embracing Our Differences, Jewish Family Services, the WCC Women’s Council and the Michigan American Council on Education.
Linh Song
Song, who holds two degrees from the University of Michigan, including a Master of Social Work, founded the Song Foundation to invest in innovative people and organizations who are improving the quality of life for all in Southeast Michigan. She serves as the Board Chair for the Song Foundation, Co-chair for Michigan Reproductive Rights for All and is a board member for the Ann Arbor Art Center, Abundant Housing Michigan, Skillman Foundation and Great Lakes Housing Services.
The WCC Foundation supports students through scholarships and other philanthropic initiatives. With this year’s honorees, a total of 89 women and one women-led organization have been recognized as Women’s Council Sheroes since the program began in 1997.
Funds raised by the Women’s Council support scholarships and the Student Impact Fund, which provides short-term financial assistance to students facing unexpected hardships that could disrupt their education.
JOIN US MAY 7
Learn more about the 2026 Women’s Council Sheroes Celebration and purchase tickets at: wccnet.edu/wc-celebration
For more information, contact the WCC Foundation at 734-973-3665, foundation@wccnet.edu, or www.wccnet.edu/foundation.
About Washtenaw Community College
Washtenaw Community College (WCC), Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been opening doors to success for students and the community for 60 years, providing education and training in a wide range of associate and certificate programs in areas such as liberal arts, health care, business, STEM, advanced transportation and mobility. WCC offers accelerated and online programs to meet student needs. The college also works through community, business and union partnerships to develop specialized training programs to meet the region’s workforce needs.
For more information about Washtenaw Community College, visit www.wccnet.edu.
Fran LeFort | Media Relations Director
flefort@wccnet.edu | 734.677.5295
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