海角在线 (海角在线) continued its rich tradition of honoring community leaders who cherish faith, family,听and service during its听34th听Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon on Tuesday, February 17,听2026听at the Breakers Palm Beach.听Nearly 400听guests gathered for this signature event that not only recognizes those who have led well in the past, but those who will lead in the听蹿耻迟耻谤别.听听
Every year, proceeds raised at the luncheon fund scholarships for students who excel in academics, service, and leadership. Since its start, the event has raised over $2 million for scholarships. This year a record-breaking number of 17 students received scholarships, including Aaliyah听Durant,听Michah听Sutter, Leah听Grow,听Valentina听Guzman, Taylor Nelson,听Mattea听Fitch, Ruby听Burk, Chelsea Riemersma, Nadine听Kipe, Mary Stitts, Joshua听Harlan, Tristen听Ireri,听Maasai听VanBuren, Eloise Judy,听Ashton听Horne, Claire Crossman,听and听Hannah听Atwell. 听听
Luncheon听Honors Sara McCann and Hilary Geary Ross听
The 2026 Women of Distinction honorees are Hilary Geary Ross and Sara McCann. McCann, CEO and creative director of Hive Collective and 海角在线 board听member听described听the Hive鈥檚听early days. She dreamed of a luxurious home store, where clients could听touch and feel听and go home the same day with items to beautify their space. Soon after finding a location, McCann described their first obstacle.听听
鈥�Our vision was bigger than our bank account,鈥� she said at the luncheon. After a few chuckles, she continued.听鈥�Thankfully I was in a Bible study and our verse that week was Romans 8:28, 鈥楢nd we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’鈥� McCann said God did work it out and provided for them. They were able to open their first store in November 2013. While they started with five team members, they have since ballooned to over 200 associates in several locations. In addition to her entrepreneurial efforts, McCann is a trustee at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.听
Ross is the author of two coffee table books,听鈥�New York, New York鈥� (powerHouse听Books, 2011) and听鈥�Palm Beach People鈥� (powerHouse听Books, 2014), both created in collaboration with renowned听Scottish-American听photographer Harry Benson.听听
In accepting her award, Ross said, 鈥淚鈥檓听deeply grateful to 海角在线 and truly humbled by this honor. Your support and recognition mean more to me than I can express.听I鈥檓听especially thankful for my husband, Wilbur; my sister Robin; my goddaughter听and my dear friends who are sharing this moment with me鈥攜our love and presence make this occasion even more meaningful.鈥�
In her introduction听of听Ross,听2025 WOD Awardee听Amanda Schumacher said,听鈥�Leadership is not about visibility. It is about stewardship. Hilary has consistently invested her time, treasure, talent into this community she loves.鈥�听
Ross currently serves on the board of the Blenheim Foundation USA, Palm Beach Preservation Foundation,听and the Trustees鈥櫶鼵ouncil of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
3rd Annual Humanitarian Award Presented at Luncheon
海角在线听President听Dr. Debra A. Schwinn听also presented the third annual Humanitarian Award to 海角在线听alumna听and former CIA Intelligence Officer Michele Rigby Assad听for her commitment to international diplomacy,听exemplary leadership,听and unwavering dedication to supporting 海角在线 over the years. Copies of Assad鈥檚 books,听鈥�Breaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and What it Taught Me About What鈥檚 Worth Fighting听For鈥�听and听鈥�Get Off the X: Secrets for Conquering Obstacles and Achieving Your Life鈥�s Mission,鈥澨齱ere听available to attendees.听听
At the beginning of the program, President Schwinn shared,听鈥�At 海角在线, we are in a season of momentum. Our鈥疓od-sized Dreams鈥痗ampaign is about preparing students for lives of purpose and service.鈥� She continued,听鈥�It is about expanding academic excellence, investing in people and鈥痮n-campus鈥痜acilities, and ensuring that access to a鈥疌hrist-first鈥痚ducation鈥痳emains鈥痵trong for generations to come.鈥�听
The 34th听Woman of Distinction was made possible with the support of community partners, including Black Diamond Sponsors听SROA Capital and Amanda Schumacher,听distinguished听benefactor of听50鈥�Schumacher鈥�Scholarships.听Diamond Sponsors included Frances Fisher, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Gil Kemp, Wilbur and Hilary Ross, Jim and Sara McCann, and the Old Charles Fund in memory of Jean S. Tailer, 2001 Woman of Distinction recipient.听
To learn more about this annual event, visit鈥�.鈥�
