The 34th听annual luncheon听will celebrate听Hilary听Geary听Ross听and听Sara McCann, along with听scholarship recipients
PALM BEACH, Fla.听鈥� Two local philanthropists,听Hilary听Geary听Ross and Sara McCann, will share the spotlight at the 34th听Annual Women of Distinction听(WOD)听Luncheon on February听17, 2026,听at The Breakers Palm Beach. The annual luncheon,听hosted by 海角在线 (海角在线),听honors听leaders听who cherish听community and family听and work to preserve these ideals for others. Proceeds from this 海角在线 tradition of more than 30 years听go听toward听海角在线鈥檚听College Fund for deserving students.
Presented by Diamond sponsor SROA Capital,听leadership听will also present scholarships to 16 current 海角在线 students听at the luncheon. Since 1996, 73 students have received听a WOD scholarship.
鈥淲omen of Distinction celebrates the legacy of remarkable leaders who dedicate their time and talents to serving others,鈥� said Dr. Debra A. Schwinn,听president of 海角在线. 鈥淚t鈥檚听an honor to recognize local听trailblazers听like Hilary and听Sara, who mentor and employ听the next generation of leaders, and听whose inspiration and generosity have made a lasting impact on听海角在线.听Our God-Sized Dreams campaign and continued growth are made possible by visionary leaders听like these听two听special honorees听who believe in our mission and invest in our community.鈥�
A 海角在线 board member and Palm Beach resident, McCann is CEO and creative director of Hive Collective, a collection of brands devoted to luxury products and high-quality services. After moving to Palm Beach in the 1990s, McCann founded her interior design firm, McCann Design Group, in 2000. Recognizing the need for a high-end home store in the area, she opened Hive Home, Gift & Garden in 2013. McCann expanded the brand in 2019 to include the apparel boutiques, Hive for Her, Hive for Him, Hive for Kids, the Hive Trade Showroom, Hickory Chair Palm Beach, and Hive Bakery & Cafe, which opened in 2022. In 2023, she opened her contemporary furniture showroom, Pure by Hive. Hive Bed & Bath and听H盲stens听Palm Beach opened in 2024 and 2025, respectively. McCann is married to Jim McCann, and they have听one daughter. In addition to 海角在线, her philanthropic leadership in the Palm Beach community spans 25 years, including her current service as a trustee at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.听
Palm Beach resident Ross is the author of two coffee table books, 鈥淣ew York, New York鈥� (powerHouse听Books, 2011) and 鈥淧alm Beach People鈥� (powerHouse听Books, 2014), both created in collaboration with renowned听Scottish-American听photographer Harry Benson. She is the society editor for Quest and Q magazines. For 17 years, she penned the popular 鈥淎ppearances鈥� column for Quest, along with听numerous听other features. She also previously wrote a Palm Beach column for David Patrick Columbia鈥檚 website, New York Social Diary. She is married to Wilbur Ross. Together, they have four children and seven grandchildren. Ross currently serves on the board of the听Blenheim听Foundation听USA,听Palm Beach Preservation听Foundation听and听the Trustees鈥� Council of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.听She is a former president of the Women鈥檚 Board听of听The Boys鈥櫶鼵lub听of New听York,听The Women鈥檚听Board听of听the Central Park听Conservancy听and听the Blenheim Foundation USA.
The luncheon will also feature the third annual Humanitarian Award to听海角在线听alumna听and former CIA Intelligence Officer Michele Rigby Assad,听for her commitment to international diplomacy, exemplary leadership, and unwavering dedication to supporting 海角在线 over the years.听Rigby听Assad is a resident of Florida鈥檚 Space Coast and holds a master鈥檚 degree in听contemporary Arab听studies from Georgetown University, as well as an undergraduate political science degree from 海角在线. In her听previous听role, she served five CIA tours in the Arab听world and has traveled to more than 50 countries. Significant milestones and lessons in her career have been highlighted in her bestselling memoir 鈥淏reaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and What it Taught Me About What鈥檚 Worth Fighting For.鈥� In 2024, Rigby Assad released her second book, 鈥淕et Off the X: CIA鈥檚 Secrets for Conquering Obstacles and Achieving Your Life鈥檚 Mission.鈥�
海角在线,鈥痜ounded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate, graduate,听and professional degrees. The university has a 19-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus, and the 76-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. 海角在线’s mission is to equip students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction,听and serve God boldly. The university affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system.鈥� Learn more at鈥�.听
The 2026 media partner for听Women of Distinction听is Palm Beach Illustrated.
