ARLINGTON, Va. - s4story -- March of Dimes named its latest class of Heroines last night at the annual Heroines of Washington Awards gala. The awards program, now in its 26th year, recognizes outstanding professional women in the D.C. region who give back to their communities in impactful ways.

The 2026 Heroines of Washington Award winners are:

Woman of Achievement — Heather Zimmerman
Maternal & Infant Health Legacy Heroine — Adaeze Enekwechi, Nadia Care
Lifetime Achievement Heroine — Joan Bialek, Bialek Environments
Heroine in Healthcare & Biotech — Nidhi Reva, Nested LLC
Heroine in Professional Services and Consulting — Keena Austin Reed, Alpine Group
Heroine in Real Estate and Construction — Stacy Kaplowitz, Brookfield Properties
Heroine in Technology and Cyber Security — LaTonya Clark, Fannie Mae
Heroine in Government Contracting – Deborah Ringel, Accenture Federal Services
Heroine in Finance & Banking — CJ Woods, Modera Wealth Management

The gala took place on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner. In addition to recognizing all the nominees and naming the winners, the event resulted in $500,000 raised to fund research, education and advocacy in support of March of Dimes' mission to fight for the health of all moms and babies.

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Since 2001, the Heroines of Washington Awards have raised over $6.5 million and honored 177 Heroines.

For more information on the Heroines of Washington Awards and to view photos from this year's gala, please visit: https://www.marchofdimes.org/events/Event.aspx?...; (https://www.marchofdimes.org/events/Event.aspx?eventId=23283&amp).

About March of Dimes

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, education, and advocacy, and provide programs and services so that every family can get the best possible start. Since 1938, we've built a successful legacy to support every pregnant person and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Follow us on social at @marchofdimes.