PERRYSBURG – The YWCA of Northwest Ohio’s Milestones: A Tribute to Women honorees for 2014 were announced
Thursday.
Among the seven women to be honored this year is Wood County resident Barbara Eikost, who lives and
worked in Perrysburg.
This marks the 19th year for the awards, which recognize northwest Ohio women who have demonstrated
outstanding leadership in seven areas: the fields of arts, business, education, sciences, government,
social services, and volunteerism.
Eikost is this year’s volunteerism winner.
She is being recognized for her decades of service at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, which has two facilities
– one on East River Road, Perrysburg, and the other in Toledo.
"As the first volunteer director for Hospice of Northwest Ohio… she grew the program from a
handful of volunteers to more than 300 at the time of her retirement, in 2001," noted Judy
Seibenick, executive director of Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Eikost has been an active volunteer for 50 years, and also served as development officer for the YWCA.

"She believes that well-trained volunteers can be empowered to do great things when included as an
integral part of the team," said YWCA’s Martha Newhort.
Eikost is also an active participant in many social justice efforts associated with her church. She
frequently volunteers with food banks, "brings people together to locate furniture for those moving
into temporary housing, and will roll up her sleeves and work with Habitat for Humanity crews,"
pointed out Alice Weber.
"The list continues as her commitment to volunteerism is perpetual."
The other six honorees are
• Leslie Adams, arts – whose work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery as well
as the Toledo Museum of Art;
• Marianne Ballas, business – the owner-operator of Ballas Buick GMC;
• Susan Martyn, education – law professor at the University of Toledo;
• Vallie Bowman-English, government – City of Toledo municipal court clerk;
• Dr. Sonia Najjar, sciences – UT professor and biomedical researcher in the area of diabetes;
• Kim Sidwell, social services – senior vice president of resource development for United Way of Greater
Toledo.
They will be honored at the 2013 Milestones award luncheon on March 13 at 11:30 a.m. at SeaGate
Convention Center in downtown Toledo.
Tickets for the lunch are $50 and available to the general public. For reservations contact the YWCA at
419-241-3235.
All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit over 23,000 women and families who utilize the social service
programs of the YWCA.