Christi Anderson Personal Innovation Award
In Honor of Christi Anderson (1960 – 2015)
A Remarkable Friend to IWL – Christi was also one of the first board members for Integrating Woman Leaders. She was a mentor, a friend, an advocate for women’s leadership, and she was instrumental in our success as an organization.
Who She Was
Pictured above Back row: Andrew, Patrick and Christopher (Christi’s sons). Mike (Christi’s husband) Front row: Kacy (Christi’s daughterin-law) and Christi.
Christi Anderson was a mother, wife, daughter, sister,
friend, advocate and attorney. Above all else her family was her priority; she was a mother of three boys and married to her loving high school sweetheart. Christi was also courageous and successful in her career. She began as an executive secretary, and at age 39, she took a leap. She knew she was capable of more and wanted to make a difference, so she went to law school while working full time and raising her family. When her cancer returned, she decided to start her own law practice. Christi poured herself into her work as an attorney and was determined to serve the needs of others, develop trusting relationships and accomplish something lasting and meaningful.
Watch the video below to meet Christi:
Scholarship Fund
Christi was passionate about helping other women in leadership, and we honor Christi by awarding a scholarship every year to a woman who is looking to innovate herself, to be better and do better – just like Christi did, and who could benefit from the financial assistance to do so. What better way to honor a life than to affect change in another’s? It is our hope that this award will create opportunities for these young women and inspire them to lead their lives boldly and fearlessly and with the tenacity of our dear friend, Christi.
2017 Recipient
We presented our Third Annual Christi Anderson Personal Innovation Award at the Indianapolis IWL Women’s Leadership Conference to Adriena Wright, a resilient woman who has risen above extremely tough physical and mental challenges after being in a near-fatal car crash at the age of 18. Her nominator wrote that, “She truly innovated herself from being in a depressed and physically broken state to being a strong, empowering woman and role model.”
Adriena now self-funds college preparation workshops for first generation college students in urban areas, and this scholarship will go toward funding more of these.
2016 Recipient
In 2016, we presented our second award at the Indianapolis IWL Women’s Leadership Conference on August 23, 2016 to Tia Jackson, an empowering woman who has made the decision to return to school and obtain a degree in Organizational Leadership. Her nomination application noted, “Tia has a servant heart helping others. Tia is fun, energetic, totally authentic and models what she believes everyone deserves – respect and understanding.” You can learn more about Tia in this video.
We were thrilled to be able to present the second Personal Innovation Award to a strong, talented woman who has continued to innovate herself and help others.
To nominate an individual please use our online nomination form.
All 2018 nominations due July 27
Make a Contribution Today
You may make a personal donation to the Christi Anderson Personal Innovation Award by using the button below:
or by writing a check to IWL Foundation and mailing it to our office:
IWL Foundation
47 W. 96th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260