December 5, 2008

(Special thanks to the Green Bay Press Gazette for permission to reproduce this article)

Women of Courage honored by Scouts

By Jackie Stone

When Karen Kring saw the ad for nominees of Green Bay women of courage, confidence and character, she immediately thought of her fellow Preble High School teacher Deanna Sundstrom.

Sundstrom teaches math full-time, raises money for cancer and runs a student group called Sting Cancer to aid people with cancer, all while undergoing her third battle with a rare form of cancer, leiomyosarcoma.

"Because that was Deanna before (the cancer) happened," Kring said. "She was always the first to help."

The Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes honored Sundstrom along with Alderperson Celestine Jeffreys and Carol Ponce-Torrez, a Hispanic health educator at St. Mary's Hospital, as Green Bay's Women of Courage, Confidence and Character for this year at a luncheon Thursday at the KI Convention Center, downtown Green Bay.

"They don't just do their jobs, they go above and beyond to help others in the community," said Beth Hrubesky, special event manager and coordinator of the event.

The event was held not only to honor strong women leaders in the community, but also to raise money for Green Bay Scouts through a silent auction, said Mary Charles, chief executive officer of the Girl Scout district.

"I think this is not enough, three women," Ponce-Torrez said. "Every woman deserves this award. I want to share it will all the women in Green Bay."

Ponce-Torrez was nominated for her work at St. Mary's Hospital, where she is in charge of classes and programs for the Latino community, as well as her work to help prevent language and cultural barriers to health care.

Celestine Jeffreys, the third honoree, was chosen because of her strong leadership role as one of two women on Green Bay's City Council, her grassroots organizing and her work to improve housing and neighborhoods.

Proceeds from the silent auction will go to support leadership campaigns and to offset costs such as membership and uniforms for underprivileged young women, Hrubesky said.