Honoring Women's Leadership & Service
Celebrating the dedicated women who lead, serve, and shape our community.
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Blanquita B.
Valenti Award
Awarded to a Middlesex County woman who holds or has held elected office and reflects community-minded leadership​
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New Award!
Spirit of Service
Awarded to a Middlesex County woman who has not held elected office and demonstrates exceptional service.
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Nominee Selection Process
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MCFDW members submit nominations to info@mcfdw.org by March 8, 2026. Nominations include the nominee’s name and reasons why they embody the spirit of the award—including what motivated their service and the impact they have made on the community.
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Award Committee reviews all nominations to determine the best alignment with the award criteria, carefully considering each nominee’s contributions, impact, and overall fit.
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Award honorees announced
mid-March and recognized at the MCFDW Annual Hats On for Women Fundraiser on Sunday, April 26.
Past Honorees
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Iris Rodriguez
2025 Blanquita B. Valenti Recipient
In 2017, Iris became Vice Chair of the Perth Amboy Democratic Organization, a key local leadership role where she works to advance civic engagement and community-focused initiatives. Since January 2018, Iris has served on the staff of New Jersey State Senator Joe Vitale as a scheduling director.
Iris is a passionate community activist. She is a founding board member of the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development,