EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. – Aliesha Walz, President and CEO of the Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF), has been named the recipient of the 2026 Diana Irey Vaughan ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, presented by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.
The award honors emerging leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their professions while contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life in their communities. Recipients are recognized for achieving professional excellence, serving their communities, and actively assisting others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.
Celebrating its 23rd year in Washington County, the annual ATHENA Award program is presented by Dollar Bank and is part of the internationally recognized ATHENA Award program, which celebrates women’s leadership in business and civic life.
The 2026 ATHENA Awards were presented during a luncheon on Friday, May 8, at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe and was attended by more than 350 business and community leaders.
During the program, organizers also announced Leanna Spada, representing the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, as the recipient of the 2026 Washington County ATHENA Leadership Award, a separate honor recognizing established community leadership.
The 2026 finalists also included Lori Mesta of WesBanco, Genevieve Peters of Dress for Success Pittsburgh, Amy Podgurski-Gough of UPMC Washington Teen Outreach and the Academy for Adolescent Health, and Jamie Coleman-Price of AHN Canonsburg Hospital.
Walz’s recognition reflects her leadership and dedication to strengthening the region through philanthropy, collaboration, and community engagement.
For more information about the Washington County Community Foundation, please contact the Foundation directly or go to www.wccf.net.
About the Washington County Chamber of Commerce
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber of commerce in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. With 1,200 members, the Chamber focuses on exclusive networking events, economic development initiatives, tourism promotions and business advocacy. Learn more at washcochamber.com.
About the Washington County Community Foundation
The WCCF’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Washington County by promoting and facilitating philanthropy. In addition to issuing grants to local nonprofits, the Foundation also facilitates WCCF Gives, an annual giving event that benefits more than 100 local charities. It also provides free educational opportunities to help strengthen local nonprofits and continues to maintain the Community Snapshot website to identify community needs on an ongoing basis.