"It makes no difference what you have or don't have, it's what you give," said Micca Ruffin, this year's Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient at Tuesday's 15th Annual Zonta Women of Achievement Yellow Rose Luncheon.
The luncheon, at Capitol Plaza Hotel, was hosted by the Zonta Club of Jefferson City to celebrate the stories of women's lives.
Ruffin is the 12th woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
She is the founding leader of the Jefferson City Parents as Teachers program and travels providing curriculum training to professional parent educators. She's implemented the program across Missouri, as well as at childcare and education programs in Jefferson City.
For 12 years, she served as chairman of the Missouri Mansion's Docent Program. She's also been involved with The Morning Music Club, the Jefferson City Swim Club, the Jefferson City Day Care, the United Way, the Cole County Historical Society, the Chamber of Commerce and the Zonta Club.
Miriam Fuller and Audrey Kauffman received Zonta's Women of Achievement Award, which was "established to increase community awareness, understanding and appreciation of women and their diverse contributions."
Fuller was the first African American to attend what is now known as the University of Virginia at Wise and was one of the first female African American faculty members at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She founded two preschool development centers in Jefferson City and is currently an elder and lay minister at First Christian Church.
She said her words of wisdom are, "Have faith in God, keep your heart right and don't jump to conclusions."
Kauffman is the founder and owner of Jefferson City's Cafe Via Roma. She's an advocate for child-care assistance and is a board member of Central Missouri Community Action. She has helped organize food gardens in Kansas City and serves Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at the Dulle and Hamilton Towers.
Her message to luncheon attendees was, "Encouragement brings courage."
Nominees for the Women of Achievement Award included Fuller and Kauffman, as well as Kris Ballage, Mary Beffa, Stacey DeLong, Karen Enloe, Stephanie Lehmen, Cathleen Martin, Stacia Mills, Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, Lori Simms, Gaye Suggett and Janet Weckenborg.
Zonta also awarded three local women with a Second Chance Scholarship. The women include Jennifer Kidd, Lisa Sawyer and Lesley Trippensee. To be eligible, the women must be at least 24, have a high school diploma or GED and must live, work, or attend college in Central Missouri.
Mid-Missouri native Jann Carl was awarded Zonta's Celebration Award for her contributions to society and the advancement of women. Carl is a three-time-Emmy-award-winning journalist who was an Entertainment Tonight correspondent for 14 years. She's currently a co-host of the cable television show "Small Town Big Deal."
Carl was the luncheon's keynote speaker, but was unable to attend due to travel delays caused by a fire that shutdown both of Chicago's airports.
In her award acceptance speech, Ruffin summarized what Zonta means to her.
"Zonta is one of the most energizing groups of women," she said. "It's amazing to know the breadth and depth of work they do in the community."