Press Release
Posted:
St. Helena –Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced that Norma Ferriz de Massaro was chosen as the 2025 Napa County Woman of the Year. Each year, Rep. Thompson chooses women from California’s Fourth Congressional District to honor for their positive contributions to our community.
“Norma Ferriz de Massaro has been a pillar of the Napa Valley community for nearly two decades,” said Thompson. “She currently serves as the Finance and Operations Director for the Up Valley Family Centers of Napa County, strengthening programs that provide vital support to local families. Ms. Ferriz de Massaro has also been an active member of many civic and nonprofit organizations, including Soroptimist International St. Helena Sunrise, the St. Helena Star Editorial Board, the St. Helena Library Committee, the St. Helena Library Foundation, the St. Helena Multicultural Committee, and the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s Community Programs and Grants Committee. Her leadership in these organizations has helped make our community a more inclusive place. I am proud to recognize her as Napa County’s Woman of the Year.”
The Woman of the Year Recognition Ceremony was started in honor of Women’s History Month to recognize the service of women in our community.
Women’s History Month has its origin in California’s Fourth District. In 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women coordinated a “Women’s History Week” during the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women’s Day. In 1980, a group of Sonoma County women founded the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) in Santa Rosa, California. The goal of this organization was to highlight and recognize the historical national achievements made by women.
In partnership with other women advocacy groups and historians, the NWHP successfully lobbied for national recognition in 1980, with President Jimmy Carter declaring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. After this accomplishment, the NWHP began advocating for the entire month of March to be designated as Women’s History Month. Seven years later, Congress officially passed legislation designating the entire month of March as Women’s History Month. Every year since, Women’s History Month has been recognized in March to uplift and celebrate the incredible contributions and accomplishments of American women.
A complete list of 2025 winners include:
- Wilda Shock – Lake County Woman of the Year
- Norma Ferriz de Massaro – Napa County Woman of the Year
- Lisa Hilas – Solano County Woman of the Year
- Thea Hensel – Sonoma County Woman of the Year
- Mary Yin Liu – Yolo County Woman of the Year