Press Release
Posted:
St. Helena –Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced that Lisa Hilas was chosen as the 2025 Solano 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.
“Lisa Hilas’ passion, leadership, and determination have profoundly impacted our community,” said Thompson. “Ms. Hilas serves as President of On Stage Vacaville, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering artistic expression and enriching our community through the performing arts. She is also the Executive Director and Founder of Saving Gracie, a nonprofit that supports families facing emergency veterinary care and enduring financial hardship. Her hard work and leadership better the lives of many in our community. I am proud to recognize her as Solano 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