Ronda Stryker

Ronda Stryker, a member of the Community Foundation's board of trustees since 1997 and the immediate past vice chairperson of the board, is the 2013 recipient of the YWCA Lifetime Woman of Achievement Award.

The award is given annually to a woman in the community who has demonstrated a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the well-being of the community, state or nation, and has a record of accomplishment, leadership and positive role modeling as a volunteer and/or in a career.

"We are thrilled that Ronda’s impact in our community is being honored in this way," says Carrie Pickett-Erway, president/CEO of the Community Foundation. "Her commitment and dedication to the community is an inspiration and her example is a wonderful demonstration of loving where you live."

According to the YWCA, her "passion for the causes she cares about has contributed to the many successes of the organizations" she has served. An excerpt from the nomination said, "Ronda has a persistent commitment to ensuring that her personal actions, and the actions of organizations she serves, model the values of inclusion, equity and justice. She will challenge prejudice and bias, even with it is not popular to do so."

Stryker, who holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado and an master of arts from Western Michigan University, taught special education for Kalamazoo Public Schools and at Croyden Avenue School.

She also currently serves on the board of directors of Stryker Corporation, Greenleaf Trust, Kalamazoo College, Spelman College (Atlanta, Ga.), and Pathfinder International (Watertown, Mass.). Previous board service included Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation, Communities In Schools Kalamazoo, and the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home Foundation. She has served in a variety of volunteer posts with many other local nonprofits.

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