We are delighted to announce that Venus Williams will be the special guest for YWCA’s 20th Annual Empowering Women Luncheon. This year’s theme, “Serving Strength. Building Futures,” celebrates the strength of our collective power and the hope and support that the YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County has offered to women and families throughout the organization’s 143-year history.
Become a sponsor or purchase tickets or a table for your team now. This event is sure to sell out!
With 7 Grand Slam titles, 5 Wimbledon championships, and 4 Olympic gold medals, tennis champion Venus Williams is arguably one of the most accomplished and inspiring women in the history of sports.
Off the court, Venus has combined her sharp business acumen with her competitive spirit to build several successful ventures spanning art, design, wellness, and entertainment. She is the founder of V Starr, an award-winning full-service commercial and residential design firm. Venus’s entrepreneurship also extends into the health and wellness space, having launched her plant-based protein company, Happy Viking, in December 2020. Most recently, Venus partnered with Serena on an exclusive X Originals video podcast series, Stockton Street, which premiered in September 2025. The platform gives them a chance to engage directly with the fans who have supported them throughout their careers, and they’re excited to connect with audiences—old and new—in a way they’ve never done before.
Venus released her health and wellness book, STRIVE, in August 2024 with Amistad and HarperCollins. In it, she draws from her own personal health and wellness journey to share an easy-to-follow yet innovative life improvement program founded on her eight essential tenets: Observe, Appreciate, Balance, Enrich, Soothe, Believe, Inspire, and Strive. Most recently, Venus became an investor and ambassador for the walking and wellness app WeWard, encouraging healthier and more active lifestyles worldwide.
Throughout her career, Venus has been a steadfast advocate for equality. In 2006, UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural organization, named her its first “Promoter of Gender Equality.” In 2007, it was her unwavering fight that led Wimbledon to award women players the same pay as their male counterparts. In 2023, Venus received the inaugural US Open Billie Jean King Champion of Equality Award, recognizing her continued dedication to promoting equality and leveling the playing field for athletes.
The YWCA is delighted to welcome her to Rochester for the 20th Annual Empowering Women Luncheon.
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