Fuel the Fire Gala and

Girl on Fire Awards

Join us as we celebrate 10 years of mentorship for QC women!

Lead(h)er invites you to the 2026 Fuel the Fire Gala to enjoy a beautiful evening celebrating over 1,400 women empowered by mentorship over the past 10 years. It’s a momentous occasion that brings our community together to support and uplift women in the Quad Cities Area.

Thursday, October 8th

5:00 to 9:00 PM

Old Oaks Winery

People gathered in a decorated event tent with string lights and chandeliers, seated at round tables with floral centerpieces, enjoying food and drinks during an evening celebration.
A woman with blonde hair smiling and speaking into a microphone at a stand, with a neon sign that reads 'Fuel the Fire' and fire graphics in the background.
Four women taking a selfie outside a glass building at sunset, dressed in colorful dresses, smiling and posing for the photo.
A young woman in a red dress playing the violin outdoors at sunset.
Three smiling women standing outdoors at an event, holding small cups, with string lights above them.
Group of nine women in formal dresses smiling outdoors during sunset, with trees and a decorated platform in the background.
A smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a black dress with sheer sleeves, gold jewelry, and clapping her hands, standing in front of a yellow background with a black logo.
Two women in black dresses celebrating at an event. One is presenting, and the other is holding an award sculpture. Behind them is a fiery backdrop with a neon sign that reads "Fuel the Fire."
Three women smiling at an indoor event, standing close together with other attendees in the background.
A woman in a red dress speaking into a microphone at a podium with a backdrop of fiery flames and the phrase "Fuel the Fire" in red cursive.
Five women standing outdoors around a high table at sunset, smiling and holding drinks, with a park in the background.
Two women smiling at an award ceremony, one in a gold dress, the other in a red sequined dress, holding a trophy with flames design, with a background featuring a neon sign and fiery graphics.
Four people smiling at an outdoor event during sunset, holding drinks, with trees and a balcony in the background.
Four women standing outdoors at a registration table during sunset, smiling for the camera.
Three women smiling and standing close together at an outdoor event, wearing casual and semi-formal clothing, under a canopy with trees and other people in the background.
Three women smiling outdoors during sunset, wearing business casual attire, standing close together.
A woman with dark hair in black lace attire speaking into a microphone at a table with a black cloth. Behind her is a fiery backdrop with the neon sign 'Fuel the Fire' and flame decorations on small stands.
Five women standing together at a professional event, smiling for the camera, with a colorful background and a large sign about women leadership and mentorship to their left.
Three women at a celebration smiling and laughing, with one woman holding hands with another across from her, in front of a fiery background with a neon sign.
Three women smiling and posing together at an indoor event or conference, with a large fire-themed decoration and promotional banner in the background.
Two women at an event, one holding an award or trophy, with a backdrop of a neon sign saying 'Fuel the Fire' and a fiery design.
Group of people sitting at tables, clapping and smiling during an indoor event or celebration.
Two women at a fire-themed event, one is speaking into a microphone near a decorated backdrop with flames and the words "Fuel the Fire" written in neon. The woman on the left is holding an award.
People seated at a round table during a formal event, smiling and clapping, with a floral centerpiece, table number 8, and a woman standing in the background.
A group of people seated at round tables at a formal event, some smiling and engaging, with string lights and dark outdoor scenery in the background.
A man wearing a firefighter helmet and a dark shirt is speaking into a microphone at an indoor event with a screen and people seated in the background.
Event sponsorship packages for Fuel the Fire Gala, featuring different levels of sponsorship with descriptions and prices.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • What should I wear, what’s the dress code?! Business Casual to Cocktail. Leave the office and head straight to the event in your work attire or dress to impress! It is October, so you may want to bring a jacket. All that matters is that you join us to fuel the fire!

  • Who’s Invited? Anyone in the Quad Cities that wants to support Lead(h)er’s mission. We welcome anyone from the Quad Cities community to attend this event, whether you are new to Lead(h)er or a longtime supporter! (P.S. to answer the most common question, YES, men are allowed and encouraged to attend, too!)

  • What do the Gala proceeds go to? Our Strike a Match Mentorship Program! Learn more about our mission here: https://www.leadherqc.org/

Want to make a real impact and get your brand in front of the community?

When you sponsor Lead(h)er’s Fuel the Fire Gala, you’re doing more than supporting an incredible event - you’re fueling free mentorship for QC women.

Sponsorship =

  • Reach your target audience in the QC,

  • Elevate your business name & brand visibility,

  • Empower women through mentorship.

Be part of the movement that’s sparking change across our community.

To Fuel the Fire email Hannah at hannah@leadherqc.org.

email hannah to learn more
Group of nine women dressed in formal attire posing outdoors at sunset, with a decorative floral arrangement in the background.

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors

Logo with a green sound wave and the words "Amplified Digital" in white and black text.
Empleople Credit Union logo with a shield and leaf design.
Logo of Quad-City Times with text and website URL.
Tyson Foods logo with red and yellow color scheme and stylized font.
Logo of Ascentra Credit Union with orange square icons and gray text
A logo featuring a large white number six on a background with red on the left and blue on the right, with the word 'KANS' partially visible in white text at the bottom.
Logo of Quad City Bank & Trust with initials QCBT in a square and full name on the right
Logo of U.S. Wealth Management, featuring the red and white 'us' emblem on the left, with bold navy blue text reading 'Wealth Management' and smaller text beneath stating 'U.S. Bank | U.S. Bancorp Investments'.
Logo for Centennial Tax & Accounting featuring a stylized C in red, white, and blue, with the text 'Centennial' in blue and 'TAX & ACCOUNTING' in red.
Logo of MC Corporate Wellness with a geometric cube design in blue and peach colors.
Logo for Robert Half Talent Solutions with red 'rh' symbol.
Company logo for Wastyn & Associates in blue with stylized lettering
The Deloitte logo with white text on a dark background and a small green dot at the end.
Logo of Metronet with a stylized green and purple 'm' and the word 'metronet' beneath it, set against a black background.
Black and white logo featuring a 3D cube design with the initials 'RG'. Below the cube, the text reads 'ROUSE' in bold capital letters, and underneath that, 'Consulting Group' in smaller font.
Black and red logo with a sleeping dog illustration above the text 'Dog Haus' in bold letters and the words 'Beer, Burgers, Hot Dogs' underneath.
Dispat.ch Argus QOnline.com logo with black text, red underline and oval shape.
Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial logo with stylized shield and landscape design.
Logo of the Royal Neighbors of America with a multicolored flower and the slogan 'Insuring Lives, Supporting Women, Serving Communities'.
Illustration of a buffalo skull surrounded by colorful flowers and leaves, with the text 'Dragonfly Flower Farm' below.
Logo of Neckker's Jewels featuring a large blue letter N inside an oval with a diamond shape above, and the company name below in blue text.
Logo for Streamline Architects & Artisans featuring a gray camper trailer above the company's name in bold green text, with a gray frame and blue tagline.

Girl on Fire Awards

A girl on fire is any woman who is on fire. They could be someone who has pushed through their comfort zone, overcome something difficult, or even a woman who has made a strong commitment to giving back.

The Girl on Fire Awards are an annual celebration to honor outstanding women in the Lead(h)er community by announcing the Mentor, Mentee and Found(h)er of the Year. Women in the Strike a Match Mentoring Program are able to nominate their mentor or mentee for their unique contributions through mentorship.

Three orange and yellow twisted glass sculptures on black bases with labels, displayed outdoors at night.
Woman holding a colorful trophy with a black plaque that reads 'Jasmine Bozeman, 2018 Mentor of the Year' in an outdoor setting.

GIRL ON FIRE NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN!

Nominate Your Mentee
A woman with long hair in a black off-shoulder dress smiling while holding an award plaque, standing in front of a fiery backdrop with a neon sign that says 'Fuel the Fire'.
Two women standing together at an event, one holding an award, with a fiery themed backdrop and neon text that reads "Fuel the Fire."
Four colorful glass sculptures with orange, yellow, and red flames are displayed on black stands, against a backdrop of a fiery scene with swirling flames and smoke.

2025 Mentor of the Year: Kris Kellenberger
2025 Mentee of the Year: Brooke Keck
2025 Found(h)er of the Year: Anika Martin

2024 Mentor of the Year: Heather Honig Schwenneker
2024 Mentee of the Year: Maria Contreras Huerta
2024 Found(h)er of the Year: Laura Genis

2023 Mentor of the Year: Samantha Widener
2023 Mentee of the Year: Emily Cummings
2023 Found(h)er of the Year: LuAnn Haydon

2022 Mentor of the Year: Loredana Cooper
2022 Mentee of the Year: Charla Wood
2022 Found(h)er of the Year: Beth Grabin

2021 Mentor of the Year: Jazmin Newton
2021 Mentee of the Year: Marcie Ordaz
Found(h)er of the Year: Melissa Pepper

2020 Mentor of the Year: Cara Joiner
2020 Mentee of the Year: Rumaisa Rahman Khawaja

2019 Mentor of the Year: Deanna Jensen-Valliere
2019 Mentor of the Year: Lillie Johnson

2018 Mentor of the Year: Kirby Vyncke-Hughes
2018 Mentee of the Year: Jasmine Bozeman

Deadline: All nominations must be submitted by August 15th, 2026.

Helpful Tips: Save your nomination in a Word document before submitting so you don’t lose your work. Our Engagement Committee uses a blind‑scoring process, removing all names and assigning points based solely on the strength of the responses.

With so many phenomenal women in our program, the Girl on Fire Awards are always competitive. Taking your time to share meaningful stories and examples helps us honor the women who are truly igniting change in the Quad Cities.

Honoring: All nominees will be celebrated leading up to and at the 2026 Fuel the Fire Gala, Thursday, October 8th. The Mentor and Mentee of the Year receive a beautiful blown glass award from Hot Glass, Inc. the night of the Gala.

Nominate Your Mentor

Buy Fuel The Fire Tickets.