About this Event
Celebrate leadership, resilience, and community impact at the 2026 Waves of Change Women’s Leadership Luncheon, hosted by The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women.
This year’s event honors two extraordinary women whose lives and careers exemplify strength, creativity, and service:
Sutton Foster
Two-time Tony Award–winning actress, singer, dancer, and acclaimed television star
Recipient of the Helen Gordon Davis Women’s Leadership Award
Best known for her iconic Broadway roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything Goes, The Music Man, and Once Upon a Mattress, as well as her beloved lead role on the hit TV series Younger, Sutton Foster continues to shape American musical theatre and inspire audiences around the world. Her memoir, Hooked, offers a candid look at creativity, vulnerability, reinvention, and personal growth.
A champion for women in the arts and an advocate for arts education, Foster embodies resilience, authenticity, and the power of women supporting women.
Jeanne T. Tate
Nationally recognized adoption attorney, nonprofit founder, and community advocate
Recipient of the 2026 Waves of Change Award
Jeanne T. Tate is one of the most decorated adoption attorneys in the nation. As founder of Jeanne T. Tate, P.A., and partner at Tate Healey Webster, she has dedicated more than four decades to shaping adoption law and protecting children and families. She also founded Heart of Adoptions and Heart of Adoptions Alliance, a nonprofit agency supporting children in foster care. Her honors include the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award, the Angel in Adoption Award, and a Key to the City of Tampa. Tate is a shining example of service, compassion, and leadership in our community.
Event Highlights
Sutton Foster:
Experience her inspiring journey of artistry, resilience, reinvention, and advocacy in the arts.
Recognition of Jeanne T. Tate:
Honor her decades of groundbreaking work, compassionate service, and transformational impact on families and children.
Exclusive Opportunity:
Our League of Extraordinary Women and Presenting Sponsor will have an exclusive Meet & Greet with Sutton Foster
Event Schedule
Friday, February 6, 2026 — Hilton Tampa Downtown
11:00 AM: Registration & Networking
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Exclusive Meet & Greet with Sutton Foster (Presenting Sponsor & League Members only)
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Luncheon & Program
Why Attend?
- Celebrate the accomplishments of national luminaries Sutton Foster and Jeanne T. Tate.
- Connect with 500–800 influential community leaders, business professionals, and advocates.
- Support a meaningful cause — proceeds benefit The Centre for Women’s impactful programs, including:
- Entrepreneurial training through the Tampa Bay Women’s Business Centre
- Counseling & wellness services
- Workforce development & Success Strategies
- Women Building Futures construction training
- Senior Home Improvement Program
- Leadership development
When women succeed, families, workplaces, and communities thrive.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Hilton Tampa Downtown, 211 North Tampa Street, Tampa, United States
USD 161.90
