The 2026 Stephenie Foster Advocate of the Year Event brought together advocates working to turn unmet needs into meaningful, lasting change for women and girls.

This year’s program honored Lauren Bean Buitta, founder of Girl Security, alongside runners-up Leanne Listman and Stacey High. Through a candid conversation, the honorees shared how they create opportunities for leadership, widen their circles of support, sustain their work through challenges, and make the case for investing in grassroots advocacy. Special guest Jennifer Cate, the 2025 award recipient and Executive Director of Hands Along the Nile Development Services, also returned to reflect on the award’s impact and her organization’s work over the past year.

Watch the full event recording HERE for practical insights and personal reflections on moving from recognizing a gap to taking action—and building toward broader systems change. Below are highlight clips from the 2026 Award Program.