They come from different walks of life, causes, neighborhoods and ethnic groups, but they share one common ground: A single-minded determination to make the Tristate a better place.

        “They” are The Cincinnati Enquirer's 2001 Women of the Year, the 34th annual celebration of women who make a difference. Established in 1968, WOY has already honored 331 women. Ten more join their ranks at a noon luncheon March 21 at the Hyatt Regency.

IF YOU GO

What: 34th annual Women of the Year luncheon     When: Noon, March 21     Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel, downtown     Tickets: Reservations are required. Tickets are $20. Tickets and tables may be reserved by calling Mary Donaldson at 768-8112.

        The new class, according to Enquirer President and Publisher Harry Wipple, “is a diverse, dedicated and tireless group of women the Enquirer is proud to recognize for this honor.”

        The group includes women who have protected children, helped adults get high school certificates, fought poverty, promoted understanding between cultures and supported health and arts organizations with such gusto that one winner admits, “I just about live in my car with a cell phone attached to my ear.”

        This year's winners:

        Shakila T. Ahmad of Evendale is a homemaker and volunteer who works to educate the public on the realities — not the ugly myths — of Islam and its adherents. Mrs. Ahmad, the mother of three, coordinates tours and talks for the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati in West Chester. She also helps students learn how to work out conflicts in non-violent ways through Bullies and Victims, an educational program she helped found for middle school students.

        Sister Julia Mary Deiters, Sisters of Charity, is a former teacher and program director at Terrace Guild Adult Education in Winton Terrace. She is a member of the boards of the Ohio Literacy Network, Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati and Genesis Men's Program.

        Kim Morris Heiman moved here from Israel where she was a successful entrepreneur and industrialist, says one of her nominators, Ehud Barak, former prime minister of Israel. In Cincinnati, she is the president of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and a tireless fund-raiser. Her current project is relocating the Jewish Community Center.

        Betti Joan Hinton, executive director of Children's Protective Services, created the United Way's first neighborhood, school-based family resource center, FamiliesFORWARD. Her work there drew the attention of President George W. Bush, who invited her to Washington in January. She was the 2001 winner of the NAACP Cincinnati chapter's Wright-Overstreet Award for Community Service and Cincinnati Public Schools' Setting the Standard Award for Improving the State of Our Schools.

        Sherie Ann Marek zeros in on arts and health causes, gladly chairing benefits, serving on committees and, when necessary, cleaning up when the party's over. Cincinnati Ballet, Historic Southwest Ohio, Cincinnati Opera, Art Museum, Convalescent Hospital for children, Cancer Family Care, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Speech and Hearing Board and dozens more have reaped the rewards from benefit events she has chaired.

        Anzola McMullen retired in 1996 after 38 years as a teacher, then turned her talents to Cincinnati Job Corps and Hamilton County MRDD. As a licensed cosmetologist, she serves sick and shut-in men and women and serves on the advisory board of the Council on Aging. She volunteers with Crayons to Computers and is a principal officer of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Lockland. With all that, she recently took in a teen-ager who had been left without a home as college loomed.

        Liane Phillips is co-founder of Cincinnati Works, a privately funded poverty-to-work organization. She donates her time, energy and financial resources to the agency, which helps people in poverty find full-time jobs with health benefits. Last year the former school reading specialist was awarded an honorary doctorate in the humanities by the College of Mount St. Joseph for her leadership and devotion to community service.

        Phyllis Browning Reed of Edgewood has spent a lifetime serving in areas of women's health. The Bracken County native is nurse manager of the Women's Center at St. Elizabeth Hospital and involved in the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, St. Elizabeth's Cancer Care Committee and the Kentucky Breast Cancer Coalition.

        Most people think Mary Margaret Rochford, president of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, is all about flowers. But there's much more: One nominator cites her as the key figure in Veterans Guest House's capital campaign to build Fisher House at the Cincinnati VA Center. She's also past president of the Cincinnati Business and Professional Women's Association and a long-time Community Chest volunteer. She founded the horticultural society in 1989 and its flower show, the only such event in the U.S. to be recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society.

        As a tireless volunteer for educational causes, Sally Southard of Oxford spent 24 years serving on a variety of boards: Talawanda School Board, Butler County School Board, Ohio State Board of Education, Butler County Commission and Oxford City Council. She was instrumental in creating the Oxford Cooperative Nursery School and the Community After-Graduation Party for Talawanda High School.

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