Michelle DeHaven-Quast

Michelle DeHaven-Quast is CEO of the Foundation for Northwest Illinois, formerly known as Freeport Community Foundation. She has led the Foundation since late 2018. During that time, Michelle has overseen a paradigm shift for the Foundation, going from a mainly grantmaking model serving the Freeport area, to an organization that serves nonprofits throughout northwest Illinois by grantmaking, nonprofit leadership development, and fund stewardship. Michelle also engages with economic development leaders and elected officials on behalf of nonprofits, touting the enhanced quality of life that nonprofits provide and the key roles they play in economic development in our region.

Michelle has developed relationships with her foundation CEO peers in Illinois and nationally, which have led to amazing funding opportunities that have benefited or will benefit so many in our region. She uses her knowledge and network to help connect nonprofit leaders with one another and with other funding opportunities they should pursue. In short, she’s good at “connecting the dots.”

Michelle is a bridge-builder, a big picture thinker, and a bold leader and visionary—always with the good of our local communities in mind. Add in her intelligence, compassion, and fun personality, and it’s obvious why Michelle DeHaven-Quast is one of our she-roes for 2025!!

Stephanie Eymann

Stephanie embodies the essence of an innovator, mentor, advocate, business leader, and she-ro. As a nurse overseeing a nursing program in higher education, she continuously pioneers new methods to improve nursing education, ensuring that the next generation of healthcare professionals is equipped with the skills, knowledge, and compassion needed to thrive in their careers. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to excellence and an unyielding dedication to the success of her students.
Beyond her role in education, she is a passionate patient advocate. With firsthand experience in the healthcare system, she understands the critical importance of compassionate, patient-centered care. She demonstrated this by becoming a guardian to a patient she used to care for who needed a voice. She uses her platform to ensure patients receive the best possible care while promoting the value of empathy and understanding within the healthcare community.
As an adoptive single mom, she demonstrates resilience and selflessness. Balancing the responsibilities of motherhood with her demanding career, she serves as a powerful role model to her son and to all those who encounter her story. Her ability to juggle these roles showcases her strength, determination, and unwavering commitment to her family.
In every aspect of her life, she exemplifies the qualities of a SHE-RO, breaking barriers, uplifting others, and making an enduring impact on her community. Through her mentorship, advocacy, and leadership, she inspires countless individuals to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world. She is a she-ro!

Beverly Meyers

Beverly is the fourth grade teacher at Tri-County Christian School in Freeport. She has been at TCCS for three years. Beverly is the Lead Teacher for the elementary school program. She has incorporated ReadTheory into her student-directed Comprehension Club, where students create a poster board to set goals and achievements in reading for themselves. “Reading for understanding” is a key phrase that has come out of utilizing ReadTheory in her classroom. She was notified just this week that she was awarded ReadTheory’s Teacher of the Year!
If you’ve had a student in her class, you already know she’s one of a kind. She pours love, grace, and compassion into her students, treating them like her own, and encourages excellence in every aspect of their learning.

Marcia Meyers

I met Marcia years ago through the Lena Lions Club. At the time she was working full time and yet found the time to volunteer with the club and also drive senior citizens to doctors appointments, pick up medications and grocery shop for them and with them among many other things. She also has spent time on mission trips assisting those in need.
She is now retired and has gone from volunteering with the club, to joining, to being club president, and now District Governor.
Marcia has mentored me in the Lions and inspires me daily with her support for our community, her family and so many people who need a helping hand.

Juliet Moderow

Juliet is an advocate for education, the environment, and social justice for all. As an instructor at Highland, she is deeply committed to her students and their success. As a community member she volunteers with numerous organizations, including the Northwest Illinois Bird and Nature Alliance, HCC Women+ in Science Club, NAACP, Boys and Girls Club of Stephenson County and many others. She was instrumental in Freeport being designated as one of just a few “Bird Cities” in Illinois. Juliet is also a terrific mom, raising her daughter to be among the next generation of she-roes. Juliet’s compassion, intelligence, and drive make her a she-ro!