Join us for the 40th Annual
“ I have a Dream” Scholarship Ball in Honor of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 17, 2026
The Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolan Dr, Madison WI
6:00 – 11:00 PM
Please join us!
Women In Focus celebrates our 40th Anniversary with exciting Casino Games for two hours, a delicious buffet dinner, an excellent program with video and dancing. Emcee his year is Brandon Taylor of WKOW, Channel 27. Each guest will receive a voucher for $500 of chips for the gaming, and at the end of the games, the chips can be exchanged for raffle tickets for our fabulous prize packages. The Ball will be an elegant festive evening to celebrate 482 WIF scholarships awarded since 1986 and to assist with scholarship funding for 2026!
Thank you Marsann McCants Ball Chair and Jackie Sanatana, Ball Co-Chair and the WIF Ball committee for all their hard work!
2026 Keynote Speaker Maia Pearson:
Women In Focus is excited to welcome Ms. Maia Pearson as our 2026 Keynote speaker. Maia is a native Madisonian, a working mother of three, a community organizer and serves as a Vice President of the Madison Metropolitan School District. She currently works as the program coordinator of the Mann Scholars program.
Maia Pearson, 2006 WIF Scholarship recipient
In 2006, as a graduate of West High School, Maia received her Women In Focus scholarship. She went on to earn a degree in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin. Madison with a focus on cultures in the age of globalization and development. Her personal experiences have shaped her understanding of poverty, the importance of state support, and the value of hard work to secure a better future for families and communities. With a background in youth development, Maia has spent over a decade advocating for affordable and accessible college education and voter rights. We look forward to hearing more about Maia’s story at the Dream Ball!
2026 Media Partner:
Our 2026 Media Partner is ABC Channel 27 and our Emcee is evening news anchor Brandon Taylor.
Brandon was a WKOW Wake Up Wisconsin anchor from 2014-2018. He returned to Madison in 2023 with his Goldendoodle “Monroe Madison.” You can watch Brandon on Channel 27 weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 PM.
Help us create hope for the future through education!
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors, since 1986, we have been able to award over $900,000 in scholarships. We are extremely appreciative of our sponsors as their contributions have truly made a difference in the lives of our scholarship recipients. We encourage organizations and individuals to become sponsors of our Ball. Your financial assistance will enable WIF to continue to award substantial scholarships this year and in the years to come.
Donate a fully-funded Dream Scholarship!
Would you like to remember someone who has passed, encourage students entering a particular field of study, or “pay it forward” by funding a WIF scholarship? Please consider this a wonderful way to make a positive impact! Click here for more information about this opportunity.
Sponsor the Dream Ball!
Sponsorship is a win/win opportunity! Your support helps us put on a quality virtual event and also helps fund scholarships for BIPOC youth in Madison! Showcase your business in our electronic program book, on the WIF website for a year, and, depending on the amount of your support, you’ll be featured in WIF social media posts prior to the Ball. Click here to learn more!
Women In Focus is committed to the health and safety of our guests and the community. As COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses continue to circulate, we will have masks and hand sanitizer available during the event. If symptomatic, consider testing for COVID-19 and healing at home instead.