Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program whose mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, developing their self-confidence and participating in Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school. National sponsors include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, City of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Shoe Station, Gant Travel Management, the Coffeen Family, Regions Financial Corporation, Jostens and Alabama Media Group. Wisconsin state sponsors include the Waterstone Bank, Shoe Carnival, Jockey, Eder Flag, Mathnasium, Dale Carnegie Training and Hampton Inn & Suites Franklin. Brookfield and Elm Grove high school juniors are participating in their local program to earn over $6,000 in college scholarships.  Statewide, the Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin program will award over $50,000 throughout the state of Wisconsin in 2026.