The following is a press release; its contents were not editorially vetted by The Desk.
In a powerful tribute to resilience, leadership, and unshakable hope, Dr. Kim Carter-Tillman, founder of the Time for Change Foundation, has been named the “2025 Remarkable Woman of the Year.” The prestigious honor was announced during an uplifting, star-studded event televised nationwide on The CW Network this past weekend and hosted by media personality Brooke Burke.
Selected from a pool of 125 extraordinary nominees chosen from Nexstar television markets across the country, Dr. Carter-Tillman was celebrated not only for her transformational advocacy, but for turning personal adversity into a mission of empowerment. Once incarcerated and struggling with addiction, Dr. Carter-Tillman emerged with a purpose—to ensure no woman walks alone on her path to self-sufficiency. Through Time for Change, a non-profit organization she founded that has helped more than 4,800 women across the nation rebuild their lives with dignity and strength. As the 2025 Remarkable Woman of the Year, Dr. Carter-Tillman was awarded $25,000 to donate to a charity of her choice.
“I feel like a part of me is leaving a mark on these women, and as we continue to be remarkable, they will become remarkable, too,” said Dr. Carter-Tillman. “I chose to turn the horrors of my past into my passion and purpose. So today, I stand before you proud — proud to help provide housing, proud to be a business owner, proud to help children out of foster care. I’m proud because once I was a statistic — now, I’m a creator and an owner. I’m a builder and a developer.”
Now in its sixth year, Nexstar’s Remarkable Women initiative has highlighted the untold stories of over 58,000 nominated women—with 70% of nominations submitted by other women—proving that greatness is often nurtured in community. Each nominee is profiled on Nexstar’s local stations and nationally on its cable news network NewsNation.
This year’s regional finalists stood as living legacies of service and inspiration:
- Brenda Robinson (Charlotte, NC) – The first African American female pilot in U.S. Navy history, now mentoring underrepresented youth through her Aviation Camps of the Carolinas.
- Inez Russell (Waco, TX) – Founder of Friends for Life, which for 35 years has uplifted seniors and adults with disabilities to live their fullest lives.
- Sandra Burgener (Champaign, IL) – Director of Minds in Motion, championing the cognitive and emotional well-being of older adults.
- Holly Schwab (Raleigh, NC) – Founder of Zach’s Toy Chest, inspired by her son’s cancer journey, which delivers over 10,000 toys annually to pediatric cancer patients.
The Remarkable Women telecast featured appearances by beloved stars including Jennifer Hudson, who welcomed all 125 nominees to her studio, and presenters such as Skye P. Marshall, Deborah Cox, Michael Evans Behling, Leeza Gibbons, Heather Tom, Peri Gilpin, and Elizabeth Vargas.
The 2025 Remarkable Women Awards special will air on NewsNation on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT, with local broadcasts across Nexstar’s network of local television stations. Visit Nexstar Media Group | Remarkable Women to learn more. The special originally aired on The CW Network on Sunday, April 20 and is currently available to stream on The CW app.
This year’s Remarkable Women awards were sponsored by Olay, Straight Talk Wireless, Allstate and SeeHer.
