RIVER FALLS – At its April meeting, AAUW-River Falls announced the winners of its 2026 Role Model for Equity Award recipients: Jayne Hoffman, author and former third grade teacher at Westside and Melissa (Mei Mei) Abdouch, owner of Mei Mei’s Cookies and Creamery and newly elected River Falls City Council member. This annual award is given to women in the community who exemplify commitment to advancing equity for women and girls, AAUW’s primary mission.   

 Hoffman serves on the city’s Historic Preservation Commission (as chairperson), the River Falls Public Library Board of Trustees and the Pierce County Historical Association Board. She is the author of “The River Falls Public Library: The Legacy of our Founding Mothers.” The book focuses on the on-going, persistent role of women in the library’s development. The author details the efforts of individual women and women’s groups. Without her research, the community would be unaware of the role of women played in creating the highly prized community educational facility.

Abdouch is a local businessperson and civic leader whose popular establishment not only sells cookies, ice cream and soups but provides an outlet for local artists and crafters. She presently serves as president of the River Falls Business Leaders organization. She buys local farm products and uses her business to provide support for many area charities and community initiatives. Abdouch has been a role model and as such, has shared her experiences as a woman in business with girls at schools and youth groups.  

Submitted by AAUW-River Falls