Shoes That Fit Chief Executive Officer Amy Fass and Claremont Unified School District’s Julie Olesniewicz were recently named as 2024 Women of Distinction for the 41st Assembly District, which encompasses much of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, including Claremont.

The honor is part of the 41st Assembly District’s Women’s History Month celebrations, which highlights significant contributions women have made to their communities.

Amy Fass
Fass was recognized for her leadership and contributions to Claremont and the surrounding communities through her work at Shoes That Fit, a Claremont-based nonprofit supplying shoes to children nationwide.

Fass had been a consultant for Shoes That Fit since 2008 before becoming its executive director in 2014. She has lived in Claremont and worked in nonprofit management and development for more than 25 years. Under her leadership, Shoes That Fit has forged partnerships with schools, community organizations, corporations, foundations, and volunteers in all 50 states and Washington D.C. The nonprofit served more than 180,000 children in 2023.

In 2017 the city named Fass Claremont’s community hero. That same year Shoes That Fit was named California nonprofit of the year by the California State Assembly. Two years later, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation selected Fass for a scholarship to Stanford’s executive program in nonprofit management.

Julie Olesniewicz
Olesniewicz is CUSD’s assistant superintendent of educational services. The district wrote in a press release the recognition was a “testament to her impactful leadership, mentorship, and community service.”

From teaching to her administrative role at CUSD, to her active involvement in local and state educational boards, Olesniewicz’s dedication to fostering excellence in education is exemplary, read the release.  Aside from her work as an educational leader, Olesniewicz founded CUSD’s Powerful Awesome Women network, an initiative to mentor and support female administrators in the district.

A private program will take place in Pasadena on Saturday, April 20 where the duo will be recognized alongside the cohort of 2024 women of distinction.