The deeds of 18 Hoosier women who have worked to improve services to the elderly, launch programs for immigrants and develop the talents of young people, were celebrated Tuesday night during the Indiana Commission for Women Torchbearer Awards gala.

Six of the women received special awards during the event at the Indiana Roof Ballroom Downtown.

The commission is a bipartisan advisory group established in 1992 and enacted as a state commission in 1996. Its mission is to address the needs of Indiana women and their families.

Women have made significant advances, but the commission still is needed and the awards serve to recognize achievement and inspire more, several honorees said.

“I think we need something like this to point out to the community, to the state, to the nation that women are out there working hard,’’ said Anita Price, 81, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jessica Moore, 26 and recipient of the Young Woman of Promise Award, said some inequities still exist and it’s a thrill to be recognized among women.

“I think it’s good, and probably still needed, especially for younger women who are still coming up,’’ Moore said.

Among the six major award recipients:

Janet Allen, Indianapolis, artistic director at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, received the Keeper of the Light Award.

She has worked to develop local talent and inspired them to stay in Indiana.

She has created and fostered playwriting programs for junior and high school students and a national competition for adult playwrights who write for young audiences.

Pat Koch, Santa Claus, was given the Heart of Indiana Award.

Koch is owner and director of values for the Holiday World Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus. She greets every guest at the park personally and provides free drinks, parking, sunscreen and tubes for the water park.

She also works with the Santa’s Elves program to make sure that every child who writes to Santa receives a personal reply.

Moore, Indianapolis, immigrant outreach specialist for the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, works with refugees and designs programs to help immigrants better access library services.

She also has worked in the court system as an interpreter and served as a bilingual assistant in Indianapolis Public Schools.

Lt. Gen. Carol A. Mutter, Brownsburg, was given the Service to County Award.

She joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967. In June 1991, she became a brigadier general. In June 1994, she became the first woman Marine major general; in September 1996, she became the first woman Marine to become a lieutenant general.

Mutter retired with that rank on Jan. 1, 1999.

Price, Zionsville, for seven years has been the volunteer state president of AARP and has long been involved in advocating for senior citizens and on civil rights issues.

Rebecca Zaseck, South Bend, received the Trailblazer Award.

She has worked to help the elderly for two decades and currently is chief executive officer of REAL Services Inc., a private nonprofit service and community action organization.

Zaseck launched the Community and Home Options for Institutional Care for the Elderly program for Indiana and has led the charge of program development for such projects as “Aging in Place,” providing home modification to elderly residents in the South Bend area.