Women United in Philanthropy in partnership with the United Way - Thomas Jefferson Area Vol. 5 No. 2
October 2011
“WUP is the Place to Mobilize Women”
I
am pleased to serve as co-chair of our Steering Committee this year, with great friend and philanthropist Robin Amato. As we conclude our annual Human Services Grant Award Luncheon we are proud of our past success, which has prepared us well for continued growth and greater impact in the future. First, let’s review our past success:
In 2006, we formed Women United in Philanthropy (WUP) with 23 donor members, 7 general members with collective fund donations, and 38 general members for a total of 68 members. In August 2011, WUP celebrated 52 donor members: an amazing and gratifying 126% increase! 43 general members with collective fund donations: a whopping 514% increase! 2011 WUP Grant Recipients: Harriet Kuhn, Executive Director of the International 39 general members for a total of 134 Rescue Committee and Ruth Stone, President and CEO of Piedmont CASA. educated, engaged and philanthropic women: a fantastic 97% increase. We have realized past success together. Invite them to join you in this exciting, We will grow our impact as we grow in In 2006, WUP awarded its first Human numbers. Our future focus is on sharing impactful movement. Because, of course, Services Grant in the amount of $15,000. the importance of WUP with our friends, we women share our “best finds” with Including the October 4th Awards, WUP coworkers, book clubs, neighbors…with each other. And, WUP is one of those has awarded $197,825 in grants to eight all of the women we value in our lives. great opportunities. local organizations serving women and children in our community. WUP is the place to mobilize women Together, this is what women do best. - OUR energy, OUR talent and OUR We make it happen. As Emily Dickinson Now, to our future: collective resources - to benefit OUR said, Our Mission is simple, yet so compelling community. and powerful: to maximize women’s “We never know how high we are, Share this newsletter with the women leadership in philanthropy by
who are important in your life. Invite them to visit our website: 2) increasing our individual charitable www.WomenUnitedCharlottesville.info contributions Invite them to come with you to 3) strengthening our community through our Membership Celebration on the impact of our collective giving to Wednesday, November 2 support human services. at Maya Restaurant. 1) engaging and educating our members,
Till we are called to rise; And then, if we are true to plan, Our statures touch the skies.”
Sue Friedman Co-Chair Women United in Philanthropy
“Living Philanthropy”
A
beautiful Fall day greeted members and guests for the Women United in Philanthropy Annual Human Services Grant Award luncheon at Farmington Country Club. Robin Amato, this year’s Co-chair, set the tone when she said “It takes a special quality for someone to ‘live’ philanthropy. As we get busier and busier it’s nice to pause to celebrate our combined success.” The room was filled with women who “live their philanthropy” through their collective giving and were ready to celebrate. Guest speaker Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Social Network Diet: Change Yourself, Change the World (coauthored with Dr. Miriam Nelson), was introduced by cochair Sue Friedman. Ackerman made the impulsive move to Charlottesville in 1991. Both she and her husband are writers and the lure of the University of Virginia library and academical village, as well as the close proximity to Washington D.C., were hard to resist.
Jennifer Ackerman, author and keynote speaker at the Ackerman believes a healthy lifestyle begins at home. You 2011 WUP Human Services Grant Award Luncheon. change the individual and the small ripples move through the community and spread beyond. “Women really know how to use social networking effectively. They know how to listen, how to nurture, and how to lean on people to help effect positive change.” Those words should sound familiar to members of WUP.
The ripples that started with the founding members of WUP have spread to enable us to award two $20,000 grants this year. Carol Johnston, co-chair of the Grant Committee, introduced Ruth Stone, Executive Director of Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Harriet Kuhn, Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as grant recipients for 2011. Piedmont CASA provides specially trained volunteers to advocate for neglected and abused children. The IRC will use WUP grant money to establish a Refugee Craft Cooperative, working with talented women refugees to produce and sell their handiwork locally. Jennifer Ackerman said “Women are tremendous catalysts for change.” We know. Through the collective giving of WUP, our members are making positive changes and “living philanthropy.” - Wanda Birckhead
Letters from our 2011 Grant Recipients International Rescue Committee
T
he International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville is grateful to Women United in Philanthropy for choosing to provide funding for the establishment of a Refugee Women’s Craft Cooperative. This project will allow refugee women artisans, including weavers, jewelry makers, seamstresses, and those who do knitting, crocheting and macramé, to learn how to market their wares with a goal of bringing much needed income into their families. Under the auspices of this project, participating women will also receive instruction in basic business practices and be guided through the process of establishing a cooperative to support their ongoing work. Knowledge gained through this project will help IRC strengthen its capacity to support future refugee business and micro-enterprise development.
Thank you, Harriet Kuhn Executive Director International Rescue Committee
Piedmont CASA
T
hank you for choosing Piedmont CASA as a recipient of the 2011 Women United in Philanthropy Grant – we are so thrilled to have the collective support and endorsement of your members. Not only will the funds help us train and supervise new CASA volunteers, but also the publicity from this grant will help us get the message to our community that child abuse and neglect are very real problems here in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Last year, there were 1,258 child abuse and neglect referrals to our local departments of social services. There is hope. At Piedmont CASA, our volunteers lift up children’s voices. They listen. They speak out for them in
court. They fight for a child’s right to be safe, treated with dignity, and to learn and grow in the security of a loving family. Last year Piedmont CASA provided advocates to 207 children whose lives were in the hands of the court system. We will use the $20,000 grant to train and supervise new CASA volunteers who will stand ready to serve the new children who enter the child welfare system every day. When we lift up children’s voices, we lift up their lives. Having a CASA volunteer means that life will be better for the children we serve. Thank you on behalf of the board, staff and especially the volunteers who do the hard work at Piedmont CASA. And mostly, thank you for caring about CASA’s children. Sincerely, Ruth L. Stone President & CEO Piedmont CASA
Let’s Hear it for Margery Daniel!
M
argery, her husband Tom, and their three daughters moved to Charlottesville in 1984. The relocation proved to be a life altering opportunity for Margery and her family. Margery became increasingly aware of the contributions and leadership of the women here and felt deeply motivated by their examples. This led her to receive her doctorate from Smith College School for Social Work at the age of 59. A former adjunct faculty member at Smith, Margery has maintained a private practice for adult psychotherapy since 1993. As a member of the United Way Board, Margery learned of the human services needs in our area. She was stunned to learn that one child in four lives in poverty. Margery and several of her United Way colleagues became aware of “giving circles” in which groups of women through their collective giving were substantially impacting their local communities. Expanding to include other women from the community, the group began to research local human service needs with emphasis on needs of women and children. With the guidance and partnership of the United Way, the group created our mission statement and created membership categories with the aim of offering membership to women across a broad spectrum of circumstances. The first inaugural meeting of WUP was held in April 2005. Guest speaker Dr. Laura Nash, upon hearing the story of our beginning efforts said “Go for it!”. Women United in Philanthropy was launched. Margery admires the ongoing leadership and success of WUP. “We used the commitment to women’s collective giving as a compass.” Thanks to our founding members - thanks to you, Margery - we are on the right path. Did you know that Margery is a great fan of Carol Burnett? She says “I have found that laughing at situations in life – and at myself – can be a great remedy for all that ails.” We are so happy to have you laughing with us in WUP. Next time you see Margery at a WUP event, have her tell you about her favorite Carol episode!
WUP Co-Founder, Margery Daniel. This photo was taken of her at the WUP Event in February 2011 where she was a Panelist.
Where Does the Money Go?
SAVE THE DATE!
O
ur 2010 Grant Recipient, The Women’s Initiative, received $40,000 from WUP last September. Their Board of Directors wanted to say thanks:
WUP has made a significant contribution at a critical moment in our agency’s development. Thanks to this extraordinarily generous grant, The Women’s Initiative has been able to expand its services to give under served women the mental health care that they need and deserve. Thank you! ~ Bebe Heiner, Founder, Chair
Membership Celebration! November 2, 2011 Maya Restaurant 633 West Main Street 5-7pm
Bring Friends! RSVP by Oct. 31 to Caroline Emerson cemerson@UnitedWayTJA.org
Supporting the mental health of women in our community is a fundamental step in a journey towards wellness and empowerment. The support from Women United in Philanthropy in 2010 was a bold step in recognizing this profound issue and providing a significant resource to make a difference. It is sincerely appreciated. ~ Sue Winslow, Vice Chair The Women’s Initiative, with its extraordinary and growing staff of committed professionals and volunteers, continues to provide high quality counseling and mental health services to a very needy population. Their efforts were greatly furthered by the generous gift from Women United in Philanthropy... Thank you for your compassion. ~ Chuck Rotgin, Treasurer
Join WUP at our Membership Celebration on November 2 to learn more about how The Women’s Initiative has used WUP grant money to change lives. Bring a friend!
United Way - Thomas Jefferson Area Women United in Philanthropy 806 East High Street Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
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www.womenunitedcharlottesville.info Phone: 434-972-1701/Fax: 434-972-1719 Email: womenunited@unitedwaytja.org
Membership Announcements It’s Membership Drive Time! Because of your Membership, WUP has awarded 8 grants totaling $197,825! We thank YOU for your significant role in this achievement and look forward to 2012! For more information on Membership or to download the Membership Form, please visit www.WomenUnitedCharlottesville.info
WUP Membership Celebration! - Learn more about WUP and our new Corporate Membership level. - Help us celebrate another successful grant year with our dedicated members. - Hear an update from our 2010 Grant Recipient, The Women’s Initiative. This fun event will be Wednesday, November 2, 2011 from 5pm to 7pm at Maya on Main Street in Charlottesville.
RSVP to Caroline Emerson cemerson@UnitedwayTJA.org This is a terrific opportunity to introduce new women to our group. We want to grow! Please bring a friend or two! See you there! - Maia Bannan, WUP Membership Committee Co-Chair
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WUP Members DONOR MEMBERS Robin Amato Maia Bannan Kimberlee Barrett-Johnson Liza Myers Borches Maggie Bourgeois Kathleen Bowman Antoinette Brewster Kakie Brooks Suzanne Brooks Lynn Brown Bobbie Bruner Maxine Burton Rose Capon Carol Clarke Deborah Conway Margery Daniel Cynnie Davis Athena Velie Eastwood Peggy Echols
Jennifer Feist Ann Myers Shirley French K.K. Pearson Sue Friedman Linda Perriello Grace Giras Sue Rainey Doris Greiner Jane Rotch Carol Ham Nancy Rudel Ruth Hanft Margie Swanson Deborah Hayes Heidi Thorsen Bebe Heiner Cathy Train Sharon Hostler Louise Trudel Amy Hughes Nancy Tuz Joan Jay Alison Webb Carol Johnston Sherry Williams/ Kathleen Ladika University Tire Peppy Linden Katherine Woods Susan McConnell Jeanne McCusker/ Home Instead Senior Care Janet Miller
GENERAL MEMBERS (with Collective Fund contributions) Mildred Abraham Karen Ahern Alyson Ball Sharon Barker Sandy Beard Mimi Bender Sarah Bridenhagen Cheryl Chandler Charlotte Dammann Pat Davis Mary Loose Deviney Lucille Digges Robin Ellis Chris Eure Joan Fadden
Sharon Fay Dorrie Fontaine Kathleen Ford Carolyn Frazier Debbi Goodman Sarah Gould-Stotts Sylvia Griffin Andrea Gruber Sonia Haimes Jennifer Hamlin Diane Hillman Marguerite Holmes Sally Humphrey Mary Johnson Karyl Kayton
Barbara Lee Etta Legner Derry Miller Ann Mingledorff Julie Murphy Anna Patchias Beverly Pawson Betty Phelan Jacquie Pickering Lainie Rainwater Theresa Reines Shamin Sisson Judy Smith Ellen Vaughan Betsy Woodard
GENERAL MEMBERS Byrd Abbott Marjorie Adam Nina Barnes Kim Baughman Carolyn Beach Beverly Bean Wanda Birckhead-Farrar Gardy Bloemers Karen Boeschenstein Gayle Bragg Olivia Branch Heidi Brooks Meghan Cloud Patricia Cluff Kristin Cory Beth Duffy-Cox
Vicki Farmer Laura Farrell Joan Fenton Anne Gardner Peg Gilliland Debbie Gordon Joyce Holt Karin Hughes Dearing Johns Lou Jordan Barbara Kessler Rosemarie King Kim Martin Bruce Murray Meghan Murray Judy Nunley
Shana Pack-Gangluff Joyce Robbins Stephanie Scheel Linda Seaman Diana Smith Sonjia Smith Deborah van Eersel Kathy Walmsley Mitzi Ware Bitsy Waters Roxanne White Lauri Wilson Meg Zakin Kate Zirkle