The Women's Initiative is a philanthropic network of committed, concerned, and caring women who give their time, talent, and treasure for women and girls in our community. Members of Women's Initiative donate $100 or more
annually with a focus on building, strengthening, and supporting the development of confident and safe adolescent girls. Women's Initiative has successfully brought about lasting change through educational events, grants for area programs, financial literacy education, and sponsorship of a comprehensive local needs assessment. The Women’s Initiative of the United Way is a thriving vehicle of change for girls in central Massachusetts.
May Member of the Month!
Meridith Wesby, Founding Member
"The Women’s Initiative has impacted my life personally and professionally. Ten years ago, when I should have been entering early retirement spending time at the golf course and checking off the many items on my bucket list, I co-founded Women’s Initiative and put those other personal goals on hold.
Professionally, the opportunity to start up Women’s Initiative came at the right time. I wanted to “make a difference” in the next stage of my life. As the perennial student, it was what I would describe as my Capstone Course. Creating Women’s Initiative enabled Lois Green and I to frame the processes and structure to develop an organization from a blank piece of paper using our education, our collective experience, and some of the values and ideals that were important to us.
Women’s Initiative also addressed a number of my own interests - middle school girls, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, financial literacy, women’s issues, women’s education, and women’s philanthropy. My work with Women’s Initiative was varied enough that I remained actively engaged long after the initial start-up phase with the creation of the Financial Literacy Conferences and the establishment of the collaborative model, Investing In Girls Alliance. I am excited to embark on the next 10 years with a focus on both meeting the girls’ needs and funding for the future where, once again, visibility on my part will be a developmental experience.
In the past 10+ years, I have taken away far more than I have given – a close friend in Lois and the camaraderie of talented women on a mission. During this tenth year, I celebrate the over 100 mentors and 230 girls participating in the spring Dollar Scholar conferences, the more than 1100 members of Women’s Initiative, and the $3+ million raised. I can honestly say that this journey has been a true Capstone course and I am looking forward to the next 10 years…" Meridith Wesby
Designate a minimum of $100 to the Women's Initiative and become a member today!
by volunteering on my company’s United Way committee. I am very proud of Unum’s ongoing commitment to our community, especially this year when we had record turnout of volunteers for the Day of Caring and increased giving even with tough economic times.”
- Catherine Foster, Unum
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