Stepping up for Girls

On September 26, 2007, Mechanics Hall was filled as over women and men committed to taking action to improve the lives of girls!  The 5^th Annual Stepping up for Girls Reception was held to kick off the Women’s Initiative’s 5^th year of work in Central Massachusetts.

Event Chair, Patty Eppinger, led the program, which highlighted the incredible success that has occurred through the fundraising and education efforts of the Women’s Initiative. She also introduced to the membership the new Chairperson of the WI, Wendy O’Leary, who outlined the agenda moving forward, and framed the ongoing need for intervention and prevention of the many difficult issues girls deal with every day.

Wendy introduced the two new special Initiatives to the audience, Economic Empowerment of Girls and Investing in Girls, and asked them to “Step Up” and get involved personally as either a mentor or volunteer.

Through the generosity and leadership of a WI Member, the Mary C. DeFeudis Stepping Up Challenge Grant was announced!  The audience was asked to fill out their pledge cards and either join as a first time member, or to renew and increase their membership, and the Challenge Grant would match the new dollars and increases.  It was an inspirational moment as Mary was recognized for her leadership.

Leadership was the theme of the evening, and the keynote address was a poignant example of one women’s embodiment of that word.  Barbara Smith-Bacon, Vice President of Berkeley Investments, and the Lead project manager of the City Square project challenged the audience to take a stand for girls and intervene on the issues that affect them locally.