Women’s Initiative

Get Involved

The Women’s Initiative hosts annual fundraising and member events to drive awareness of our philanthropic and leadership group, highlight our support of adolescent girls, and raise funds to increase our impact.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

TUESDAYS WITH WI 

Tuesday, April 11th; 5-7PM

Pepe’s Italian Restaurant

 

REGISTER TODAY!

 

Join us for good food, networking, and conversation!

Come mingle and join us for food, drinks, and networking. Drop by and bring a friend to introduce them to the Women’s Initiative.

Bring a purse to donate to Power of the Purse and receive a FREE drink ticket.

Appetizers courtesy of the Women’s Initiative.  Cash bar available.

Power of the Purse

POP-Web-Banner

Power of the Purse is a fun evening of camaraderie and solidarity to ignite positive change for women and girls. Enjoy a live and silent auction of designer purses and bag packages while networking with like-minded supporters.

 

6TH ANNUAL POWER OF THE PURSE

June 6, 2023; 5-7PM at NOTRE DAME ACADEMY

Join the Women’s Initiative for a fun evening of camaraderie and solidarity to ignite positive change for women and girls. Enjoy a silent and live auction of designer purses and bag packages, and network with like-minded supporters. Early silent auction bidding will start online June 5th at 12 PM.

 

REGISTER TODAY

 

Power of the Purse raises critical funds for gender specific programming and financial literacy education that ensures more girls in our community receive a foundation for a strong and successful future. The Women’s Initiative is celebrating 20 year of igniting positive change for girls through philanthropy and women’s leadership.

 

Honorary Chairs  

Jean Beaupre, ED.D., Nichols College

Jennifer Davis Carey, ED.D., Worcester Education Collaborative

Jessika Zequeira, Shine Initiative

Viviana Abreu-Hernandez, PH.D., Quinsigamond Community College

 

View 2022 event photo album on our Facebook page.

Stepping Up for Girls

womens-initiative-cover-photo

A celebration of women’s philanthropy, leadership, and empowerment of adolescent girls, Stepping Up for Girls is the Women’s Initiative’s signature fundraiser to support future programming. The event highlights our funded programs, celebrates local women leaders, and the positive impact we as a community have made in support of girls and women.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View 2022 event photos on Women’s Initiative’s Facebook page.

 

2022 WOMEN’S INITIATIVE AWARD HONOREES 

Lois B. Green Leadership Award
Shauree Allotey
Director of Operations, Boys & Girls Club of Worcester

 

Meridith D. Wesby Young Leader Award
Morgan Johnson
Student and Social Justice Activist

 

Leadership Awards

The Women’s Initiative co-founders, Lois Green and Meridith Wesby, were leadership role models for many young women and their vision was to strengthen young girls and empower women. Named in their honor, the Lois B. Green Leadership Award and Meridith Wesby Young Leader Award recognize female leaders in our community.

WI Leadership Award Past Recipients

YEAR GREEN LEADERSHIP AWARD WESBY YOUNG LEADER AWARD
2006 Val Loring Monaye Leathers
2007 Marcy Reed Katarzyna Koscielska
2008 Marianne Felice, MD Iris Sanxhaku
2009 Suzanne Patton Hanh T. Lam
2010 Colleen O’Brien Andrea Siemaszko
2011 Patty Eppinger Dianara Nagrone, Shaleah Morgan, Yalitza Garcia
2013 Maureen Binienda Sabbatina Konadu
2014 Susan Mailman McKenzie Gratton
2015 Phyllis Pollack Tereza Ngendahoruri
2016 Maureen Gray Katherine Esparza
2017 Patsy Lewis Darhianys “Lula” Bethancourt
2018 Lucia Knowles Vianna Mercedes
2019 Kathleen Orengo Elizabeth Oluokun
2020

2021

Liz Hamilton

Linda Cavaioli

Chantale Zuzi

Génesis Márquez Campos

20th Anniversary Year Sponsors

20th Annual Stepping Up For Girls Sponsors

Lead Sponsor:                                                                                                                                        

hanover-insurance-group-logo

 

Corporate Sponsors

Bank of America

Little House Capital

National Grid

Saint-Gobain

Seven Hills Foundation

UMass Chan Medical School

Unum

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

 

Support Sponsors:                                                                                                                            

Bay State Savings Bank

Coghlin Electrical

College of the Holy Cross

Cornerstone Bank

Fletcher Tilton

Fontaine Bros.

Imperial Distributors

Main Street Bank

 

Marketing Sponsor:

Kerri A. Melley, Commonwealth Financial Group

Pathways for Change, Inc.

Point32Health

Sullivan Group

UMass Memorial Health

UniBank

Webster Five
Worcester State University

 

Media Sponsors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member Celebrations

The Women’s Initiative hosts member events throughout the year to give thanks to the hundreds of annual members and meet new supporters. Join our mailing list or follow us on FaceBook to get information on our next member event.

 

WI-events-Tw