The Women’s Fund
Give to this fund
The Women’s Fund is dedicated to increasing support in Middle Tennessee for programs serving women and girls. The Women’s Fund was established within The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee in 1994 by a committee of community leaders who wanted to invest in long-term solutions for transforming the lives of women and girls, improving the well-being of our entire community.
The Women's Fund awards grant funding to programs addressing:
• Achievement of economic self-sufficiency for women
• Prevention of violence and crime against women and girls
• Promotion of health and physical well-being and talent for women and girls
Click the image or this link to browse the 2012 A Celebration of Women Tribute Book online! The book is also available on newsstands with the May 2012 issue of Nfocus!
Ashley Judd Addresses Guests at 14th Annual Power of the Purse®
Event benefits The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
READ BELOW FOR A RECAP OF ASHLEY JUDD'S REMARKS, AND QUOTE EXCERPTS.
TO SEE EVENT PHOTOS AND SUBMIT YOUR OWN, click here.
To read Judd's April 9 commentary on The Daily Beast, regarding recent media speculation and public conversation about her appearance and its implications for all women, click here.
Actress and humanitarian Ashley Judd spoke with more than 700 attendees on April 9, at the 14th annual Power of the Purse ® Luncheon. The Power of the Purse ® luncheon and silent auction support The Women’s Fund’s work to help Middle Tennessee women and girls in need.
Judd has traveled the world through her advocacy and humanitarian efforts, including work with Population Services International, among other organizations dedicated to poverty alleviation, public health, human rights, and social justice. During her keynote address (for speech excerpts, see below), Judd spoke passionately about issues affecting women and girls around the globe, focusing on the marginalization of women, from sexual violence and physical objectification to depriving women of opportunities for education and economic stability.
She focused on the need to invest in economic stability and empowerment, safety and prevention of violence and overall health – which is the three-fold mission of The Women’s Fund.
Throughout her remarks, Judd emphasized the issues affecting women here and everywhere are on a broad spectrum but are intrinsically linked, impacting us all; she echoed one of the founding beliefs of The Women’s Fund, which is the positive ripple effect of investing in women and girls.
"When we put money in the hands of women, it not only helps them lift themselves ... but it helps them lift their children and their communities out of poverty," said Judd, speaking about her work with women in regions across the world.
Judd's powerful closing remarks made her message clear. When women join together to support other women, the impact is magnified, and issues which harm, disempower and disenfranchise women anywhere, effect people everywhere. We must each play a role, she affirmed, in fighting the beliefs and issues threatening to make women powerless, and seek empowerment, health and stability for women.
During the event, emceed by WSMV's Demetria Kalodimos, The Women's Fund board chair, Sherry Howell, also addressed attendees, highlighting The Women's Fund's impact. To date, The Fund has invested more than $653,000 in 80 organizations. In 2011, The Women's Fund's grants to local organizations to support programs providing critically-needed medical services to uninsured women, teaching girls science, math and self-esteem, and more. The Women’s Fund’s endowment has grown to $2.4 million, which will allow the Fund to double grant awards this year and make strides toward its goal to make the community safer, healthier and more stable, by investing in women and girls.
Ashley Judd's Remarks* from her Power of the Purse keynote address
*These are only excerpts, not a complete transcript, from the keynote address.
The Community Foundation via The Women’s Fund helps us to identify the things we can change, and through strong female to female alliances, that is where we find the courage to take action.
It is tough to be a girl and woman in this world. It is in spaces like this (Power of the Purse event), when we bind ourselves together in the collective effort to make progress toward what I would call feminist social justice… that we can overcome the many obstacles that are still a part of our daily lives.
There is a continuum of violence against girls and women. We often, in our country, we fail to notice the still subtle, persistent and insidious ways in which our rights are encroached upon. It’s a little less noticeable … we are lulled into a trance, in thinking that it’s all OK, that the problem is solved or that the day of total gender equality is upon us.
One of the things I love so much about The Community Foundation and The Women’s Fund … the first thing stated in their three-fold mission is to help women obtain economic self-sufficiency. So much of our ability to be autonomous… to preserve our… dignity, to have that integrity in our lives and in our bodies, is being economically self-sufficient.
When women can control their own income, case after case after case, country after country after country, demonstrates that we invest in our families. When we put money in the hands of women, it not only helps them lift themselves, but it helps them lift their children and their communities out of poverty.
It is so important that we connect with other women who share our values.
In strong female to female alliances… we may be battered, and we may be broken, and we may be beaten, somewhere along this continuum of violence, whether it’s economic violence or physical violence, but when we come together in rooms like this, and through the Women’s Fund, we say: we will not abandon each other.
The Women’s Fund “I Cherish You” Facebook Campaign
February 14 – April 4, 2012
Thanks to everyone who participated in our campaign and honored women who’ve inspired you!
To learn more about it, click the "I Cherish You" red graphic for details. And, please like The Women’s Fund on Facebook to continue sharing with us and following our updates!
Learn More About The Women's Fund:
A Permanent Endowment
This permanent endowment Fund was created both to raise women's awareness of their own philanthropic potential and to increase and perpetuate financial support for community programs that address the needs of women and girls in Middle Tennessee.
As an endowment within The Community Foundation, it is a Fund for Now – and for Always. The interest generated from the Fund is given annually to provide support to Middle Tennessee nonprofit programs dedicated to helping women and girls in our community. As the principal grows, so does our ability to meet crucial needs; as our endowment has grown, our grant awards have also grown.
Grantmaking is at the heart of our work, but it’s not all we do. The Women’s Fund is committed to:
• Creating greater awareness of women’s and girls’ issues to support generations to reach their full potential
• Acting as a catalyst to bring together nonprofit organizations which serve women and girls for cooperative programs and solutions
• Serving as an educational and informational resource on community needs and solutions
Led by an Advisory Board of community leaders who are dedicated, solution-drive women, The Women’s Fund supports the work of nonprofit programs today, while continuing to grow its endowment to help secure future funding to impact the lives of women and girls for years to come. To learn more about our goals for future growth, see the Endowment tab.
The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation is For Women … For Generations.
The Women’s Fund Advisory Board is comprised of community leaders who believe deeply in ensuring that the needs of women and girls in Middle Tennessee are met both today and tomorrow. Our Advisory Board members are a diverse group of women with a common passion for our community and the desire to improve the lives of all of its women and children.
Our 2011-2012 Board Members
Sherry Winn Howell – Advisory Board Chair
Elizabeth Akers
Cristina Allen
Grace Awh
Elizabeth Broyhill
Tricia Carswell
Holly Coltea
Brenda Corbin
Sondra Cruickshanks
Donna Dalton
Suann Davis
Katherine DeLay
Allison DeMarcus
Elizabeth Dennis
Kaye Elam
Irwin Fisher
Mary Gambill
Estie Harris
Lucy Haynes
Phyllis Hildreth
Collins Hooper
Tami Johnston
Coco Kyriopoulos
Deb McDermott
Rita Mitchell
Beth Moore
Julia Morris
Perri duGard Owens
Elizabeth Papel
Jane Powers
Perian Strang
Emily Tidwell
Laura Smith Tidwell
Laura Turner
Sukie Vaughan
Mimi Vaughn
Gail Williams
Mandy Young
Nancy Zoretic
Visionaries
Honey Alexander
Denise Alper
Sallie Bailey
Julie Boehm
Barbara Chazen
Andrea Conte
Colleen Conway Welch
Robin Costa
Anne Davis
Patricia Davis
Trisha Elcan
Jane Eskind
Kate Ezell
Julie Frist
Tipper Gore
Ruth Ann Harnisch
Ellen Lehman
Delorse Lewis
Barbara Mayden
Mary Rolando
Alice Zimmerman
Thanks to its generous supporters and volunteers, The Women's Fund has made grants of more than $673,000 to nonprofit organizations providing a range of services to support women and girls throughout Middle Tennessee.
The Women’s Fund is committed to continue growing our endowment and grantmaking capability for the benefit of countless women and girls throughout Middle Tennessee.
2011 The Women’s Fund Grant Recipients
Faith Family Medical Clinic - To provide medical exams and wellness services for 78 uninsured women.
Families in Crisis, Inc. - To provide direct client assistance to victims of domestic violence.
Friends in General - To provide no-cost mammograms to uninsured and under-insured women over age 40.
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Inc. - To provide college preparatory experiences for under served girls.
Girls on the Run Nashville - To provide 33 girls the opportunity to participate in a life changing character development program.
Grace M. Eaton Child Care Center - To subsidize childcare for 23 currently enrolled children of mothers, who can't afford the full cost of childcare.
Magdalene, Inc. - Support for new collaborative efforts to improve mental health and recovery outcomes of women who are addicted and prostituting.
Mary Parrish Center for Victims of Sexual & Domestic Violence - To defray the costs of health care, transportation, food and other essential needs for residents.
Maury Regional Healthcare Foundation - To provide wigs, head-pieces, camisoles, mammograms and gas cards for cancer patients who cannot afford to purchase them themselves.
Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee - To help Hispanic/Latina students in Metro schools reach their potential by providing culturally competent support groups for teenage girls.
Nurses for Newborns of Tennessee - To in-home nursing visits that promote healthcare, and teach positive parenting skills.
Spruce Street Community Development Corporation - To conduct an eight-week summer program for girls that offers instruction in math and science through hands-on games and activities.
The Power of the Purse® 2012
Click the image or this link to browse the 2012 A Celebration of Women Tribute Book online! The book is also available on newsstands with the May 2012 issue of Nfocus!
FOR A DETAILED RECAP ABOUT THE EVENT & ASHLEY JUDD'S REMARKS, VISIT THE "ABOUT" TAB.
April 9, 2012
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, Nashville
Featuring Award-Winning Actress, Humanitarian and Author Ashley Judd as Keynote Speaker
The Power of the Purse® luncheon celebrates women and their power to make a difference and benefits The Women’s Fund’s mission to support women and girls in need in Middle Tennessee. The event’s accompanying A Celebration of Women tribute book, which honors special women in our lives, will be distributed at the luncheon and with the May issue of Nfocus, with a reach of more than 17,000.
More Event Info
For more information, contact Liza Lentz at llentz@cfmt.org or at The Community Foundation, at 615-321-4939.
Check out photos and attendee stories from the March 2011 Power of the Purse event, and submit your own, here.
About The Power of the Purse®
The Power of the Purse® annual luncheon is the primary fundraiser for The Fund. The event and its accompanying A Celebration of Women tribute book are intended to celebrate, honor and inspire the mothers and daughters, sisters and cousins, friends and mentors, and community leaders of Middle Tennessee for, among other things, their accomplishments, generosity, love and wisdom.
The luncheon brings prominent women from across the country to Middle Tennessee to speak about women’s ability to make a difference and to celebrate women and giving. Previous Power of the Purse® speakers include Jane Pauley, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Anna Quindlen, Jennifer Buffett, Pat Mitchell and Jennifer Holliday, among others.
The purse, a symbol of women’s capacity for philanthropy, has become an emblem central to this event. At the luncheon, a silent auction features unique purses donated by retailers, community members and celebrities. Over the years, many generous donations have made the auction a huge success for the event and The Fund.
The success of Power of the Purse® has contributed to the overwhelming growth of The Women's Fund and the availability of more grant dollars for nonprofit programs benefiting women and girls in our community. Since its inception in 1998, the luncheon and A Celebration of Women tribute book have raised over $1,000,000 net for The Women’s Fund.
The Women’s Fund is working to become Middle Tennessee’s leading resource for identifying and supporting the needs of women and girls. As the only endowed fund of this kind, by building our capital to $10 million we can effect powerful social change within our constituencies.
Through our endowment within The Community Foundation, the interest generated from the Fund is given annually to provide support to programs dedicated to helping women and girls in our community. As the principal grows, so does our ability to meet crucial needs and effect social change.
At $10 million, our ability to address current needs in our community will increase almost fivefold to $500,000 annually, enabling The Women’s Fund to not only address immediate needs, but also to address the root cause of the needs – to help craft solutions and effect social change. Growing the endowment enables us to shift from intervention to prevention, from temporary to permanent, and from short-term to transformative. Unmet needs will be met. Women’s lives will be transformed.
A Timely Opportunity, A Permanent Impact, Your Role
We are building on a solid foundation – more than 15 years of providing the vehicle for women-led change in the lives of women and girls and, as a result, their families and community. The Women’s Fund has been a catalyst, identifying challenges, marshaling resources and pursuing opportunities, and has granted more than $614,000 to over 70 area nonprofits in Middle Tennessee.
We have come so far, and yet we have only just begun to meet the tremendous challenges that lie ahead for women and girls in Middle Tennessee. To connect more individuals and families with resources that bring health, hope, education and enrichment, The Women’s Fund seeks to grow its endowment and grantmaking abilities.
We have the opportunity to focus on women-led solutions by providing leadership and stewardship in identifying the needs and supporting solutions. Together, we can unite money, ideas and actions to create lasting change for women and girls, their families and our community.
To learn about opportunities to contribute toward our endowment building goal, contact us at 615-321-4939.