a decade of women’s philanthropy decade of women’s philanthropy ... joanne judge, and joan...

10th ANNIVERSARY

®

A decade of Women’s PHILANTHROPY

inspired

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WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL: A 10 YEAR REPORT

2007

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WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP

COUNCIL

investmentThe Women's Leadership Council invests resources

to support community needs and to build

a legacy of women's philanthropy through

endowment giving.

innovationThe Women's Leadership Council focuses resources

to provide innovative solutions to improve lives while maintaining United

Way's commitment to community collaboration.

incentiveThe Women's Leadership

Council provides incentive for women to become self-sufficient through

economic empowerment.

individualsThe Women's Leadership Council focuses resources

to change the lives of individual women and

children in our community.

OUR MISSION:

To empower women through philanthropy and volunteer involvement

OUR VISION:

To impact our community through voluntary action and innovation

I believe that we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up, and do what we can to make this world a better

place for all people to enjoy freedom.-Rosa Parks

“ ”

2006

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With many thanks,

Joan K. PaxtonWomen’s Leadership Council Chair

September 2014t was over 10 years ago that six United

Way leaders—volunteers Karen Heinle, Joan Henderson, Carol Hess, Joanne Judge, and Joan Paxton and then president of United Way, Susan Eckert—began exploring ways to put a feminine face on local philanthropy. Out of those early meetings a very special group of caring, community-minded women came together. Today, that powerful force—the Women’s Leadership Council of United Way of Lancaster County—is part of a global network of more than 55,000 women in 143 communities who have united and contributed over $1 billion to strengthen their communities.

Here in Lancaster County our Women’s Leadership Council has made change happen with their voices, time, and investments. More than 100 members have banded together to invest over $1 million and touch the lives of thousands of women and children.

Our launch was ignited by a $150,000 challenge grant from the Ferree Foundation to spur our membership growth. We also pursued and were awarded a $117,500 federal grant to support of MS (Matched Savings) Independence Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). By joining together our hearts, minds, and treasure, we have already made a unique difference in the lives of many Lancaster County women and families.

We invite you to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished. And we ask you to sustain our work in the next decade by sharing your enthusiasm, financial support, and special perspective on improving lives in Lancaster County.

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OUR CHARTER MEMBERSSusan C. Adams

Ann B. BarshingerLaralee Boyd BashBeverly H. BreniserPatricia K. BurnleyLinda L. Castagna

Theodora M. ChairsellJennifer L. Craighead, Esq.

Gloria E. DeglerDaleela G. Dodge, MD

Susan C. EckertSusan L. Engle

Susan J. GarofolaMary T. GoodingKaren F. Heinle

Christine M. HertnekyCarol D. Hess

M. Louise HessSadie H. High

Joanne B. LadleyMarcia S. LefeverKimberly A. Lemon

Shirley LemonDorothy L. Lyet*

Francine G. McNairy, PhDJulie S. McNamara

Grace E. MoyerDiane M. Nast, Esq.Kimberly Daly Nobbs

Joan K. PaxtonLynn W. Peters

Carol Y. Phillips, PhDSusan E. Savage

Susan M. SenkowskiSharon M. Sherban

Mary Ann ShirkDeidre W. Simmons

Ellen SimpsonKit Slaugh

Diane L. SmithRobin D. Stauffer

Patricia T. StockwellEleanor H. StrayerAnne B. Sweigart*

Diane Lique TannehillDoris A. Thomas

Alison vanHarskampJudy S. Ware

Mary Anne Wassel Elva Boyd Wilson

*Deceased

Our sincerest apologies if we missed anyone.

Women’s Leadership Council

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Our First Decade of Making Change Happen

2006-2007Domestic Violence Services grant $20,000Targeted mini-grants $10,000United Way annual campaign $10,000Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach $4,518Women’s Leadership Council endowment fund

$40,600

2004-2014Member investments $893,221Ferree Foundation challenge grant $150,000

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FUNDS PLEDGED ..........................$1,043,221

COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS PLEDGED

2007-2008Individual Investment Account (IDA) administration

$17,391

Flexible, emergency fund for IDA participants

$10,000

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach $12,828Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) AmeriCorps positions

$5,000

Nurse-Family Partnership® $25,000Women’s Leadership Council endowment fund

$46,300

It is more rewarding to watch money

change the world than watch it accumulate .

-Gloria Steinem

“ ”2011

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$25,000

IDA matches $6,000Flexible, emergency fund for IDA participants

$250

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach/Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

$10,484

Women’s Leadership Council endowment fund

$21,700

JULY 1, 2004 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2014


$25,000


$1,000

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach/ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

$9,460

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) AmeriCorps positions

$5,000


$21,182

2009

2011

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$25,000


$250


$10,000

Nurse-Family Partnership $25,000


$25,400


$1,242


$10,000


$17,801

Never believe that a few

caring people can’t change

the world. For, indeed, that ’s all who ever have.-Margaret Mead

“ ”

2008 2011

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$19,250


$464


$15,000


$23,386

Domestic Violence Services grant $20,000Targeted mini-grants $10,000United Way annual campaign $10,000Individual Investment Account (IDA) administration $163,541IDA matches $189,837Flexible, emergency fund for IDA participants $13,206Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach/ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) $87,290Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) AmeriCorps positions $10,000Nurse-Family Partnership $58,500Women’s Leadership Council endowment fund $170,969

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL INVESTMENT SUBTOTAL ........$733,343


$26,500

IDA matches $15,799Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach/ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

$15,000

Nurse-Family Partnership $8,500Women’s Leadership Council endowment fund

To be determined2007

2010

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Individual Investment Accounts: A Powerful PartnershipThe Women’s Leadership Council deployed the power of federal tax subsidies in an innovative, effective way to help women realize dreams of further education, starting a business, and buying a home. Through our Individual Investment Accounts program—MS Independence, as we called it—participants were incentivized by two- or three-to-one matches if they saved up to $2,000 to pursue their goals. Their savings were matched by the Women’s Leadership Council by up to $4,000 and through a federal grant of up to $2,000.

To identify participants, counsel the women on financial literacy, and administer the program, United Way partnered with Tabor Neighborhood Services of Lancaster. The Women’s Leadership Council also wisely set aside additional, flexible funds to provide special assistance—child care expenses to attend school, for example, or transportation to and from classes.

Over the seven years we funded our MS Independence program, 96 women joined the program, and 45 completed it. All told, with Women’s Leadership Council support, 31 women purchased homes, 10 furthered their education, and 4 started businesses.

The Power of Women’s Philanthropy

You really can change the world if you care enough .-Marian Wright Edelman

“ ”

2010

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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance: Putting Millions Back into Families’ PocketsEarly on, the Women’s Leadership Council recognized the great opportunity the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) presented low income families. When used, the EITC offers low wage earners—often women—a much needed refund of some of their withheld federal taxes. The VITA program, powered by United Way of Lancaster County, offers free tax preparation services by volunteers specially trained to avail lower income taxpayers of all deductions and credits for which they qualify.

Last year alone, the VITA program saved low and moderate income families in Lancaster County $970,000 in tax preparation charges and helped return to them $5.6 million in tax refunds.

2012

2013

JULY 1, 2004 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2014

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Nurse-Family Partnership: A Prenatal Start to Better Lives The Nurse-Family Partnership is a proven, high quality program begun by Dr. David Olds of Chicago in 1977. Respected by the medical community, the program pairs at risk, first time, low income mothers with specially trained registered nurses who make home visits throughout their pregnancies and their babies’ second birthday. They address nutrition, exercise, obesity, smoking, and drug and alcohol use. Later the nurses encourage breast feeding, early literacy, the mothers’ return to school and work, and quality child care.

United Way of Lancaster County has been partnering with Lancaster General Hospital in support of the life-changing work of our local Nurse-Family Partnership since 2001. In 2007, the Women’s Leadership Council jumped on-board with its funding assistance. Thanks to our help, an average of 124 young women in the Lancaster, Columbia, and Solanco school districts have participated in the program each year.

2008

20082008

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Women’s Leadership Council Endowment Fund: Pay It ForwardA cornerstone of best philanthropic practices is to create a sustainable model of support. To ensure the Women’s Leadership Council and its members’ visionary investments in women and families have a long future, an endowment fund was created as part of our very first investments. Across the decade regular contributions have been made to this fund. Today, we celebrate that the Women’s Leadership Council oversees an endowment of over $170,000.

20072007

2009

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630 Janet Avenue Lancaster, PA 17601

(717) 394-0731 phone

(717) 394-6118 fax

®

LiveUnitedLancaster.org

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

-Eleanor Roosevelt“ ”

2007

To everyone who invested in the Women’s Leadership Council this decade and helped make change happen in thousands of lives, we thank you. As we move into our second decade, we invite you to continue this transformational journey and invite new women to join us.

We have much more to accomplish.

Other women are counting on us.

a decade of women’s philanthropy decade of women’s philanthropy ... joanne judge, and joan...

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