feminism

October 9, 2024

Hurricane Helene… Last Chance

Initiative Closes on Thursday, October 10, 2024

Our Partner: Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge
Our Plan: 50/50 Split
Our goal is simple: 50 gifts in 10 days
To date: 31 gifts
To date the total is: $6,985
The gifts range from: $24 to $2,000

Every donation counts—whether it’s your first contribution, a renewed commitment, or an increased gift. If we receive your donation by midnight on October 10, you will be part of this critical effort to support women in the aftermath of this disaster.

Amy Crabbe, executive director of WF of the Blue Ridge sends this update…

“This is brief because I am hurrying to make another ‘basic needs’ delivery. We just finished 200 personal hygiene bags today. We are now pivoting, as people begin to return home and we start the very daunting task of rebuilding our community. We are collecting monetary donations this week; this money, along with any contributions from your donors, (see list here) will be used to supplement: emergency shelter, food, heating, home repair, and health & wellness programming, to begin the healing process.”

Thank you for your unwavering support. Remember: YOU are the movement.

Respectfully, 

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

October 7, 2024

Hurricane Helene… Funding Initiative Update

As you may know, we are partnering with the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge. While the next storm, Hurricane Milton churns in the  Gulf of Mexico, it seems North Carolina will be spared. Yet, we know the aftermath of Hurricane Helene remains and they have a long recovery underway. We are committed to promoting this unique opportunity for collaborative philanthropy, timely response, and impactful action.

For the first 10 days of October, we are committing to a 50/50 split of all donations received. Half will go directly to women in North Carolina, and the other half will support ongoing work related to gender equity in our own community.

Our goal is simple: 50 gifts in 10 days.
Over the weekend, we received more gifts. Now the total is 20.
The gifts range from $24 to $2,000.  
To date the total is $3,947.

Every donation counts—whether it’s your first contribution, a renewed commitment, or an increased gift. If we receive your donation by midnight on October 10, you will be part of this critical effort to support women in the aftermath of this disaster.

Thank you for your unwavering support. Remember: YOU are the movement.

Respectfully, 

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

October 4, 2024

Hurricane Helene… Our North Carolina Partner

We’ve thoroughly vetted several options and are proud to partner with the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge. Located at the heart of North Carolina’s most affected areas, this partnership represents a unique opportunity for collaborative philanthropy, timely response, and impactful action.

We invite you to support both our Women’s Fund and the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge. Women’s Funds/Foundations are powerful forces for change, distributing resources nine months faster than traditional grant-making organizations. In times of crisis, women are often most severely affected—and they are also among the first to initiate recovery.

Amy Crabbe, executive director of the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, says their first response has been “providing food, period products, and flood buckets.” In the coming days, they will pivot to support long-term recovery efforts, focusing on single mothers who lack the necessary resources during this time of crisis. We believe partnering with the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is the best way to apply a gender lens to disaster relief.

For the first 10 days of October, we are committing to a 50/50 split of all donations received. Half will go directly to women in North Carolina, and the other half will support ongoing work related to gender equity in our own community.

Our goal is simple: 50 gifts in 10 days.
So far, we’ve received 10 gifts ranging from $24 to $2,000.

Every donation counts—whether it’s your first contribution, a renewed commitment, or an increased gift. If we receive your donation by midnight on October 10, you will be part of this critical effort to support women in the aftermath of this disaster.

Thank you for your unwavering support. Remember: YOU are the movement.

Respectfully, 

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

October 1, 2024

Hurricane Helene… Act Today!

You’ve seen the headlines, the heartbreaking images, and heard the stories from the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. Now, you have the opportunity to respond.

We invite you to support our Women’s Fund and a partner fund in North Carolina, too. Women’s Funds and Foundations are powerful forces for change, moving resources nine months faster than traditional grant-making organizations. And we know that in times of crisis, women are often the hardest hit.

Your support is a message of hope — it is also immediate, essential financial aid.

For the first 10 days of October, we’re committing to a 50/50 split of every donation we receive. Half will go directly to the women in North Carolina, and the other half will continue to support the ongoing work related to gender equity in our community. Our goal? 50 gifts in 10 days.

Every donation counts, whether it’s your first gift, a renewed commitment, or an enhanced contribution. If your donation is received by midnight on October 10, you’ll be part of this vital effort to support women in the wake of this disaster.

Thank you for your unwavering support. Remember: YOU are the movement.

Respecfully,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

September 6, 2024

An Election Season Like No Other

This presidential election season is full of the familiar intensity of past campaigns—candidates crisscrossing the nation to rally support, debates spotlighting key issues, and a deluge of political ads dominating the media.

However, this election also stands out in significant ways. Social media’s influence is more pronounced than ever, shaping public opinion and driving narratives in real-time. This race is marked by deep discussions about AI, an emerging technology, and urgent issues such as war, immigration, housing, and climate change. The polarization of the electorate is more acute, with voters deeply divided on matters of election integrity and governance. When you add to this the fact that one candidate is a convicted felon; the unexpected decision of the presumptive nominee to step down; and the historic nomination of the first woman of color on a major party’s ticket and, the complexity of this presidential election season becomes undeniable.

Therefore, as feminists and philanthropists, our role is more crucial than ever. We must continue to support initiatives that empower women, safeguard our rights and democratic values, and promote gender equity. Your contributions are vital in advancing the agenda for social justice and democracy. Let’s stay focused on our shared goals and use our resources and influence to foster gender equity.

Thank you for your dedication and support. And remember… YOU are the movement.

Respecfully,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

March 1, 2024

March… National Women’s History Month

If only a month could change the status quo, bring.it.on! These are nice to have… a month to focus on something, to learn about people and situations that may have been left out of our formal education. A chance to celebrate achievements and contributions that are wonderful on every level.

Though really we need to use these celebratory months as inspiration. A time to explore and deepen our understanding of perspectives and lived experiences that may be different then our own. So during this month let’s use our growth mind set to imagine the possibilities for women… in history, in the present day, and into the future too. 

What does equity look and feel like? What stories of women should we be reading about in history books written and published in 2024? With an all-women city council in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as an example, how does the gender lens impact the goals and work of elected officials? Let’s use this month to explore these questions and more.

In honor of National Women’s History Month we’ve created a few opportunities to be in community. Please join in… YOU are the movement.  

With respect,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

October 11, 2023

#GivetoWomenandGirlsDay!

The Women & Girls Index shows that nearly 50,000 organizations in the U.S. are dedicated to women and girls, yet consistently receive just 2% of all charitable giving, according to research by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI).

To respond to this lack of funding, WPI established partners and launched Give to Women and Girls Day, a national awareness campaign to increase funding for women’s and girls’ organizations that culminates today, October 11, 2023. We are asking you to help call attention to the gap in philanthropic support for women and girls — using this moment to galvanize awareness and generate funding. 

Actionables, an abbreviated list of suggestions… 

  • Check your social media and engage.
  • Be intentional with your United Way gift.
  • Talk with people in your network about this data.
  • Visit the Women’s Philanthropy Institute website to learn more.
  • Make a gift to the Women’s Fund. Perhaps as an Everyday Philanthropist or WF Power Illuminator. 

Remember, YOU are the movement!

Warmly,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

November 21, 2022

Feminism… A Way to Live

I’ve said this before… we all need to be feminists! I know there may be hesitation to doing just that, and I acknowledge that it can be especially difficult in our professional and public lives. However, being a feminist is advocating and supporting equity for women (and gender-expansive people or any marginalized woman.)

During our annual Women’s Fund Presents event, Marina Franklin talked about her journey to recognizing that she is a feminist. She talked about reflecting on the work she has done to become an established comedian: overcoming inequities, handling situations where her personal safety was threatened, challenging the norms of the business, paving the way and supporting other women in comedy, giving others voice via her Friends Like Us podcast, and so much more. She had done the work of a feminist and is just recently starting to claim that concept as one that describes her. Maybe the same is true for you.

In the season of holidays, perhaps you’ll share your thoughts and explore what it means to be a feminist for the people in your life. Are they working towards reclaiming feminism for themselves? Are they challenging the norms in the name of feminism? Let’s hope so, because the power of a collective belief can make the change we all want now… equity, so women and girls reach their full potential and everyone in thrives.

Join the movement… make a gift, show up, and be the ripple that is needed to shift attitudes and behavior in Greater Milwaukee.

Cheerfully,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

September 14, 2022

A Critical Time

It seems every week brings more challenges for women (and gender-expansive people too) therefore, we all have to be feminists, right? Perhaps you hesitate to call yourself a feminist; this can be especially difficult in our professional and public lives. In this light, we invite you to explore what feminism means today.

We have book discussions, and our annual Women’s Fund Presents event on the calendar… join us for one, or all three. Whichever you choose, you are sure to have new perspective as a result. We look forward to seeing you!

Cheerfully,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

August 5, 2022

Annual Event… New Time/Format

We are announcing the special guest of our annual Women’s Fund Presents event… along with a new time and a new format too. We have an open call for sponsors.

The theme is The F Word: Reclaiming Feminism.

As we all know, feminism is nothing new — women have been fighting for equity and equality for centuries. In the 21st century, we must evolve to be more intersectional. We have to better understand one another and appreciate that people’s identities overlap. Historically, feminism has been known to exclude some, ignore others, and even narrow its focus on breaking the glass ceiling, equal pay, and legal rights. While these are important issues that need resolution, many women struggle to be seen and acknowledged due to the systemic hardships that impact them daily.

Feminism today illuminates the connectivity among people and the collective effort for equity. It shows us that equity means challenging gender injustices, eliminating gender oppression, and solving the overlapping forms of discrimination. Equity also means engaging more women, including gender-expansive people, and bringing men along on the journey.

We stand in solidarity while creating the future we all want — now.

The F Word: Reclaiming Feminism is an event that shines a light on the complexities of feminism while creating room for conversation – and even a little laughter. It is an opportunity to reflect on who we are as feminists and talk about how we can further gender parity to make feminism more inclusive in greater Milwaukee. Please join us!

Cheerfully,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director