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Press Releases
Celebrating
the Collective Power of Women: Women United
in Philanthropy To Hold its Annual Event To
Award First Grant for Women
BERGEN COUNTY, NJ, September 29, 2006-
Women United in Philanthropy, the local women’s
giving circle launched by Bergen County’s
United Way, will celebrate an idea realized
when its members gather at the Stony Hill Inn
in Hackensack on Tuesday, October 17 to vote
and award their first high impact grant to help
women in Bergen County.
The evening marks the organization’s first
year of drawing women together to invest philanthropically
in helping one another. Growing from a founding
group of 15 members last October to its current
ranks of 50 local women, the giving circle members
have each contributed $1000 to a collective
fund from which they will now vote to distribute
a $50,000 grant to one of several final applicant
organizations.
Local not-for-profit programs addressing the
needs of women were invited to submit their
best proposals to the membership’s Grant
Committee last July. The most qualified applications
will be presented to the full membership at
the Stony Hill Inn for a formal ballot vote.
The award will be announced to members and guests
present that evening.
“This event will be both celebration of
an idea and affirmation of a cause,” states
Maxine Frampton, who serves as director for
the group. “In the course of this year,
we’ve learned about the problems facing
Bergen County women and services needed to help
them. With the awarding of this grant, each
of us has a hand in making a very tangible,
significant change in women’s lives…right
here…right now. And that is tremendously
exciting.”
Women United in Philanthropy has become known
for its elegant gatherings that feature fine
food and entertainment as well as hard-hitting
facts and figures about the needs of women.
Prior events have featured guest speakers Kate
White, Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan, as well
as celebrity home designer Chris Madden.
The Fall Event begins at 6 p.m. with an elegant
hors d’oeuvre buffet and wine bar followed
by dessert and coffees. This year, guests will
be treated to a special performance by comedian
Sunda Croonquist. Born in Paterson, Sunda got
her start in small comedy clubs in New York
City and now resides in Los Angeles. She has
gone on to produce her own comedy show, the
Femmes Fatales, one of the longest running female
comedy showcases for Toyota’s Comedy Festivals.
She is chairperson of the Gilda’s Club
Annual Laugh Off and has appeared on various
VH1 and Comedy Central television shows and
the show “Law and Order.”
Women interested in learning more about Women
United in Philanthropy are invited to attend
the October 17 evening and see the giving circle
in action. The group has set a membership goal
of 100 women and $100,000 in grant funds by
year-end. A full 100% of each member’s
donations go to the non-profit program selected
by the full membership for support. All administrative
costs of Women United in Philanthropy are underwritten
by generous corporate sponsors and Bergen County’s
United Way.
Building on 35 years of service to the community,
Bergen County’s United Way has launched
Women United in Philanthropy as the first women’s
giving circle in New Jersey. “At a time
when the need for their dollars and input is
at an all-time high, Women United in Philanthropy
is creating a legacy. They are transforming
women’s giving, making members more powerful,
knowledgeable and insightful as philanthropists,”
said Tom Toronto, BCUW President and CEO.
Sponsors of the Women United in Philanthropy
fall event include Playtex Products, Inc., PSE&G,
The Hertz Corporation, IBM Corporation, Pfizer
Inc, Valley National Bank and Hudson City Savings
Bank. Tickets for the evening are $70 and are
currently available for purchase by contacting
Krista Garofalo at 201-986-7727.
To learn more about Women United in Philanthropy
and how you can become involved, please call
Maxine Frampton at 201-986-7714 or at maxine.frampton@wuip.org
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