TONIGHT’S PROGRAM
Opening with musical guest Myra Flynn
Celebrate 30 years of the
Vermont Women’s Fund
Welcome
Jane Lindholm, Emcee
Dan Smith, President & CEO
Vermont Community Foundation
Emily Bush, Director
Vermont Women’s Fund Featured speaker
Stacey Abrams
Celebration continues at Hotel Champlain 60 Battery Street
STACEY ABRAMS is a political leader, business owner, and bestselling author. She served as Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives and was the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia in 2018 and 2022.
She has launched multiple nonprofit organizations devoted to democracy protection, national and local voter engagement, tackling social issues, and building a more equitable future in the South. In 2021, Abrams and her business partner published a guidebook for entrepreneurs based on their experiences, Level Up.
Abrams sits on both nonprofit and corporate boards and is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Abrams holds degrees from Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and Yale Law School.
JANE LINDHOLM is Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
MYRA FLYNN is a lyrical storyteller, who uses her voice to empower, inspire, and even educate. Her uncategorizable and unique blend of indie/soul/folk/R&B original songs combine soulful vocals with a lyrical delivery that doesn't let one get too comfortable.
As the New England Deli magazine puts it, "Her vocal influences have as much in common with Ani Difranco and Shawn Colvin as they do with Rihanna and Jill Scott." Myra will be performing alongside her full band in this celebratory performance.
Myra will be joined on stage by Paul Boffa, Caleb Bronze, and Andric Severence.
VERMONT WOMEN’S FUND was founded in 1994 and is a philanthropic resource dedicated to advancing gender equity and justice for women, girls, and Vermont communities. Every year, with guidance from the Women’s Fund Council, the fund makes grants to create positive economic and social change. It also works with partners to support initiatives to identify and close economic gaps and address the intersectionality of race and gender.
Our definition of “women and girls” is inclusive of cis and trans women and girls, as well as non- binary people affected by gender oppression. Moreover, we recognize the disproportionate marginalization of the voices of BIPOC individuals in Vermont.
Learn more at vermontwomensfund.org.
The Women’s Fund is a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation. We recognize their support of a thriving state as a champion sponsor of the Women’s Fund and this event.
SUPPORTED PROGRAMS
In addition to grantmaking, the Women’s Fund has supported special programs these past three years.
This Way UP
there’s power in our numbers
In response to missing data on women’s business ownership, the VWF launched a website and survey to identify and map women-owned businesses in the state. Over 3,250 women-owned businesses have taken This Way UP’s survey revealing new data on a previously invisible segment of Vermont’s economy.
The report was released in January 2024 is at thiswayupvt.com.
Rise & Thrive Fund
We are excited to report on the progress of the Rise & Thrive Fund, that many of you supported and helped create at the 2023 VWF’s annual celebration. The Rise & Thrive Grant Fund raised nearly $400k to support women-owned businesses affected directly or indirectly by the July 2023 flood. Thank you for being a part of the Rise & Thrive movement!
Check out the press release here: vermontwomensfund.org/news/rise-
WOMEN’S FUND COUNCIL
CandiceWhite,
Co-Chair
2024 GRANTEES
The Vermont Women’s Fund awarded a total of $365,180 to 36 organizations this year.
Building a Better Brattleboro/Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, Brattleboro
Center for Women & Enterprise, Vermont
Champlain College, Single Parent Program
COVER Home Repair, White River Junction
Dismas of Vermont, Hyde Park
Downtown Rutland Partnership, Rutland
Education Justice Coalition of Vermont, Burlington
Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro
Ethiopian Community Development Council, Bennington
Girls Empowered, Motivated, Strengthened (G.E.M.S.), Randolph
Girls in STEM, Williston
Governor's Institutes of Vermont, Winooski
Greater Burlington YMCA, Burlington
Green Mountain Camp for Girls, Dummerston
Green Mountain United Way, Barre
Hannah's House, Waitsfield
Ishtar Collective, Montpelier
Janet S. Munt Family Room, Burlington
Jenna's Promise, Johnson
Johnson Health Center, Johnson, Waitsfield
2024 GRANTEES
continued...
Milk with Dignity Standards Council, Burlington
Milton Family Community Center, Milton
The MINT, Rutland
NewStory Center, Rutland
Orange County Parent Child Center, Tunbridge
Project Against Violent Encounters, Bennington
Root Social Justice Center, Brattleboro Safety Team, South Burlington
Steps to End Domestic Violence, Burlington
Sunrise Family Resource Center, Bennington
SUSU commUNITY Farm, Brattleboro
Umbrella of St. Johnsbury, St. Johnsbury
United Immigrant & Refugee Communities (UIRC) of Vermont, Burlington
Vermont Afghan Alliance, Burlington
Vermont Works for Women, Winooski
Yestermorrow, Waitsfield
HELP US REACH $30,000 for 30 YEARS
Give tonight to meet our 30th-anniversary giving challenge. Text to give with your cell phone to help Vemont’s women and girls rise and thrive!
1. Send a text to 44321
2. In the message field, type VTWOMEN30
3. Press send
4. Click on the link in the reply text to go to our secure giving page
5. Make your donation THANK YOU!
ANNUAL & EVENT SPONSORS
In addition to our annual and event sponsors featured in ads throughout this program, we recognize our partners and corporate donors who made tonight - and our grantmakingpossible.
ADDITIONAL THANKS to Homeport for donating furniture for our stage.
