New & Returning Members

Christine Ahearn
Halle Best Arellano
Alison Barry
Mia Benoit
Vivian Delgado
Jessie Dennen
Alesia DiCosola
Samantha Dunbar
Rachel Ellis
Arlene Ferebee
Julie Fisher
Elizabeth Fleming
Ericka Gibson
Jessica Graham
Deann Griffin
Ranota Hall
Cynthia Ham
Rachel Hannon
Amanda Pagliarini Howard
Michelle Keaton-Barrow
Stacy Kirk
Ellen Moseley
Esezele Payne
Eileen Pronobis
Erica Schoen
Nancy Teaff

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Referring Members

Ann Allen
Addison Ayer
Sonya Barnes
Jill Dinwiddie
Christy Durbin
Anne Essaye
Mary Gallivan
Vida Harvey
Barbara Holt
Kelly Katterhagen
Deborah Majewski
Margaret Martin
Leah Maybry
Chris McLeod
Nancy Neill
Amy Owen
Alane Paraison
Katie Susong

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Planning Your Calendar?

Make sure you check out the WIF "Master Calendar" for dates of all our events. It is also a great tool to understand the many moving pieces of WIF. See things such as our Board meeting dates, when sWIFt will be in your Inbox, and many other items. It can be found in the password accessed Members Room on the website.

Click HERE to check it out.

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Help Us Tell Our Story!

Don't forget to take the 2017 Women's Impact Fund Member Information Survey. While it only takes a few minutes to complete, it will help make a big difference to our organization. Knowing about ourselves enables stronger member connections and greater philanthropic impact!

Check your email for details!

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Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Please take a moment to like the Women's Impact Fund Page

on Facebook. Invite your friends to "Like" it, too! And don't forget to share/retweet our posts/tweets!

Also, the new WIF
MEMBERS FACEBOOK GROUP allows WIF members to connect, share and discuss topics relevant to WIF & our members. Click "Join Group" on the righthand corner of the cover photo to be added.

If you are on LinkedIn,
please ask to join the
Women's Impact Fund Group
by clicking on the "Join Group" button.

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Women & Wisdom: Land of Opportunity??? What's Next for Charlotte
by C.T. Anderson

It is harder to escape poverty in Charlotte than in any other big city in the country. This statistic and the 2014 Harvard and UC Berkeley study behind it have been integral to the work of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force (OTF). On March 27, 2017, twenty diverse and committed OTF members will issue a much-anticipated 100+ page report with recommendations to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty in our community.

Brian Collier, EVP of Foundation For The Carolinas, presented on the OTF's findings to nearly 200 WIF members and guests on March 14. While

Collier was unable to share specific recommendations prior to the March 27 report release, he gave insights on the OTF's process and key determinants of economic mobility.

Research was paramount. Having learned from foremost experts and by listening to Mecklenburg County citizens, the OTF determined that economic mobility is a highly complex challenge for our community. To break the cycle of poverty, there must be a focus on key determinants from cradle to career...READ MORE

Thanks to Women & Wisdom Sponsor Rinehart Wealth & Investment Advisory!

Women's Impact Fund was delighted to have Rinehart Wealth & Investment Advisory (RWIA) as our sponsor for this year's Women & Wisdom event held at

Johnson C. Smith University recently. RWIA was founded in 1985 by Mary Rinehart. Seeing the potential for sophisticated wealth management in Charlotte - the sort that existed in larger financial hubs like New York, Boston and San Francisco - Mary set out to provide it. The goal of the firm has always been simply to help affluent clients access a concierge wealth advisory experience with institutional caliber investment results to create financial security. Integral to achieving this goal was that the firm was structured to serve as a fiduciary, never selling any financial products, operating strictly as Fee-Only. This commitment, combined with a seasoned staff of professionals, allowed RWIA to build a reputation for integrity and objectivity in providing financial solutions both locally and nationally.

One of RWIA's core principles is giving back to the community. This philanthropic focus began 30 years ago and continues today. RWIA proudly donates 10 percent of profits to charitable organizations annually...READ MORE

Getting to Know Jhaymee Heinlein
by Carolyn Meade

Jhaymee Heinlein joined Women's Impact Fund in May of 2016 and currently serves on three committees - grants, finance and strategic planning. According to Jhaymee, doing so seemed like the "best way to learn about the organization, see the impact we have and meet people."

Jhaymee moved to Charlotte in 2015 to take on her current role as Strategy Director at Carolinas Healthcare System and the Levine Children's Hospital where she provides in-house strategy consulting focusing on pediatrics and cancer care. Although a pro when it comes to moving around (her father was in the Air Force, and the family moved frequently), Jhaymee worked for Deloitte Healthcare Consulting for six years and was looking for a job just as exciting but with less travel. She pulled me in with her open smile - and held me with her intelligence and her stories. Here are just a few of her responses to the questions I posed to her over coffee this past February.

What have you learned about Charlotte through your involvement with Women's Impact Fund? As I've driven around to nonprofits in the area, whether professionally or as part of the site visits we've done through the Grants Committee, I've first become aware of just how many nonprofits are here and, more importantly, how much many of them have done in the relatively short period of time that they've been around...READ MORE

Have you included Women's Impact Fund in your estate plan?

If so, thank you! We would be grateful if you would complete the new planned gift intention form and return it to Jessica Klasinksi in the WIF office. We plan to acknowledge all members who have included WIF in their estate plan in a special section of the Annual Meeting program this May.

WIF Member News

Congratulations:
The Charlotte Business Journal recently recognized Megan Sadler along with 39 other local professionals under the age of 40 who are making major strides in their career while leaving a positive impact on their communities.

Andrea Smith was recently named "Charlotte Business Woman of the Year"! About 300 professionals gathered for the event at Queens University, including Smith's colleagues. In attendance were Brian Moynihan, Bank of America chairman and CEO; Hugh McColl, former chairman and CEO; and Cathy Bessant, chief operations and technology officer.

Kristina Cruise, K. Mitchell Kelling and Laura Maniec are among 2017's "50 Most Influential Women." The event, sponsored by The Mecklenburg Times, was created to spotlight and recognize women of influence and leadership in the Charlotte Mecklenburg community. Congrats to all the nominees!

Additional congrats to Laura, owner of CorkBuzz, on the expansion of the restaurant and opening of The Cellar @Corkbuzz. Read more here.

Check out: The first annual Twirl 'N Swirl 5K Run/Walk will take place on April 1. Sponsored by Board Member Natalie Allen's organization, The Arts Empowerment Project, the 5K is in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month and celebrates the healing power of the arts. Learn more here.

And in former grantee news:
Congrats to all of the 2017 SEED 20 finalists with a special shout out to former WIF grantees GoU - NC Wildlife Federation, Levine Museum of the New South (KNOW Charlotte), and Musical Minds NC!

Our "home" is expanding! Union Shop Studio is joining C3 Lab in South End to create "more diverse, affordable and expanded workspace" for local artists in different disciplines. WIF Central is proud to be among C3 Lab's tenants! Read More

WIF members, we want to hear from you! WIF Member News depends totally on you! Please send us news of a new job, new volunteer leadership role, a new addition to your family, a big move or anything else you'd like to share with your family of WIF friends. Email: communications@womensimpactfund.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dine Out Day
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
11:30-1pm
Support nonprofit eateries & connect over lunch with WIF friends! (Members Only - space is limited)
Choose from one of the three locations:

Save the Date
Breakfast & Tour
Thursday, April 27, 2017
8:00-9:30am
Start your day off right with a tour & informational breakfast at HopeWay, a new center providing best practice mental healthcare
(Members Only)

Annual Meeting
Tuesday, May 9, 2017

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For more information on all upcoming WIF events,

click HERE