Celebrating Donors and Their Impact

Last night Women's Fund held an event to thank donors to the Endowment Campaign. An impressive crowd of 200 people gathered at the Indianapolis Scottish Rite Cathedral to celebrate the impact their support has made to women and girls in central Indiana (click here for highlights featured in today's Indianapolis Star, and here for an album of photos on Facebook).

Co-chaired by Dinah Bird and Anne Steinberg, the event featured highlights of Women's Fund's recent grantmaking, and the impact of these grants. Thanks to over 1,100 donors to the campaign, which ran from 2004-2009, Women's Fund raised $7 million, growing the endowment to over $11 million. Thanks to the generosity of campaign donors, Women's Fund has increased our capacity to grant to women and girl serving organizations in central Indiana.

Other event highlights include:

• Jennifer Pope Baker welcomed everyone, shared the success and growth resulting from the campaign, and detailed the impact of gifts to the endowment.
• A video featuring interviews given by Women's Fund volunteers, of grantee organizations: Business Ownership Initiative, Girls Inc. of Franklin/Johnson County, Ruth Lilly Health Education Center, Training, Inc., and The Julian Center.
• Elaine Bedel, Women's Fund Finance Committee Chair, spoke about financial responsibility through Women's Fund's strategic and financial planning.
• Myra Mariani, OPTIONS Alumnae and co-chair of the OPTIONS Tenth Anniversary Celebration, spoke about OPTIONS, including the leadership resulting from 230 participants over ten years and contributions totaling nearly a half a million dollars.
• Maddie Hudson, GO: Give Back Participant and 6th grade student, spoke about the impact GO has made on her and shared her philanthropic plans to grow her GO Fund so she can help others.
• Ann Murtlow, Women's Fund Advisory Board Chair, thanked volunteers leading the endowment campaign, past Advisory Board chairs, all donors to the endowment campaign, and event sponsors.

A special thanks to corporate and individual supporters, resulting in the event being no additional cost to Women's Fund:

• Eli Lilly & Company - Presenting Sponsor
• Detail + Design - event planning and decor
• Indianapolis Power & Light - invitations
• Barefoot Wine - wine and champagne
• Dinah and Larry Bird
• BMG Event Productions - audio visual equipment
• A Classic Party Rental - tables and linens

Women's Fund appreciates the support of all of our donors and thanks you for your generosity. If you are not a donor and would like to contribute, click here to donate now.