A message from Chandra Hackenbruch, 

WPF Foundation President

It’s a season of extraordinary impact! May marks a moment of profound celebration as we spotlight the remarkable organizations awarded grants in 2025, each a beacon of hope and empowerment for women and girls. Within the heart of Guilford County, five incredible organizations are igniting life-changing transformations, embodying the very essence of our mission.

Thanks to your unwavering generosity, we achieved an unprecedented milestone, awarding a record-breaking $30,500 to fuel these vital programs! Ladies, your contributions have made history, weaving a tapestry of opportunity and strength.

This exceptional cohort of grantees champions diverse pathways to empowerment: from cultivating workforce development for Congolese immigrants and Guilford County residents alike, to nurturing powerful leadership in underserved girls, offering refuge and strength to survivors of domestic violence, and igniting the passion for STEM in the next generation of female innovators. These are the transformative and empowering programs we are dedicated to uplifting through our grants!

This year’s gathering promises a unique and inspiring experience. We are shifting our focus to connect you directly with the visionary women leading these grant-awarded organizations. Instead of us informing you about their impact, you will hear directly from them! Prepare to be moved and filled with immense pride, knowing you are an integral part of a mission that empowers women and girls by championing:

• opportunities for women and girls to aspire to or further their careers;
• education and leadership development of women and girls;
• education of the public on the status and rights of women; and
• recognition of achievements and contributions of women.

I recall the profound inspiration of last year’s presentations from I Am Queen, with their impactful Girls Leadership Edge program and Sister Circle International, both demonstrating the extraordinary power of programs you help make possible in transforming the lives of girls and women. Their work extends far beyond Guilford County, equipping individuals with the skills and abilities to make a real difference in the world.

Let us revisit the incredible impact of our 2024 Grantees:

• The Women’s Resource: $9,625 for their “Women to Work” program, a cornerstone service providing job readiness, training, and placement support tailored to the unique needs of women, particularly single mothers. This vital initiative fosters employment skills, retention strategies, and financial literacy, encompassing career assessment, resume building, budgeting, communication, and time management.
• Sister Circle International: $9,625 for their “She Works & Wins” program, poised to empower 100 underserved women in Greensboro and High Point. Their mission is to equip these women with the self-sufficiency, insight, knowledge, and resources needed to thrive and reach their full potential.
• I Am A Queen: $4,500 for their “Queen Arise Leadership Program,” inspiring young women to soar to their fullest potential, nurturing confident, successful girls who embrace servant leadership. This program delivers essential self-esteem and leadership training, focusing on crucial areas such as money management, healthy relationships, health and fitness, and etiquette for at-risk girls aged 10-18, impacting approximately 150 young lives through the Girl Boss Academy and Queens Who Code Boot Camp.
• Greensboro History Museum: $4,250 to fuel a dynamic program that will: (1) host a public forum featuring a distinguished historian on the intersection of women, civil rights, and the vote; (2) convene a youth leadership summit for female student government leaders across Guilford County; and (3) develop engaging curriculum centered on Bennett College students’ pivotal 1960 Operation Doorknock voter registration campaign, disseminated through traveling trunks for use by Guilford County educators and civic groups.

Reflecting on last year’s grant recipients fills me with awe. We witnessed two organizations dedicated to unlocking the true potential of underserved women, guiding them toward lives of prosperity. We celebrated an organization shaping confident, strong, and well-rounded young female leaders. And we proudly supported an initiative nurturing the next generation of civil rights champions.

I am certain that our Foundation founders would be, and indeed are, deeply proud of our ongoing commitment to cultivating the next generation of women leaders. For 36 remarkable years, we have poured our support, time, energy, talents, and generous donations into this vital cause, contributing over $359,000 to uplift our local community! The Foundation eagerly anticipates sharing the inspiring details of the projects that are actively empowering women and girls in our midst.

Know that your WPF Foundation Board of Directors stands united, 100% committed to our mission of empowering women and girls, with each member already contributing or pledging their support for 2025. We warmly invite you to join us in this powerful endeavor with a gift – together, we can empower even more women to embrace a future filled with success. Giving is easy!

• WRITE A CHECK today and leave it with Sherry.
• Find PLEDGE CARDS on your table.
• TEXT TO DONATE via Give Lively with WPFF to 44-321.
• PAY DIRECT on the WPFF website at https://wpforum.org/donate/

Make an online donation using the QR Code below.

Every act of generosity ignites a ripple of positive change in the lives of women and girls. Consider amplifying your impact through your employer’s matching gift program, a powerful way to further fuel the Foundation’s vital work. Many of your fellow WPF members are already leveraging this incredible opportunity!

Finally, please join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to the dedicated members of our Grants Committee. Their tireless efforts and insightful guidance were instrumental in selecting our inspiring 2025 grantees:

2025 Grants Committee

Leslie Llyod, Co-Chair

Sasha Trosch, Co-Chair

Laura Burton

Jennifer Mencarini

Susan Gutterman

Jody Susong

Non WPFF BOD

Darlene Ball

Amy Baradell

Catena Bergevin

Kellie Burgess

Melissa Burroughs

Christine Byrd

Sheeba Dawood

Sandy Doyle-Jones

Kim Eder

Lou Anne Flanders-Stec

Robin Hager

Lisa Hazlett

Brenda Madden

Kate Panzer

Regards,
Chandra