RWGC Circular Winter 2025
- Feb 9, 2025
- 10 min read
Recap of 2025 Annual Business Meeting Highlights from Our Annual Business Meeting Wednesday, January 29, 2025 The day of the RWGC Annual Business Meeting was predictably cold, but Nancy Hessler’s warm greetings to members as they logged into Zoom made us all feel welcome and included. Melinda Andolina, Leadership Team Chair, began the meeting with an enthusiastic look back at the past year and emphasized the ways our Circle members reach out and connect with one another. Membership Engagement – We are Listening The time of the 2025 Annual Business Meeting was changed to noon this year. We want to know: did you like the midday time? Was this more convenient for you? Members are encouraged to host a social in their homes or places of business to get the word out about the RWGC. We are having more in-person meetings at the request of many members. The June 2025 Grantee Celebration will be an evening event this year instead of an early morning breakfast. New members may choose to have a Circle Friend – a current member who delights in introducing new people to the Circle and who helps a newcomer make lasting connections. A cohort of the newest members met as a class and enjoyed a first gathering together at Jackie Germanow’s art studio. Last June and July, members got together for two bicycle outings with the requisite sweet treats partaken at the end of each. Our 2023 and 2024 Partners RWGC Grantees work closely with our dedicated Partners who offer their time, interest, and expertise. Each Partner serves as a liaison between our Circle and a Grantee Organization and is tasked with the responsibility to “follow our money.” Thanks go to: Nancy Bodziak, Marsha Boelio, Laura Cann, Sandy Greer, Joanne Guarnere, Emily Lambert, Jeanne Morey, Laurel Pace, Sarah Swan, Krestie Utech, and Claudia Weber. Linda Josephs is the incredible chair of the Partners Committee. We are so grateful for all that the Partners do to help our Grantees achieve successful outcomes. 2023 Grant Awards - $178,000 Awarded Agape Haven of Abundance: Urban Youth Empowerment Program - $25,000 Center for Teen Empowerment: Young Women’s Leadership and Employment Project - $25,000 Friendly Senior Living: Staff Training and Education Program (STEP) - $20,000 Friends of the Garden Aerial: Greentopia: Green Visions: Growing Healthy Futures - $25,000 Judicial Process Commission: Women’s Legal Action and Employability Project - $25,000 Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach: Women’s Empowerment Program - $23,000 Veterans Outreach Center: Female Veterans Self-Sufficiency Program - $10,000 YWCA: Equity through Development Project - $25,000 Giving Collectively Makes a Profound Difference During the 2023 – 2024 Grant Cycle, 649 women and girls were served and 199 women were employed. Programs served women with convictions, at-risk women and girls, female veterans, moms and children living in poverty and underserved women. 2024 Grantmaking Committee A special RWGC thanks is given to those who served on the 2024 Grantmaking Committee: Suzy Fitzgerald, Rita Garretson, Kathy Hagen, Carol Hidy (co-chair), Linda Josephs, Roberta Kaye, Emily Lambert, Cheryl Lawless, Sue Moore (co-chair), Jeanne Morey, Laurel Pace, Marjorie Perlman, Sarah Swan, Krestie Utech 2024 Grant Awards - $190,000 awarded $25,000 Agape Haven of Abundance $25,000 Center for Teen Empowerment $25,000 Friends of the Garden Aerial $20,000 Goodwill of the Finger Lakes $25,000 Judicial Process Commission $20,000 Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach $25,000 Unity Hospital of Rochester $25,000 YWCA
The 2025 Grant Cycle is Now Open! RWGC members have donated $185,000 to be given to carefully chosen groups serving our community’s girls and women. The Grantmaking Committee
As a Circle member, you have a place at the Grantmaking table. Did you know that one of the benefits of being a member of the Circle is the opportunity to participate in selecting which programs we will fund that could make all the difference for women and girls in our community? Grantmaking is the heart of what we do as a Circle and this committee's work is so rewarding! No experience is necessary; you will be guided through the entire process. It is a short-term commitment with five virtual meetings beginning April 1 and ending May 20. If you are interested in taking part in this enlightening and rewarding work, please contact Carol Hidy. She can be reached at carolhmedley@gmail.com RWGC is Financially Robust Jill Miller, our meticulous Circle Treasurer, noted that the $190,000 awarded to our 2024 grantees was the largest amount granted since the end of the Covid 19 pandemic. Since 2008, 155 grants totaling $2,544,385 have been awarded by our Circle members. We have no paid staff and all the work of our organization is done by volunteers. Our operating costs are incredibly low, but we do anticipate there will be a small Operating Fund deficit in 2025. Our yearly Operating Fund Fee (your $50) has remained the same for a number of years. These fees pay for: grant breakfasts, meetings, communications, conferences, and RACF fees. As costs are rising, we expect in 2026 that the Operating Fund Fee for each member will be $75, an increase of $25. Our Leadership Team News – 2025 Current team includes: Melinda Andolina, Chair, Jill Miller, Treasurer, Rita Garretson, Secretary, Carol Hidy, Co-Chair Grantmaking, Sue Moore, Co-Chair Grantmaking, Kathy Hagen, Co-Chair Grantmaking, Linda Josephs, Partner Chair, Kathi Albertini, Co-Chair Knowledge Mgt., Annette Meade, Co-Chair Knowledge Mgt., Nancy Hessler, Co-Chair Membership, Teri Davis, Co-Chair Membership, Abbie Schonfeld, Co-Chair Communications and Heather Jones, Co-Chair, Communications As we keep going forward, the Leadership Team currently needs co-chairs for our Education Committee. This committee is tasked with choosing individual speakers or representatives from community organizations to present programs to our members about their missions, passions, and the vital work they do. Our Education Meetings are much anticipated by our members and serve to expand our understanding of the profound work being done each and every day in our community. Interested in knowing more? Please get in touch with Melinda Andolina mdandolina@gmail.com New Communications Co-Chairs needed – June 2025. Abbie Schonfeld and Heather Jones are stepping down from the Leadership Team in June and are eager to share their insights, files, and procedures with the next co-chairs. If you are someone who likes to write and seeks to enlarge the Circle’s social media presence, this is the position for you! Interested in knowing more? Please get in touch with Melinda Andolina mdandolina@gmail.com November Social - 2024More than 45 members and guests came together on November 12 5-7pm at Temple Sinai. Representatives from the Excel Center/Goodwill Robin Mitchell, School Director, and a colleague from Excel Center/Goodwill Learning Academy (GLA) joined us to speak about the program offering a poignant example of what this program aims to achieve. He described the experience of a woman who faced many obstacles to attend the GLA and persevered because of her commitment to bettering her life and the lives of her family members. Those in attendance had an opportunity to hear about how Goodwill Learning Academy is steadily striving to reach adults in the Rochester community who do not have a high school diploma gain the skills and academic achievements needed to complete their high school education.
Welcome Our Newest Members Dr. Cynthia Christy, Nicole Druckman, Ronna Grimes, Lauren Hider, Mimi Hwang, Susan Motten, Janice O'Rourke, Marilyn Rosche, Joan Slater, Ellen Tuohey and Gretchen Volk. We are so glad to have you with us. Celebrating Membership Anniversaries 2024 - 5 years: Diane Ahlman • Laura Cann • Lil Lassen-Ward • Deborah Rothman 10 years: Martha Blair • Mary Ellen Burris • Lee Fox •Joanne Guarnere • Suzanne Jaschik • Tina Kurland • Sandy Meade• Janet Morris • Janet Reed • Connie Rice 15 years: Jill Miller • Gita Ramachandran Many thanks for your ongoing annually renewed commitment to the mission of the Rochester Women's Giving Circle. News In Our Circle Gita Ramachandran, shown here with Simeon Banister-CEO of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, was named 2024 honoree by the the Foundation of its annual Philanthropy Award. This honor was celebrated at the RACF gala in November -Celebration of Giving. On the RACF website it is written that, "each year since 1991, Philanthropy Award recipients have been recognized for their creative and effective giving that inspires others while strengthening the communities in greater Rochester’s eight counties." The following is also from the RACF website: Gita Ramachandran was awarded a Philanthropy Award for her practical approach to philanthropy and steadfast commitment to addressing poverty and its impacts. Gita reminds us, “Poverty is right now an ocean. Drop by drop, the ocean shall fill. People need to see the small wins along the way that show we are making progress.” Introducing Gita at the RACF event, it was said that Gita Ramachandran emphasized the importance of lifting up the nonprofit sector and spoke in favor of the role we can each play when we act not as an individual, but as a member of the human race. Gita shared these words with those gathered at the event, "Giving has to start with your thoughts then conversation then investigation and finally action." A RWGC member since 2010, the RWGC is proud to have Gita as a member.
Grantee Shout Out - Thoughts from some of the Participants in the YWCA program, "Equity Through Development" :
The Membership Committee
A great group of women work together to make in-person meetings fun with good food and beverages. So sometimes it is not glamorous work doing set ups for events or clean up, BUT....we make it fun! Please contact either Teri Davis (teridavis60@gmail) or Nancy Hessler (nhessler3@gmail.com) to let them know of your interest. The Education Committee The Education Committee welcomes ideas for programs and speakers. New members for the Education Committee are always welcome. Please contact Melinda Andolina at Mdandolina@gmail.com to share your thoughts and ideas for future Circle Education Meetings or to join this vital committee. Growing Our Circle Current members are our Number 1 key resource for new members joining The Rochester Women's Giving Circle. A one-on-one conversation or a personal invitation to a program or event is often appreciated. Continue to help grow the success of our mission by reaching out to those you know who might be interested in joining or in hearing about our Circle. You or someone you know can contact Nancy Hessler, Membership Co-Chair, at nhessler3@gmail.com for more information about becoming a member of The RWGC. Here is some ready information to share with others: Our Mission: We strengthen our community by enabling women and girls living in poverty to transition to a lifetime of economic self-sufficiency Our Values: Collaborative investing. Accountability, Fiduciary Trust, Excellence, Change Agent, 100% Volunteer Our Vision: We are responsive to the needs and resources available to women and girls in Monroe County, working with community partners and RWGC members to promote racial equity and reduce poverty Our Strategies: Be intentional in diversifying our membership - Strengthen information sharing to further our goals Membership Structure In September 2022, the RWGC members approved, by electronic voting, a change in our Articles of Operation. It impacts our hope to be a more diverse and inclusive organization as well as our commitment to collective giving and growing our capacity for grant making. The monies collected in each calendar year become the amount available for Grants the following spring. Our collective giving capacity is dependent on annual membership financial contributions and any other monetary gifts the RWGC receives in a given calendar year. There are two options for annual membership financial contribution. Regardless of the option, all members are equal share holders in the activities and giving of the RWGC: Sustainer is an Annual contribution of $1050* or more. Catalyst is an Annual contribution of $450* -$1049*. $50 of each contribution supports our operating expenses. The entire amount is tax-deductible.
There are two ways to send your annual membership contribution. By check, make your check payable to Rochester Area Community Foundation. Please write ”RWGC” on the memo line. If you are a new member, please write “new member” on the memo line as well. Mail check to: Rochester Area Community Foundation 500 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 By credit card, you are able to make a secure credit card donation through the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s website Click here for Contribution by Credit Card in the space for Additional Comments, please write For RWGC 2025 membership contribution *An additional $30 is needed if paying by credit card to cover the credit card processing fees.
More Ways to Increase OurGrant DollarsEveryone I know has someone for whom picking out the perfect gift is IMPOSSIBLE! Why not give the gift that delights the receiver and strengthens the community? Honor a friend's birthday. Celebrate a daughter's or granddaughter's new job. A gift to the RWGC in honor of someone special in your life is a thoughtful and meaningful choice. Whether long standing or new, membership in our Circle is meaningful to our members. The RWGC is an important commitment that we make in our lives. When the time comes to memorialize a life we have loved, please consider giving to the Circle in honor of that cherished member. The RWGC carefully invests every gift in worthy ways to lift up our community. If you would like to make a gift to the RWGC, please contact Melinda Andolina mdandolina@gmail.com
Keep Us Up to Date on Contact Information Members, Please keep us up to date on your contact information. You can reach Teri Davis, Membership Co-Chair, at teridavis60@gmail.com to let us know of changes in your email, phone or mail address. We try to keep our Circle membership informed and up to date so we want to be able to reach you. Thank you. Save the Date Coming Up in 2025 Education Session (Guests Welcome) Tuesday, February 25 5 PM – 7 PM Asbury First United Methodist Church, Gathering Center Social (Guests Welcome) Thursday, April 10 5 PM – 7 PM Temple Sinai Lounge Grants Celebration (Guests Welcome) Wednesday, June 18 5 PM – 8 PM Temple Sinai Large Social Hall Social (Guests Welcome) Thursday, July 31 5 PM – 7 PM at the home of member Jill Miller Education Session (Guests Welcome) Tuesday, September 9 5 PM – 7 PM Asbury First United Methodist Church, Gathering Center Social (Guests Welcome) Thursday, November 13 5 PM – 7 PM Temple Sinai Lounge |
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