Barbara Jordan’s Story

“Simply put, I love being a part of the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls! Hands down, this philanthropic journey with an extraordinary group of women has been the most fulfilling and most rewarding of my life.

No one person, no one gift, no one concept and no single issue in the community is responsible for making the Fund so vital and successful for fifteen years.  It is a collective effort of women who dare to be innovative and embrace bold visions, and who seek to solve old problems with new solutions. Look around your table, look around this room and feel its energy — an energy and a commitment to women and girls that has been sustained year after year.

Why the kitchen table? How many of us can conjure up right now images of our childhood kitchens, perhaps our grandparents’ kitchen or the kitchen in our homes today? I certainly can because kitchens seem to be the heart of the home — a place where people come together, meals are eaten, issues aired, tears are shed, laughter can be heard and memories are created.

But, as you have heard, there are many, too many, families in Chester County who are gathered around their kitchen tables struggling to feed their family, get medical attention, care for their loved ones or find a job. There are women in our communities who need the Fund for Women and Girls to help them provide safer, healthier lives for their families.

Women have a natural ability to create, connect, communicate and contribute in many ways — to help those less fortunate. It is second nature to always be able to fit another person at the kitchen table.

If a cause or need is one that you care about, grab a seat at that kitchen table and experience all the moments- the challenging, scary, risky, frustrating, exhilarating and rewarding moments. Seize the opportunity to “make a difference.” Go out and share your vision with everyone and know in the end you will personally reap rewards far greater than the help you give to others.”