Programming at The Fund

Upcoming Programs

Unite with fellow community members who are committed to gender equity and improving the lives of local women and girls. Below is a list of upcoming engagements with The Fund. We look forward to seeing you soon.

  • 17th Making a Difference Luncheon – May 6, 2022
    The Fund will celebrate our work to uplift and empower local women and girls at our 17th Annual Luncheon on Friday, May 6, 2022 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Malvern. Funds raised will support The Fund’s philanthropic, educational and advocacy programs that ensure women and girls have resources and opportunities to thrive. We’ll also honor a Chester County woman who represents the mission and values of the organization with The Fund’s annual Kitchen Table Award. To learn about partnership opportunities, please visit our Partnership page, or contact Development Director Dana Wiley at dwiley@thefundcc.org or 484-356-0940.

Past Programs

2021

  • Girls in Action Summit – October 2nd
    The Fund hosted our third annual Girls in Action Summit! Inspired by our award-winning Girls Advisory Board (GAB) girls’ grantmaking and leadership program, the Summit engages high school girls throughout Chester County for an empowering morning of action. Girls (grades 9-12) from all over Chester County are invited to learn about the deep and varied needs in their communities while engaging in strategic grantmaking. This year, we were thrilled to welcome keynote speaker Lynette Medley, Founder and CEO of No More Secrets: Mind Body Spirit Inc. An expert in areas of gender justice, racial justice, reproductive justice and menstrual justice, her passion lies in promoting inclusivity. Recently, Lynette and her daughter Nya opened The SPOT Period — the nation’s first crowdfunded menstrual hub — in Philadelphia.

    MENSTRUAL PRODUCT DRIVE    : At this year’s Summit, we collected period products to donate to No More Secrets and local women and girls in need.
  • Fifth Annual Champions of Change Event – October 27th
    The Fund hosted its fifth annual Champions of Change Event on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at The Farmhouse Bistro at People’s Light. The event honored JoAnne Reifsnyder, Phd, MSN, MBA, FAAN, for her efforts to support and uplift women in the nursing and healthcare fields. Dr. Reifsnyder is the Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations, and Chief Nursing Officer at Genesis HealthCare. Law firm MacElree Harvey was also be honored for its commitment to career development and growth for female employees, and efforts to advance gender equity in the workplace.
  • TogetHER Fireside Chat with Female Business Owners – March 10th
    The Fund’s TogetHER millennial young women’s initiative hosted a fireside chat with female business owners in Chester County. Speakers explored some of the challenges and successes of being BIPOC female business owners, how the pandemic has impacted their operations, and shared what they each consider to be their unique superpower in achieving success.

  • Champions of Change Summit: Bringing All Voices to the Table – March 26th

    Inspired by our annual Champions of Change Event recognizing an individual and company for their commitment to practices that align with women’s economic advancement and equity, our first ever Champions of Change Summit: Bringing All Voices to the Table on March 26th united the previous honorees of our Corporate Champion of Change Award and Gladys Black ‘Woman of Distinction’ Award for a dialogue and panel discussions on best practices in diverse and inclusive leadership. Learn more about our speakers.

  • 25th Anniversary Making a Difference Luncheon – May 7th
    The Fund hosted our 16th Annual Making a Difference Luncheon on Friday, May 7th, at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Malvern. This year’s Luncheon celebrated our 25th Anniversary with a theme of “Silver and Bold,” and was held outdoors, in person, with all social distancing protocols and COVID-19 precautions in place. There was also a virtual option for attendees. The Keynote Address featured Uva Coles, and the Kitchen Table Award was awarded to community member Mary Lou Sterge.

2020

  • 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage – Throughout 2020
    During 2020, The Fund celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Learn more at thefundcc.org/centennial/. 

  • Community Night at Brandywine River Museum – February 6
    The Fund welcomed supporters and donors to a Community Night at Brandywine River Museum to highlight its ‘Votes for Women’ exhibit on the visual history of women’s suffrage. 
  • Virtual Girls in Action Summit – May 18
    Over 50 high school girls from all corners of the county tuned in to hear from inspiring star athlete and keynote speaker Mo’ne Davis, learn from local non-profit leaders and peers about how COVID-19 is impacting women and girls in our communities, and finally use their collective voice to award two $500 grants to Chester County OIC and Domestic Violence Center of Chester County for their support of local women and girls dealing with both immediate and far-reaching impacts of COVID-19. View a recording of the Summit and our comprehensive Resource Guide at thefundcc.org/girls-programming/.
  • Virtual 15th Annual Making a Difference Luncheon – June 6
    The Fund hosted a gathering of 150 supporters around the virtual kitchen table to honor Pat Yoder with our Kitchen Table Award, hear from Keynote Speaker Janet Dewart Bell on the connections between the Civil Rights movement, Suffrage movement, and now, and celebrate the Centennial anniversary of women’s right to vote with a little help from our local and state female elected officials. View the full recording or program segments at thefundcc.org/luncheon/. 
  • Overlooked and Undercounted – August 18
    The Fund and PathWays PA     hosted a virtual dive into the latest Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania, a report that includes data on Chester County households overlooked and undercounted in the federal poverty level. The presentation also covered how COVID-19 has made the climb toward economic advancement even more difficult for local families. Community members, elected officials and their staff, and representatives from local non-profit organizations, foundations, and other organizations attended to listen, learn, and join in on the conversation of the implications and potential actions we can take based on these findings.

  • Toast to Tenacity – August 26
    The Fund and the Chester County Women’s Commission     hosted a virtual Toast to Tenacity honoring the suffragists who fought for women’s right to vote, and urging women to shape the future by exercising their right to vote. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — women’s right to vote — became law on August 26, 1920, a date now recognized as Women’s Equality Day. Check out the toolkit here!
  • 4th Annual Champions of Change Event – October 28
    The Fund hosted our virtual Fourth Annual Champions of Change Event in October. We were humbled to recognize the contributions of Charmaine Spence Rochester, SVP and CFO of Penn Medicine at Chester County Hospital, and SEI, as they work to shatter the glass ceiling for women in the workplace. These Champions are paving the way for growth and success for all women, and thus, our community.     Click to learn more about the event or download our program book. To watch the video tributes to our honorees, or a recording of the full program, check out our YouTube channel.
  • Advocating for Systemic Change Workshop – November 13
    We hosted a virtual presentation and panel discussion on how nonprofits can advocate for systemic change. Over 80 local nonprofit and community leaders joined to hear from presenting speaker Leslie Barnes of Bolder Advocacy on the building blocks and foundations of advocacy for nonprofits, followed by Zoom breakout room sessions and a panel discussion with elected officials and advocates. The panel discussion featured Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, County Commissioner Josh Maxwell, AccessMatters’ Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Daisy Romero Chavarria, and Constituent Advocate Rebecca Aguilera from U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan’s office.     Our panelists answered audience questions and shared resources and practical tips about how nonprofits can best partner with elected officials to bring about lasting change. Click here for advocacy resources. 

  • #GivingTuesday – December 1st
    A philanthropic response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday on December 1st was a social media-driven day of giving back to our local communities. This year, more than ever, we recognized the power of paying it forward. Your donation, no matter the size, helped women and girls in Chester County shape the future. This year for #GivingTuesday, we continued to celebrate the Centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment — which granted most women the right to vote in 1920 — by passing the baton and lifting up the next generation of young advocates and leaders in our Girls Advisory Board (GAB) and GirlGov Chester County programs. We more than doubled our $5,000 goal!

  • TogetHER’s ‘Trivia Night for a Cause’ – December 2nd
    The Fund’s female millennial initiative hosted a virtual ‘Trivia Night for a Cause’ event! Prizes were awarded and all proceeds benefited women and girls in Chester County, many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

2019

  • Girls in Action Summit – March 2
    Inspired by our award-winning Girls Advisory Board (GAB) girls’ grantmaking and leadership program, the Girls in Action Summit brought together high school girls throughout Chester County for an empowering day of action. Participants had the chance to meet leaders of local non-profits that serve women and girls, hear from a panel of peers about ways to foster change, help award two $500 grants to local non-profits, and give back to her community alongside her peers.

  • Mentor It Forward – March 18
    TogetHER, The Fund’s millennial young women’s initiative, hosted an insightful discussion on finding the right mentor and maintaining a positive, supportive relationship for years to come. Attendees enjoyed drinks and hors d’ouvres at Victory Brewing in Downingtown while getting real-life tips from an expert panel of mentor/mentee pairs.
  • Making a Difference Luncheon – May 3
    The Fund celebrated with 300 friends and community supporters at our 14th Annual Making a Difference Luncheon. We presented community advocate Cheryl Miles with our Kitchen Table Award, and heard inspiring remarks from keynote speaker Morgan Berman of     MilkCrate Tech. Check out this video tribute to Cheryl from her dearest friends and colleagues.

  • TogetHER Service Project at Parkesburg Point – June 5
    Members of our TogetHER young women’s initiative had a great time cooking and serving pizza to students at Parkesburg Point. The Fund supports our grantee partner The Point’s ongoing girls’ programming initiatives.

  • Grants Celebration – June 18
    The Fund recognized the vital work of our 2019 grantees at The General Warren Inn in Malvern. We partnered with 27 organizations working to further our shared mission of empowering and enriching the lives of women and girls in our communities. A special thank you to our Girls Advisory Board, GAB Planning Committee, Grants Allocation Committee, Grants Policy Committee and Board for their vision, passion and support.     Click here for a full list of our grantees.

  • Girls Meet with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan – August 14
    Representative Chrissy Houlahan spent the morning with high school members of our Girls Advisory Board and GirlGov Chester County programs to speak about her journey from US Air Force veteran to executive of two startup companies to chemistry teacher in Philadelphia – which culminated in her election to Congress in 2018.
  • #ChescoKnows Summit – September 24
    The Fund partnered with the Chester County Women’s Commission to host the #ChescoKnows Summit, which shared county-wide workplace sexual harassment data from our #ChescoKnows Survey and explored ways to create healthy and safe workplace environments for all women and men in Chester County. Click to read the full report. 

  • Third Annual Champions of Change Breakfast – October 30
    The Fund hosted our third annual Champions of Change Breakfast at The Farmhouse Bistro at People’s Light in Malvern to honor Dr. Lorraine (Laurie) Bernotsky, Executive VP and Provost of West Chester University, and First Resource Bank, for their breakthroughs to shatter the glass ceiling.  

  • Using Your Voice – November 6
    The Fund partnered with West Chester University and West Chester Area Senior Center to chat with women of all ages about ways their lifelong experiences with voting, community involvement, or advocacy have impacted them. 

2018

  • WomenTalk – Women on the Rise: Stories from a Movement – January 24
    Our panelists led a powerful discussion on the cultural and political shifts happening in Chester County, with women at the helm of the movement. Conversation focused on reaching out to friends, colleagues and neighbors – despite party affiliation – to find common ground. We were also encouraged to support female candidates whose beliefs resonate with us or even run for office ourselves! Thank you to panelists She Can Win founder Jasmine Sessoms, Chesco Treasurer Patricia Maisano, citizen and activist Kate Young and moderator Nia Meeks – communications consultant and political analyst – for leading a thoughtful discussion. The     full video is available on our Facebook page and presentation notes can be found here.
  • Inaugural Champions of Change Breakfast – March 1
    The Fund hosted our first annual Champions of Change Breakfast on March 1, 2018 at The Farmhouse Bistro at People’s Light in Malvern, PA to honor Patricia Miller (center right), President of Nobel Learning Communities, for her longstanding dedication to the advancement of women in the workplace. Law firm Fox Rothschild was also honored for its firm-wide commitment to mentorship and career development for female attorneys.

  • The Hunting Ground Film Screening – April 18
    We partnered with the     Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County (CVCCC) and Colonial Theatre on a free documentary film screening and panel discussion of The Hunting Ground in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The documentary explored sexual assault on college campuses, current lack of accountability for perpetrators and universities, and the need to provide resources and support for victims of sexual assault. We hosted a panel discussion after the screening with local experts who spoke about bystander training and intervention for community members, fellow students and college faculty, as well as the need to create “communities of protection rather than communities of risk.”

  • Making a Difference Luncheon – May 4
    In 2018, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary with 300 friends and community supporters at our Annual Making a Difference Luncheon. We presented community advocate Susan Elko with our Kitchen Table Award, and heard inspiring remarks from keynote speaker Tynesha McHarris of the Novo Foundation. For a look at our legacy over the past 20 years, check out our     anniversary video that premiered at the Luncheon. 

  • Stories of Womanhood – August 28
    We brought together a multigenerational group of women and girls to share stories and capture oral histories of our collective female experiences. The event took place in partnership with Surrey Services for Seniors.     Listen to stories shared at the event here.

  • Second Annual Champions of Change Breakfast – November 28
    The Fund hosted our second annual Champions of Change Breakfast on November 28, 2018 at The Farmhouse Bistro at People’s Light in Malvern, PA to honor Roberta Torian, Former Partner at Reed Smith LLP, for her longstanding dedication to female mentorship. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., was also honored for its commitment to career development for female employees. 

2017

  • Women Talk: Yes, All Women! – March 2, 2017
    Educational consultant Juliana Mosley, WCU student Lilah Saber and former PA State Representative Barbara McIlvaine Smith led the group through a discussion about how women can leverage commonalities rather than stand divided because of differences.

  • We Can Do Better – April 24, 2017
    The Fund, in partnership with Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell, invited local men to join a select group of local leaders to support ending gender-based violence in Chester County. The event took place at Victory Brewing Company in Downington from 4-5:30 PM.

  • Making a Difference Luncheon – May 5, 2017
    Each year the Making a Difference Luncheon grows in size and popularity. Coming from across the Philadelphia region, generous corporate and individual sponsors, along with enthusiastic attendees, overwhelm The Fund with their incredible passion and support for our mission.

  • Women Talk: Women’s Healthcare Panel – June 21, 2017
    Seasoned local public health professionals and advocates convened at The Fund office for a timely discussion on women’s health, as well as steps we can all take to protect access to vital care and services in our communities. Click here for resources on how to stay updated and involved in local healthcare discussions. You can also access a recording of the panel discussion on our YouTube channel.

  • Community Fest: Fall Fun Celebrating the Fund – October 14, 2017
    The Fund hosted a community event in celebration of our 20th anniversary of improving the lives of women and girls in Chester County. The family event featured live music, craft vendors, activities for kids, food trucks and local nonprofits eager to share information with residents on how to get involved in their communities.  

  • Women Talk: Yes, All Women! Part II – October 17, 2017
    A follow up to our successful ‘Yes, All Women!’ event last March, this second multi-generational dialogue was led by returning facilitator Juliana Mosley. The event took place at the First Presbyterian Church in West Chester and discussion centered on how women from all generations can leverage commonalities rather than remain divided by differences. Around 45 women from a range of backgrounds and experiences united for conversation on current race and gender topics.