Press Release
Arax Hovsepian
Arax@Inspiredwomen.com
561-445-5466
Inspired Women Paying it Forward
Powerhouse Philanthropic Networking – Launches in Beaver
Pittsburgh, PA. — Feb. 3, 2022— On April 28th the very first meeting of Inspired Women Beaver will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Berkshire Hathaway office – 1071 3rd St. Beaver, PA. Office Manager Arax Hovsepian has stepped up as the Chapter Leader, where up to $10,000 will be raised at quarterly, Happy Hour Meetings. Recipients are non-profits benefitting women and girls locally and globally.
“As a founding member for the past 7 years of the NORTH chapter, I’m so excited to finally introduce Beaver to this organization that really makes a difference for women in need. Having spent countless hours fundraising and knowing how difficult it can be, I know this is a great model.” said Arax.
The mission of this Powerhouse Giving Circle is to Create a space for Women who have more in their lives, to take action on behalf of Women who have less. It offers Networking with a Higher Purpose to women at all stages of life.
Inspired Women Paying it Forward is open to anyone who is interested in combining forces with like-hearted women who’ve agreed to make a quarterly donation of only $100! The impact will be significant for the one Women’s 501(c)3 Charity nominated and selected by the membership’s majority vote each quarter. Two of the quarterly meetings donations will go to Local Women’s Charities, while the other two will be for Initiatives with a more Global Focus.
At each meeting, the names of three nominated charities will be drawn. The members championing those organizations will make a short appeal on their behalf. One deserving charity will then be selected through a majority vote at which point, every member contributes $100 ( via check or electronically) made out directly to that charity. Currently an electronic platform is available making it even easier to donate and 100% goes directly to the charity.
There is a cash bar and Munchies available at each meeting, so members stay to take advantage of the fantastic networking opportunities! There is no need to RSVP and the ONLY commitment for any expense is $400 per year ($100 per quarter)! Vendors are also welcome!
Inspired Women Paying it Forward started in the North Hills of Pittsburgh in 2015 and currently has four chapters collectively raising over $15,000 per quarter. To date over $400,000 has been donated. Collective Giving with Collective Impact!
Come join us for the launch 5:30 – Thursday April 28th. Wine and light appetizers available.
For More information go to www.InspiredWomen.com or call Arax Hovsepian at #561-445-5466
No Frills Philanthropic Networking – Making a Significant Impact without a significant investment of time and energy—just what today’s busy woman needs!
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PRESS RELEASE
As Popularity of Giving Circles has Tripled,
Historic Gathering of American Giving Circle Networks Co-Designs Vision for Scaling & Strengthening the Movement Further
Seattle, Washington (April, 2019)– Supported by a lead grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 19 other funders, 82 participants from dozens of American giving circles and giving circle networks came together for a historic gathering in Seattle, Washington to connect with and learn from each other, and to build a vision for amplifying, strengthening and scaling giving circles across the United States.
Recent studies by the Collective Giving Research Group demonstrates that giving circles have exploded in popularity in America, and that they offer a way to meaningfully engage people in giving and in investing in their communities. A recent report from the Lilly School of Philanthropy found that giving circles tripled In number from 2007 to 2017, to 1,500, and have donated as much as $1.29 billion in that time.
“Giving circles are a major part of the future of American philanthropy,” said Marsha Morgan, chair of the Community Investment Network, one of the 5 networks co-leading the initiative. “Neighbors, friends, family, church and synagogue members – these are all ‘everyday givers.’ People are coming together, pooling their money, networks, and expertise, and investing in the change they want to make in the world. Giving circles are democratizing and diversifying philanthropy, and engaging tens of thousands of people in shaping their communities.”
The gathering marked a milestone within a year-long “co-design” process for the giving circle movement, shepherded by five Giving Circle Networks: Amplifier (a network of circles inspired by Jewish values), Asian Women Giving Circle, Catalist (formerly the Women’s Collective Giving Grantmakers Network), Community Investment Network (a network of African American circles), and the Latino Community Foundation (a network of Latinx circles). The co-design process is engaging dozens of giving circle leaders, networks, and stakeholders to collectively design ways to strengthen and expand the giving circle movement.
The process itself reflects the collaborative spirit of giving circles: dozens of diverse stakeholders from across the giving circle movement, from different communities and affinity groups, with different funding areas and approaches, are joining forces to design the common strategy and tactics needed to support the growth and sustainability of giving circles nationwide. Together, participants represented thousands of people already in giving circles who believe in the power of collective giving and are changing the face and the future of philanthropy.
“My favorite part of the gathering was hearing the stories of hope and impact that so many giving circle leaders shared about their communities,” said Paula Liang, Chair Elect of Catalist, a network of 68 women’s funding groups. “There is a rich history of generosity and collective action in all of our communities and throughout American history, and this project can help us move that work forward while opening it up to so many more people. Joining a giving circle makes your giving more informed, more influential, and more impactful.”
Giving Circle membership also leads to greater civic engagement. Dr. Anthony C. Hood, a member of the Birmingham Change Fund giving circle and Director of Civic Innovation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told the story of the current Mayor of the City of Birmingham, Alabama, Randall Woodfin who is the youngest mayor in the city in 100 years. Woodfin’s first step into civic involvement was as a member of the
Birmingham Change Fund, which exposed him to the issues facing his community and the civic pathways to addressing them.
Masha Chernyak, VP of Programs at the Latino Community Foundation, shared the story of Martin Vargas Vega, a child of farm-workers parents in Watsonville, California, who joined the Latinos in Tech Giving Circle with his first tech job. Vargas Vega is launching another giving circle with Latino leaders in his hometown. “We are helping to reclaim philanthropy for the Latino immigrant community and grounding the work in love and justice,” said Chernyak.
Over the two-day convening, leaders shared ideas and resources for a field-wide infrastructure that will help inspire more grassroots philanthropy, strengthen communities, and increase American giving overall. The vision includes:
- Launching a major awareness campaign to make giving circles a household name within American communities
- Developing more resources and training programs to diversify and democratize philanthropy
- Creating an innovative incubator program to enable people to create and sustain new giving circles
- Supporting new technology to make it easier for circles to connect with one another and with grantees
- Hosting national and regional gatherings to bring the movement together.###
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20 Funders Co-Invested in this Process: |
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Contact: Isis Krause, isis@kneadpartners.com
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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release – June 19, 2017
Street Business School by BeadforLife and Inspired Women Pay-It-Forward
Contact: Debra Dion Krischke – 724-935-6100
Debra@TeamEffortEvents.com
Women Supporting Women: Donate thousands to help fund the entrepreneurial education of women living in poverty in Africa
June 19, 2017 – Inspired Women Paying-It-Forward offers Philanthropic Networking at one-hour, quarterly meetings. Members nominate their favorite Women’s non-profit locally and globally for a chance to win up to $10,000! Collective Giving with Collective Impact and the only obligation is a commitment to writing a check for $100 to the voted upon winner.
In January, they decided to donate $6,600 to Street Business School by BeadforLife (SBS). BeadforLife began as a social enterprise using beads as a tool to fund entrepreneurial education for women living in poverty. Building on this model, funds raised through bead sales went back to the beadmakers to provide them with an education in entrepreneurialism. More than a decade of experience in education later, SBS is now expanding into new countries and training thousands of women on how to start and run their own micro-business. “We are so honored to partner with IWPIF. It really is a connection between women on two sides of the globe to improve the lives of children, families, and communities,” says SBS CEO and Co-Founder Devin Hibbard.
SBS achieves an average of 211 percent income increase for women two years after graduating from SBS training. For those who live on less than $.65 per day, they experience an increase of 1,460 percent (15x). One women whose life has transformed as a result of her entrepreneurial education is Josephine Nusamba. Nusamba started her businesses by selling the chickens she owned in order to start a vegetable stand where she sells matooke, charcoal and other fresh produce. She also began cooking and selling cassava chips which gives her a profit of between UGX 5000 ($1 US)- UGX 7000 ($2 US) a day. Each week, she also earns UGX 60,000 ($16.71 US) from matooke and other vegetables.
Although Nusamba’s husband’s salary was covering rent, it was rarely able to cover the cost of regular meals and never covered school fees. Now, due to Nusamba’s new income, her children eat three meals a day and are all in school. SBS has helped nearly 3,000 women receive business education and change their lives and their children’s lives.
Inspired Women PIF is educating local women about issues, such as the one Nusamba faces, and how they can make a difference. Their grant of 6,600 will help provide training for nearly 18 women and change their children’s lives for generations to come.
And now the focus is on how to expand this great model so that women everywhere can give from their abundance. The Mission Statement: Creating a space for Women who have More in their lives to take action on behalf of Women who have Less.
To open a chapter in your area or to learn more about Inspired Women Paying-It-Forward visit www.InspiredWomen.com To learn more about SBS, visit www.StreetBusinessSchool.org.
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PRESS RELEASE
Team Effort Events
Debra Dion Krischke
Office: 724-935-6100
Cell: 724-816-9221
Inspired Women Paying it Forward – Networking with Purpose
Powerhouse Philanthropy Benefiting Women’s Charities
For Immediate Release
Wexford, Pa. — March 10, 2015— On April 16, 2015 the very first meeting of Inspired Women Paying it Forward will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Cranberry, Pa. The mission of this new Powerhouse Giving Circle is to Inspire Women who have more in their lives, to take action on behalf of Women who have less. This networking/philanthropic event has the potential of creating a huge impact for Women’s Initiatives by raising up to $10,000 per quarter—an impressive $40,000 per year!
Inspired Women Paying it Forward is open to anyone who is interested in combining forces with like-minded women who’ve agreed to make a quarterly donation of only $100! The impact will be significant for the one Women’s 501(c)3 Charity nominated and selected by the memberships’ majority vote each quarter. Two of the quarterly meetings’ donations will go to Local Women’s Charities, while the other two will be for Initiatives with a more Global Focus.
At each meeting, the names of three nominated charities will be drawn. The members championing those organizations will make a short appeal on their behalf. One deserving charity will then be selected through a majority vote at which point, every member writes a check for $100 made out directly to that charity. 100% of every check Goes Directly to the selected nonprofit!
After each meeting, members may stay for dinner, at their own expense, and enjoy the cash bar to make a night of it as well as to take advantage of the fantastic networking opportunities! There is no need to RSVP and the ONLY commitment for any expense, ever, is $400 per year ($100 per quarter)!
No Frills Philanthropy; Making a Significant Impact without a significant investment of time and energy—just what today’s busy woman needs!
Constantly in search of an easier way for women to support women, founder Debra Dion Krischke arrived at this model after researching other giving circles. Ms. Dion Krischke has over 25 years of experience in producing special events for women’s initiatives. Nationally, her events have raised over a million dollars for the lesser-funded organizations which are working on the tough issues such as domestic violence and human trafficking or providing education opportunities for women and girls around the world.
According to Ms. Dion Krischke women nationwide have big hearts and very little extra time. “All women need to network and we want to give back, but between work and family our plates are overfilled. One more committee meeting, one more obligation, one more demand for our time puts many of us on overload. And yet we care about other women!” says Ms. Dion Krischke. “We understand that we are in sisterhood with women locally and globally who might be fighting for the freedom to get an education, fleeing an abusive relationship, or fighting for an end to lawlessness where they are not safe from assault or worse. We want to support women who might be fighting for the right to drive, the right to vote, the right to work, and the right to go out in public without a male escort. We stand beside them in their fight. We care – and our collective donation is our way of paying it forward with a much greater impact. This is networking with a purpose.” It is Ms. Dion Krischke’s hope and intention that other women will form chapters in their own communities as well, making Inspired Women Paying it Forward —a nation-wide movement.
To join, learn more, or to start an Inspired Women Paying it Forward —chapter in your area, please visit the website at www.InspiredWomen.com or call 724-935-6100.