Photo, Women United in Philanthropy Mavis Leno

BERGEN COUNTY (Aug. 27, 2009) — On Thursday, Oct. 15 Women United in Philanthropy, New Jersey’s first women’s giving circle, will host its 5th Annual Fall Gathering at the Stony Hill in Hackensack from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Mavis Nicholson Leno, chair of the Feminist Majority’s Foundation’s Campaign to Help Afghan Women and Girls and wife of late-night talk show king Jay Leno will be the featured speaker.

Leno is an outspoken critic of the Taliban’s horrific treatment of women and is currently leading the effort to make the restoration of women’s rights a nonnegotiable element of a post-Taliban Afghanistan.  

“Mavis Leno has become the voice for women a world away who have lost theirs,” said Maxine Frampton, Director of Women United in Philanthropy. “She is an informed and articulate spokeswoman who understands the world and the role we as women play in changing it. This will be an evening of inspiration like no other, and a celebration of women helping women that will send your spirit soaring.”

Women United in Philanthropy is dedicated to promoting the economic power of women to affect change in each other’s lives. Membership is extended to women who contribute $1,000 annually to the collective fund and vote each year to award a large grant to a local program helping women. At the Annual Fall Gathering members come together to celebrate what they’ve accomplished and commit to a new investment.  Sponsors of the event are BD, Medco Health Solutions, United Water, UPS Information Systems, North Jersey Media Group and 201 magazine.

“Five years ago, we began as a small group of women committed to using our own money and talents to lift women in Bergen County out of poverty,” said Susan Mitchell Abate, Chair of the Grants Committee. “Since then we have given $275,000 and changed the lives of countless women and an immeasurable number of children in our corner of the world.”

In 2006, the group awarded its first grant to the Inter Religious Fellowship for the Homeless. The $50,000 award was used to open a new transitional house in Teaneck for single mothers and provided financial workshops, educational scholarships, computers and after school care for women and children living in family shelter. In 2007, 55 Kip Center received $65,000 to start Caring for You/Caring for Me, a program for older women who have no one to care for them, teaching them how to navigate life alone through weekly classes, an online support group, an onsite medical team and in-home volunteers. Last year, the group awarded its largest grant — $100,000 to Zoe’s Place. The investment has launched Zoe’s Cupcake Café in Teaneck, a revenue-generating bakery business and training program for teem moms who need to develop the skills and experience to earn a living wage and care for their babies.

Women United in Philanthropy is one of over 400 women’s giving circles around the country who have donated some $44 million, according to New Ventures in Philanthropy, an arm of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. From Austin to Seattle, Charlotte, Indianapolis and now New Jersey, women are joining together to form circles to increase the impact of their philanthropy in concert with like-minded women.

“We are growing our membership every day. It’s clear that women are responding to this new idea of collective, strategic, democratic and local philanthropy — by women and for women,” said Frampton. “To have Mavis Leno share our commitment is incredibly exciting.”

Space is limited. Act now to reserve your place or find out how to join. Call 201-291-0601 or e-mail Maxine.Frampton@wuip.org. Tickets for the event are $85 per person.