Donor Spotlight December 2012
Individual Donor Spotlight:
Becky Phillips, Assurance Partner, Mountjoy Chilton Medley LLP
This month Becky Phillips will complete her term as Chair of the Women 4 Women Board of Directors. Phillips’ desire to make an impact in the lives of women and girls in our community is evident in her contribution to Women 4 Women. Over the past five years Phillips has invested both time and money in the organization she feels has the power for change in our community.
Phillips initially became involved with the board about five years ago when she was approached about serving as the board treasurer.
“I fell in love with the work of Women 4 Women and its desire to improve the status of women and girls in our community,” she said. “When studies are done for Kentucky, they often present unfavorable results that most attribute to Eastern Kentucky. However, when Women 4 Women conducted research they found Jefferson County was as much a problem as any Eastern Kentucky county. From that moment, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the women and girls in our community.”
Phillips feels passionately about the work that Women 4 Women is doing in our community. It’s that passion that has driven her to be so active on the board over the last five years.
“Whether we’re helping women and girls through the Finance 4 Her™ program, grant making, or connecting women to one another, we are contributing to their success both personally and professionally,” she said. “That is making a difference in their lives and I want to be part of that!”
It’s as a result of Phillips’ involvement that she looks at news and events related to women in a much different light. Because of the work of Women 4 Women, and her involvement, she plays closer attention to the issues women and families deal with and she works with the organization to create programs and initiatives that directly address those issues.
“I dream of Louisville being one of the best places for women, girls and their families. When women do better, the family does better and when the family does better, the community does better,” said Phillips.
Corporate Donor Spotlight: Brown-Forman
Women 4 Women depends on its sponsors to raise money for the programs and services that benefit our community. In this issue we highlight our 20th Anniversary sponsor and long time supporter, Brown-Forman. Brown-Forman has played a valuable role in our organization for the last 20 years. Since the company is always looking for new ways to invest in this community, they found Women 4 Women as an excellent resource to make an impact in the lives of women and girls right here at home. Brown-Forman is also extremely dedicated to building and supporting its own female workforce.
“The alignment of Women 4 Women’s mission and the desire to support women in the workplace made the partnership between Brown-Forman and Women 4 Women an obvious fit,” said Laura Webb, brand director for Brown Forman and current Women 4 Women board member. “Since its inception, Brown-Forman Corporation (with help and support from key organizational leaders and Brown-Forman family members) has been deeply involved in the funding and operations of Women 4 Women.”
Women 4 Women is constantly working to create new programs and events that cater to the women in our community and the issues they deal with. Finance 4 Her and Encouragement Coach Network are two areas of passion for Brown-Forman.
“Brown-Forman Corporation shares many of the same values that these two programs teach - self-sufficiency and support networks,” says Webb. “Financial self-sufficiency (both from a business perspective and a personal one) is important for independence and growth.”
Brown-Forman believes having a strong network of support means you have others to lean on for advice, encouragement and knowledge. With strong support comes sound decision-making. And with better decisions comes growth. This is what Brown-Forman wants to see in the women of their workforce.
Brown-Forman caters to women in the community in their day-to-day operations as well. The company has an abundance of formal and informal coaching and networking support for all of its employees. One specific internal organization established by female employees at Brown-Forman, GROW, is dedicated to providing tools, education, and a clear perspective for women as they work to achieve their desired potential within the organization. Through skill building, mentoring, and information sharing workshops, this organization leverages opportunities to showcase Brown-Forman as a desirable place for women to work, fosters an environment where women have a larger voice within the organization and provides a blended perspective on important women-related issues, topics and decisions.
Brown-Forman has a reason for contributing their time and resources to Women 4 Women. They want to build a community of strong, self-sufficient women and they know that women are an increasingly vital part of our community.
“Women are a large percentage of the working population. In addition to being significant care givers to others in the community, these women are the sole bread-winner and caregiver in a single parent home…they are the anchor of our community,” said Webb. “By contributing to and creating the programs that will improve the health, education and self-sufficiency of these women in the local area, we will pave the path for a stronger community and city in years to come.”
Thank you to Brown-Forman for helping us strengthen the model and increase women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency in our community.
