The 2012 ”Inspiring Women Benefit,” held on Saturday, November 10th, at the Gannett Corporate Headquarters in McLean, Virginia, raised over $318,000 for The Women’s Center.
“The event was an outstanding success due to the wonderful efforts of our Benefit Committee, and the generosity of Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, and so many other corporate sponsors, as well as the generosity of our auction donors and our guests last Saturday night,” said The Women’s Center’s CEO & Executive Director Carol Loftur-Thun. “This event will help The Center continue providing reduced fee, sliding fee scale, and free services in this tough economy. We still need help closing our funding gap for 2012, but this will really help.”
Featuring a silent and live auction, along with a “Call to Action,” that together raised over $84,000 alone, the event’s Platinum Sponsor, Accenture, and the Gold Sponsor, Booz Allen Hamilton, were joined by many other corporate sponsors and individuals to help the Center raise over $318,000 in gross revenues, much more than the original goal of $22,000.
“The Center has spent nearly four decades helping thousands of women, men, and families to meet life’s challenges,” said Sally Turner, President of The Women’s Center’s Board of Directors. “I am so proud that this wonderful event raised over $318,000 to help The Center continue its work in our community. This outpouring of support shows community members and corporations are eager to support The Center’s critically needed services.”
The event also featured two clients of The Center, Paige and Amanda, who told inspirational stories of their trauma and resilience, and ultimate healing at The Women’s Center. Nearly 300 guests attended the event, ranging from representatives from local corporations to government and the community in helping to celebrate “Inspiring Women” and to support The Center so it can continue to serve women, men, and families who are facing mental health issues, trauma, violence, bereavement, unemployment, divorce, and other life challenges.
“As this challenging economy continues, The Women’s Center’s role in the lives of women and families has become even more important as we provide a critical safety net, and support women, men and their families facing mental health, career, personal and family challenges,” said the Chair of the Benefit and Managing Director at Accenture Federal Services, Ed Meehan.
A couple pictures from the event: