Board of Directors - Together Women Rise

By Jo DeBolt, Together Women Rise Board Chair

During the first weekend of October, the Together Women Rise Board of Directors met in Charlotte to reflect on our past and plan for the future, especially as we approach our 20^th anniversary next year. We came armed with data on our grant making, chapter development, participation in programs and events, and responses from the recent member survey. We started, though, with stories. Over dinner on our first night, Co-Founder Barb Collins shared stories of several early grantees. Some of these grantees went on to gain significant recognition and extended their work far beyond what they originally imagined might be possible. It reminded us that we don’t spend enough time learning from the relationships we’ve built and celebrating their successes. It’s fuel for the soul. Details

Nov 30, 2020

Together Women Rise

Board of Directors, Diversity, Diversity Equity Inclusion, strategic planning

A Bouquet of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Culture

By:Barbara Chatzkel, Chair of DFW’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) National Committee and
Shaniece Criss, member of DFW’s Board of Directors and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Culture (DEIC) Board Committee

Since 2017, an extraordinary group of Dining for Women members has been championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for our organization. They came from different chapters nationwide, all focused on learning and growing DFW’s understanding and knowledge of how to create a more inclusive community of members, grantees, staff, and volunteers. Details

Dec 21, 2016

Susan Stall

Together Women Rise

2020 Vision, Board of Directors, Growth

A Dining for Women Chapter in Every City

It was such an honor to receive the baton of leadership from Barb Collins in November. As Dining for Women’s new board chair, I follow in the footsteps of Barb and Marsha Wallace, who dreamed of making a difference for marginalized women and girls around the world. What a difference they, and this organization they co-founded, have made in the past 14 years. Details

Beth Ellen Holimon, President & CEO

Together Women Rise

Board of Directors, change

Marsha’s Legacy: Believing in DFW Miracles

As I enter my third year with Dining for Women, I have learned a great deal about this wonderful organization. I’ve learned from members, staff, and the board, but I have to say that my principal education has come from DFW co-founders Marsha Wallace and Barb Collins. DFW owes its strength, its grace, and its future to these two outstanding women!

As Barb transitions from her Chair role on the board, I am grateful for her tenacity and her leadership. She leaves a legacy of great governance and a forward-thinking board. She has painstakingly placed the groundwork for DFW’s future – one that we can all be proud of! I look forward to continuing to work with her as she remains on the board and will chair the Resource Development Committee. Details

Barb Collins

Together Women Rise

Board of Directors, BOD, change, Leadership

Passing the Baton

Dining for Women became a way of life for me after the first chapter meeting at Marsha’s home in January 2003. Her simple idea turned traditional philanthropy upside down, forever changing my expectations for the impact of my charitable donations.

Our collective giving and educational model is proving that small contributions and individual actions, when aggregated together, make a deep and transformational impact in the lives of both the giver and receiver. One person can change the way the world works.

Dining for Women belongs to all of us. It’s never been more important for each of us to nurture the organization, to listen and unify our actions, even when our 400 plus chapters are spread throughout our country, and the women and girls we touch are spread throughout the world. Details