New Initiative Spotlights Women's Role In Community Support     

           Women in Philanthropy, a new initiative of United Way of Roanoke Valley, will hold a kickoff reception this Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Fitzpatrick Hall at the Jefferson Center, Roanoke.
            Featured speakers for the event will be Nora Kiser Bell, Ph.D., president of Hollins University, and Jennifer L. Braaten, Ed.D., president of Ferrum College. They will address the topic “Accepting the Challenge: Women in Philanthropy.” The event is being underwritten by Wachovia Wealth Management.
            Women in Philanthropy was created to recognize the vital role that Roanoke Valley women play in bringing about changes that improve the quality of life. A ten-member steering committee, chaired by Charlotte Porterfield, organized this week’s event to publicly launch the initiative and its mission, “Women united to create a better community through action, inspiration and partnership.”
            “Women are willing to seek new answers to both old and emerging problems,” said Porterfield. “We want to recognize those who have demonstrated commitment to improving our community, and to encourage others to become involved.”
            She pointed out that women make up more than half of the U.S. population and control 51.3 percent of the nation’s privately held wealth. “In the Roanoke Valley, women demonstrate a genuine willingness to be proactive with their time, talent and financial support. We want to salute and encourage this generosity as a way to improve life for all our citizens,” said Porterfield.
            Dr. Bell, Hollins president since July 2002, has served as faculty member, dean and president of numerous colleges and universities throughout the South. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she is widely published in the field of bioethics.
            Dr. Braaten, Ferrum president since 2002, also has extensive experience in higher education institutes. Among her accomplishments is initiating international campus connections, including establishing an ESL program with Japan.
            United Way of Roanoke Valley, established in 1924, supports 29 partner agencies and almost 70 health and human service programs that reach 80,000 local residents each year. Currently the organization is conducting its annual campaign to raise funds to benefit people in Roanoke, Salem, Vinton and Botetourt, Craig and Roanoke counties.