\u201cDoes $250 by itself make a difference?\u201d queried Nancy Eaton, president of United Way of Central New York. \u201cWell, not as much as if it\u2019s invested with 100 other people, right? Then, all of the sudden, you actually have some money that you can make a difference with.\u201d<\/p>\n
United Way of CNY recently announced the launch of Women United, a group of local women across for-profit and not-for-profit sectors who want to connect virtually and in person, all while supporting United Way with a yearly contribution of $250 or more.<\/p>\n
Among those helping United Way in these efforts are Eric Mower + Associates senior vice president and managing director, Stephanie Crockett, who serves on United Way\u2019s board of directors as co-chair of resource development; Wegmans Food Markets director of community relations, Evelyn Carter, who also serves on United Way\u2019s board of directors; and Laci\u2019s Tapas Bar co-owner and Women United collaborator, Laura Serway.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a way to invite people to invest $250 a year or more into United Way\u2019s work addressing poverty,\u201d Nancy explained. \u201cWe\u2019re working together with others in the community. The private sector, the public sector \u2014 we\u2019re all coming together to say, \u2018We can only build this puzzle if we\u2019re building it on the same table.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Serway-Eaton-Carter-Crockett-January-Cover-2018-0008-1.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
The work of United Way<\/h4>\n
The mission of United Way is simple: \u201cto improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organization currently does that by providing funding for 88 programs offered by 33 partner agencies. Money from donors supports various organizations across the region fighting Syracuse\u2019s poverty epidemic. According to the Census Bureau, the city\u2019s 2016 poverty rate was the 13th worst in the country, up from 29th a year prior.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot the right direction, clearly,\u201d Nancy said. \u201cMuch of the work United Way is doing in the community is to think about, \u2018How do we help people rise out of poverty?\u2019 And most of the people living in poverty in our community are women, and most of the women have children.\u201d<\/p>\n
United Way is the fiscal agent for and supports collaborative initiatives like Work Train, Early Childhood Alliance, Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County, Greater Syracuse H.O.P.E. and 2-1-1, all of which help to give women a pathway out of poverty, Nancy explained. When you change the life of a mother, you change the lives of her family, she added.<\/p>\n
In terms of partner agencies and programs supported by United Way, the organization vets each of them. They do \u201cthe homework,\u201d Stephanie explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have time to research all these organizations,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to know that I can trust a source like United Way, that they are addressing the real specific needs in our community. I have confidence that the money I\u2019m giving is going to the most critical areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/How-UW-helps.jpg?resize=267%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
Uniting women<\/h4>\n
This will not be the first Women United program in the country, but could be the archetype going forward, due to the business resource directory component.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be the new model for all Women United chapters across the country,\u201d Laura said, explaining that the collaboration between female-led for-profit and not-for-profit organizations that support women is meant to explore opportunities for collective impact.<\/p>\n
The goal of United Way of CNY\u2019s Women United is two-fold: to support United Way, and to develop an online directory of women in the area, so registered members might connect with each other virtually, as well as in person at quarterly educational networking opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe goal was to identify a mechanism to be a resource to women,\u201d Evelyn explained. \u201cWe wanted to ensure our scope included professional women, entrepreneurs, women that work in all sectors [and] women of all ages.\u201d<\/p>\n
The idea for Women United began with a discussion about women coming together through United Way to make a difference in the area. The group was searching for the \u201cwhy\u201d \u2014 what would drive women from different industries and sectors of the community to get involved with this particular Women United?<\/p>\n
Around the country, many Women United groups tend to focus on certain \u201cwomen\u2019s issues,\u201d Stephanie said. The team behind United Way of CNY\u2019s Women United aim to take a more broad approach. Stephanie explained that women\u2019s issues are everybody\u2019s issues, and the group wanted to focus on those fundamental issues.<\/p>\n
Evelyn explained it simply.<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen play a key and critical role in society,\u201d she said. \u201cWe always have and we always will.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the brainstorming process for Women United, Laura brought up the fact that the Central New York area is home to many women\u2019s networks and organizations \u2014 Women Business Opportunities Connections, WISE Women\u2019s Business Center, Women TIES and Women Presidents\u2019 Organization, just to name a few.<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen, we work better in numbers,\u201d Laura said. \u201cAnd if we can collaborate on this underneath the guidance and the umbrella of the United Way portfolio, we\u2019re golden.\u201d<\/p>\n
The goal of Women United is to bring together women from across these groups and others, just as United Way does with various not-for-profits in the area already. This is just another example of that, Stephanie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many amazing organizations that are providing services for women, and we don\u2019t want to do anything that\u2019s going to cannibalize their efforts,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s, \u2018How can we come together, bring this together and all sort of rise together?\u2019 It\u2019s very exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Serway-Eaton-Carter-Crockett-January-Cover-2018-0012.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
Growing connections<\/h4>\n
As Evelyn stated, one of the main goals for Women United is to offer accessibility to women across the board.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really important to us that we were looking at an opportunity that wasn\u2019t going to be super cost-prohibitive for\u00a0people,\u201d Stephanie said. \u201c$4.80 a week. We selected that for a reason. We really want Women United to be representative of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
With their investment, members are added to the online directory, as well as to the guest list for quarterly educational networking programs.<\/p>\n
The directory \u2014 a \u201cclearing house for women in business,\u201d Nancy described \u2014 is aimed to connect women across sectors and fields with others they might not cross paths with.<\/p>\n
When she\u2019s searching for a new person to do business with, Laura typically seeks out a woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut does every female think that way? Probably not,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd as most things in life, my guess is at least 80 percent of the female entrepreneurs will want to do business with another woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the option of a catch-all directory, more women will think about doing business with another woman, she said.<\/p>\n
Along with virtual connections, the group is planning quarterly meetings for members, featuring networking opportunities and educational programming. The events\u2019 locations will vary from meeting to meeting, Nancy said. They\u2019re still in planning stages, but hope to offer topics ranging from financial and legal planning to health to marketing, she said.<\/p>\n
Nancy added that at each educational session, members will have the opportunity to connect with women helped by United Way.<\/p>\n
\u201cA single mom on public assistance [who] starts working at Loretto as an aid, studies to become an LPN with [United Way] support, gets the LPN and is now studying to be an RN,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s a pathway to a future, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Members will also be able to \u201chave direct access to some of the most influential women in this area,\u201d Evelyn said, adding that that opportunity is priceless. In striving to include the millennial generation in Women United, and give them the opportunity to connect with established, successful women in the area, organically-grown mentorship is inherent in the structure of Women United, the group agreed. The mission is congruent with that generation\u2019s values of living lives of purpose, Stephanie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they\u2019re taking jobs, when they\u2019re buying products, when they\u2019re doing what they\u2019re doing, they\u2019re thinking about the aspect of impact that that company has,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
Along with the organic mentor relationships Women United could foster, the group is considering asking women when they sign up if they would be willing to be a resource and mentor to others just beginning their careers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe things [members of the millennial generation] will have access to and be able to learn at such an early stage in their careers will provide great benefits for their future success,\u201d Evelyn said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Become-a-member.jpg?resize=640%2C278&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
The future<\/h4>\n
While the team is still putting the finishing touches on the plan for Women United, they do have the framework for the directory and first year of programming set.<\/p>\n
In terms of membership dues, women have the option of either a one-time $250 investment or a monthly recurring gift to United Way.<\/p>\n
The first meeting is set for Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Eric Mower + Associates, 211 W. Jefferson St., Syracuse. The slated topic is The Role of Women in Philanthropy and the Economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t see any reason why a woman wouldn\u2019t want to join,\u201d Evelyn said. \u201cTo be part of a network of accomplished and high potential women. Join. Today.\u201d SWM<\/em><\/p>\n United Women for a United Way By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson \u201cDoes $250 by itself make a difference?\u201d queried Nancy Eaton, president of United Way of Central New York. \u201cWell, not as much as if it\u2019s invested with 100 other people, right? Then, all of the sudden, you actually have some…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[146,502,488,482,184,133,500,501,327,498,499,503],"class_list":["post-1448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-alice-g-patterson","tag-evelyn-carter","tag-health-wellness","tag-january-2018","tag-laura-serway","tag-lorna-oppedisano","tag-nancy-eaton","tag-stephanie-crockett","tag-syracuse","tag-united-way","tag-united-way-of-central-new-york","tag-women-united"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Serway-Eaton-Carter-Crockett-January-Cover-2018-0004.jpg?fit=5200%2C3470&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2053,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2053","url_meta":{"origin":1448,"position":0},"title":"Sora Iriye","author":"Staff","date":"September 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Creating Connection through Art By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson \u201cLife has just always taken me on this great, crazy ride,\u201d said Sora Iriye, cofounder and head diva at CirqOvation, a locally-based performance company that combines physical theater, vaudeville, street performance and traditional circus. Born and raised\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Sora-Sol-0002.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Sora-Sol-0002.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Sora-Sol-0002.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Sora-Sol-0002.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Sora-Sol-0002.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1537,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1537","url_meta":{"origin":1448,"position":1},"title":"Nancy Aureli","author":"Staff","date":"February 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Creating Community Resources\u00a0 By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson \u201cI need a change,\u201d Nancy Aureli thought, as she sat at a training by FranklinCovey, the company behind The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Earlier in the day, Nancy \u2014 a geologist who worked 50- to 60-hour\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":317,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=317","url_meta":{"origin":1448,"position":2},"title":"White Scarf Women","author":"Staff","date":"January 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"United in White By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson It\u2019s corny, but it\u2019s true, Kelly Grace Smith warned before she began to tell the story. It starts years ago, in the seventh grade at Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School. Auditions to seek out the Susan B. Anthony speech presenter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Causes"","block_context":{"text":"Causes","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=104"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Kelly-Grace-Smith-White-Scarf-Project-For-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0006b.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Kelly-Grace-Smith-White-Scarf-Project-For-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0006b.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Kelly-Grace-Smith-White-Scarf-Project-For-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0006b.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Kelly-Grace-Smith-White-Scarf-Project-For-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0006b.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Kelly-Grace-Smith-White-Scarf-Project-For-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0006b.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1288,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1288","url_meta":{"origin":1448,"position":3},"title":"Annie Taylor","author":"Staff","date":"December 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Designing Your Passion By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson When Annie Taylor planned her wedding, Pinterest-inspired, do-it-yourself festivities were not the norm. But Annie wanted her own creative, unique wedding invitations. So, returning home every evening from her job at Stonewall Kitchen\u2019s in-house design department, she\u2019d set\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Annie-Taylor-0009.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Annie-Taylor-0009.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Annie-Taylor-0009.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Annie-Taylor-0009.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Annie-Taylor-0009.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2078,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2078","url_meta":{"origin":1448,"position":4},"title":"Susie Ippolito","author":"Staff","date":"September 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Building a Brand in Syracuse By Lacey Roy | Photography by Alice G. Patterson Wearing a classic sundress and trendy frames, Susie Ippolito is magnetic even from a distance. Laughter and gratitude are sprinkled through conversations. With a Long Island accent you can\u2019t help smile at and an understated-yet-fashionable style,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Susie-Ippolito-0017.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Susie-Ippolito-0017.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Susie-Ippolito-0017.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Susie-Ippolito-0017.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Susie-Ippolito-0017.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1832,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1832","url_meta":{"origin":1448,"position":5},"title":"Tamela Fabiano","author":"Staff","date":"May 31, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Creating Your Own Path By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson\u00a0 When Tamela Fabiano entered the workforce as a teacher at age 23, she never imagined her career would eventually lead her to the world of finance years later. Despite the differences between the sectors she\u2019s worked in,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Tamela-Fabiano-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Tamela-Fabiano-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Tamela-Fabiano-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Tamela-Fabiano-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Tamela-Fabiano-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1448"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1514,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1448\/revisions\/1514"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Upcoming-program.jpg?resize=640%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"