Be Bold.
Women United is a powerful, passionate network of women who play a critical role in helping families achieve success and self-sufficiency. We work through programs and community partners, striving to support basic needs, school readiness, student success and financial stability.
Be Inspired.
From leadership development to networking and collaborating with other local organizations, Women United is dedicated to developing the most impactful and relevant enrichment opportunities for our members to grow personally and professionally.
Be Engaged.
Women in diverse industries from across our region gather in unique settings and venues to help build meaningful relationships that go beyond business and philanthropy.
Be Connected.
Becoming a member means you also join United Way’s Leadership Circle. You will have the unique opportunity to connect with other business and community leaders through special events and networking opportunities.
Membership Benefits
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Networking
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Recognition
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Social Events
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Volunteer Opportunities
For more information about Women United, please email Angela.Crow@uwbg.org.
Join the Women United Council for a special presentation about issues facing our children, families and the community, where we will address the topic of instability in home life and its impact on learning with a focus on homelessness and foster care.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Fayette County Board of Education – John D. Price Administration Building
450 Park Place, Lexington, KY
If you’re not able to attend but would like to donate to Arbor Youth Services or the Foster Care Council, you can visit our registration page (link below) to make an online gift.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/ PANELIST:
Stephanie Spires
Owner, Spires Strategies & Founder, Women
Entrepreneur Lex
A social entrepreneur and child advocate, Stephanie Spires is the mother of five and owner of Spires Strategies, which provides planning, project management, and operational support to nonprofits and small businesses. Spires also founded Women Entrepreneur Lex, which supports women business owners in Central Kentucky. Stephanie served on the Fayette County Board of Education, including serving as chair, through COVID and the unexpected death of the district’s superintendent. She has also directed Arbor Youth Services, the area’s only emergency children’s shelter, and has fostered more than three dozen children. A leader in the Adoption Support Kentucky program at the University of Kentucky, she has testified before the Kentucky General Assembly and developed training for school board members. She also has served on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and the Explorium board of directors.
HEAR PERSONAL STORIES FROM:
Voices of the Commonwealth
· Tamara Vest · Keisha Lyon · Dante Lynox
ADDITIONAL PANELISTS:
Judge Libby Messer
Fayette Circuit Court Judge, Family Division & Drug Court
Judge Libby Messer, a graduate of the University of Kentucky and the UK College of Law, has been a Fayette Circuit Court Judge in the Family Division since 2018, also serving as a drug court judge. Prior to her appointment and election to the bench, Judge Messer worked as an assistant Fayette County Attorney for nearly a decade, where she was the lead prosecutor in the Juvenile and Family Court Division. In this position, she was responsible for the prosecution of child abuse and neglect, status and juvenile criminal cases. She has served on several boards and multi-disciplinary teams such as CASA, the Children’s Advocacy Center and Model Family Court, as well as training community partners in the recognition, reporting and prosecution of child abuse and neglect and criminal cases.
The founder and executive director of the Foster Care Council (FCC), Cassie Slone served on a similar board in Naples, Fla., for six years. When she returned to Lexington in 2010, she learned from the state Cabinet of Health and Family Services that the state did not provide adequate funding for foster-care families. In 2012 she received the 501c3 non-profit status and started FCC, helping struggling foster families pay for additional educational assistance, including money for extracurricular activities and clothing. Cassie graduated in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky. She and her husband John have been married 23 years and have two daughters Kennedy, 22, and Tori, 19.
Cassie Slone
Executive Director,
Foster Care Council
T.C. Johnson
Program Manager,FCPS McKinney-Vento Office of Student Support
Terona Cobble-Johnson, better known as T.C., was the first member of her family to graduate from high school, going on to earn an associate’s in business management from Bluegrass Community & Technical College and a bachelor’s in family studies from the University of Kentucky. She has worked for Kentucky Special Olympics and Tates Creek Middle School, where she implemented a program to empower at-risk female adolescents. A 22-year veteran as the Youth Services Center coordinator at Winburn Middle School, she recently became program manager for the McKinney-Vento Office of FCPS Student Support. Here, she serves homeless children and youth, in collaboration with community partners. She has created a pet foster care program for families with pets while in transition, and transitional readiness program for unsheltered high school youth.
MODERATOR:
Kristi Middleton
INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS:
· Team KY | Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Andrew Holt
· Fayette County Public Schools
· 211 | WayPoint Center
· Voices of the Commonwealth
· Foster Care Council
· Arbor Youth Services
Requested Donation Items | 2023 Women United Summit
We will be collecting donations at the event to help local kids and families. Please bring what you can!
Arbor Youth Services
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Toilet paper
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Paper towels
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Laundry detergent
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Non-perishable meal and snack items (Ramen noodles, Chef Boyardee, peanut butter crackers, granola bars, etc).
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Adult size socks for teens
Foster Care Council
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Hygiene products
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Boy and girl deodorant
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Toothpaste
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Toothbrushes
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Shampoo
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Conditioner
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Hairbrushes
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Body wash
Council Members
Caryl M. Pfeiffer: Chair, Women United Council LG&E and KU Energy (retired)
Ligia Bejat: Immediate Past Chair, Women United Council; Lexmark
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Mary-Alicha Weldon: Fifth Third Bank of Kentucky, Inc.
Miranda Scully: Fayette County Public Schools
Angela Crow: United Way of the Bluegrass
Julie George: Eastern Kentucky University
Tiffany Daniels: Chiropractic Care of Lexington
Linda Yates: Eastern Kentucky University
Monica Bounds: Fifth Third Bank (retired)
Michelle Buerger: City National
Molly Caldwell: United Way of the Bluegrass
During the 2020-2021 campaign season,
Women United made a huge impact!
600 PAIRS
New Balance shoes provided to elementary and middle school students, including students from the McKinney Vento Homeless Student program
$500
For uniforms at Promise Academy at William Wells Brown and Harrison Elementary
$16,157
Provided to UWBG's WayPoint Center initiative
$3,000
Donated to the
Sweet Dreams program
$2,500
Provided for
Day of Caring kits
$500
For Rise STEM Academy for Girls uniforms
300 FLASH DRIVES
Donated to students in Fayette County Public Schools
4 SCHOOLS
Supported through the
Sweet Dreams program
