As it celebrates its 25th anniversary this November, the Women’s Fund of Long Island fondly looks back on its past events and accomplishments, and continues to move toward its vision of a bright future for women across Long Island.
For the past 25 years, the Women’s Fund of Long Island (WFLI), located in Jericho, has sought “a Long Island where all women and girls reach their full potential” through grantmaking, young women’s leadership programming and education/awareness activities.
One extensive program that the WFLI has held is GirlsFLI, a young women’s leadership initiative founded in 2014 that, according to WFLI office manager Stella Miller, “connects and empowers young women across a diverse economic, ethnic, religious, racial and geographic spectrum to increase participation, advocacy and philanthropy in their communities.”
After receiving technical assistance, connections, tools and resources from the WFLI, participants of GirlsFLI reach out to community leaders through guest speaking, site visits, and volunteer opportunities and define methods for combating social issues in their communities. From there, the participants are required to work together to elicit positive change by developing their own leadership, service or social enterprise projects. By these methods, GirlsFLI has battled the issues of bullying, body image and gang violence.
On June 16, 2015, GirlsFLI held a We Are The Change event in Sebonack Golf Club to fundraise and honor the accomplishments of actress Patricia Arquette in her efforts to raise awareness for pay equality. Over the past two years, through We Are The Change and other activities, GirlsFLI has assisted 150 girls in turning their dreams for positive change into reality.
Another program that WFLI presents as a proud milestone in its 25-year history is the annual Woman Achievers Award Breakfast, where the WFLI honors remarkable Long Island women and Young Woman Achievers who have positively impacted their local communities and beyond.
The 2015 honorees include Dorothy Forte, co-chair of the Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer Outreach program; Bernice Sims, author, civil rights activist, social worker and artist; Isma Habib Chaudhry, MD, president of the Islamic Center of Long Island; Abby Roden from East Hampton High School; and Rachel Gladstone from Smithtown High School West.
Even as the WFLI remembers its accomplishments and programs on its 25th anniversary, it also continues to build a bright future for Long Island women through its future programs and additions to its staff.
On Aug. 1, the WFLI welcomes their new executive director, Claire Stapleton. After working at Smile Farms, a nonprofit organization seeking agricultural jobs for disabled adults, Stapleton has shifted her community service focus towards gender equality.
As a fellow Long Island resident, Stapleton hopes to use her new leadership position to further the WFLI’s goal of helping Long Island women reach their full potential.
“As a woman born and raised on Long Island, I have had the great fortune to follow in the footsteps of strong, female mentors who have paved the way for my success, my attitude and overall well-being,” said Stapleton. “To join the Women’s Fund of Long Island family as executive director is not only a new journey in my professional career, but an honor, because I get the opportunity to apply my passion of empowering and transforming the lives of women and young girls each and every day. I am eager to be a part of the change that we all wish to see in our community through the Women’s Fund of Long Island…and I hope others will be too.”
Another upcoming venture for the Woman’s Fund of Long Island is the Stand Up Guys initiative, defined by WFLI board member and proud Long Island resident Valerie McCarthy as “an opportunity to acknowledge and thank a group of men who have made a difference in the lives of women and girls in Long Island.”
The WFLI asks women all over Long Island to nominate men—fathers, husbands, brothers, co-workers, teachers, coaches, clergy, etc.—who have been particularly supportive of women and girls. Nominations are due July 30 and the 25 men selected will be honored at an event after Labor Day and will be invited to the 25th anniversary ceremony. The WFLI’s 25th anniversary celebration will be held at Carlyle on the Green at Bethpage State Park on Nov. 30. With the date quickly approaching, many of the diligent, enterprising women at the WFLI fondly look back at their past successes and ongoing initiatives.
However, just as the battle for equality is never truly complete, the WFLI also continues to fight for women’s rights.
Through their staff additions and future initiatives, even 25 years after their formation, the WFLI demonstrates the fighting spirit of women in Long Island and thereby the spirit of women everywhere.
