Michigan Women Forward (MWF), a statewide organization committed to helping women advance opportunities for equality and break down barriers, will honor their Kalamazoo 2020 Women of Achievement and Courage award recipients during their WomanUp & Celebrate virtual event on September 30th. The virtual event hosted in partnership with the Kalamazoo (MI) Chapter of The Links, Inc., will help support MWF’s female-driven programming, entrepreneur Resilience Fund, and female-focused mission to continue advocating for women and girls within the state of Michigan.
This year’s event will highlight three powerful and inspiring women within the Greater Kalamazoo community, Kathy Beauregard, the Athletic Director of Western Michigan University, Denise Crawford, President, and CEO of Family Health Center, Inc., and Judy Jolliffe, Philanthropist, and Community Advocate. Each honoree will be awarded MWF’s Women of Achievement and Courage award during the virtual luncheon. This year’s event is co-chaired by Lynn Chen-Zhang, COO, and Chief Compliance Officer at Zhang Financial and Honorable Carolyn Williams, Retired Judge, and Community Leader.
“MWF programs have an unmatched impact in our community,” said Honorable Carolyn Williams. Young women receive significant benefits from the opportunity to receive financial support and mentoring through relationships developed by the collaboration between the Kalamazoo (MI) Chapter of The Links, Inc. and Michigan Women Forward.”
MWF has partnered with the Kalamazoo (MI) Chapter of The Links, Inc. for the past five years to provide and host a variety of workshops, leadership programs, and scholarship opportunities for high school students in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. Support during the event continues to fund this partnership, and programs such as the #UGO Girls for Change program in Kalamazoo, which provides young girls with connections, leadership opportunities, and the tools they need to see themselves as leaders and advocates for change within their community.
“I am honored to be a part of this year’s event and to continue driving awareness for these wonderful organizations,” said, Lynn Chen-Zhang. “It is through these notable women in the Kalamazoo community that we have been able to move forward and provide outstanding development opportunities for women and girls.”
MWF has supported hundreds of women through its entrepreneurship initiative, #WomanUp, which frequently provides mentorship opportunities, microloans, and investments. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, MWF, with the support of MEDC, NEI, SBA, Consumers Energy Foundation, and many corporate and individual sponsors, launched the Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund, a $1.5 million fund to help businesses who were unable to receive traditional funding restart and adapt to a new normal.
“We know the importance of our work and the impact it has on Michigan’s women and girls,” said Judy Welch, West Michigan Executive Director. “Whether it be financial backing, or fighting for equity and justice, we as an organization will continue to make strides for change and advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Even amidst a pandemic, we have pivoted, fought, and met the need for the women of our state by launching the Resilience Fund, which has served 191 business owners within our state who were impacted by COVID-19.”
Those interested in attending the virtual event are encouraged to join the Facebook Livestreamed event on September 30th from 12:30-1:30 pm. For more information or to donate to Michigan Women Forward, please visit https://miwf.org/.
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About Michigan Women Forward
Michigan Woman Forward (MWF), formerly Michigan Women’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, has been devoted to achieving social and economic equality for the state’s women and girls for more than 30 years. MWF is supported by many of the state’s top female executives, corporations, and foundations through its annual WomanUp & Celebrate Events and Power of 100 Women donor group. For more information, visit www.miwf.org.
About the Kalamazoo Chapter of The Links Inc.
The Kalamazoo (MI) Chapter of The Links Incorporated is committed to serving the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek communities by providing college scholarships and transformational programs to benefit the growth and development of young women and area youth. While this year marks the third benefit dinner, MWF partners with Links chapters, including Kalamazoo, which serves as the presenter of MWF’s local #UGOGirls for Change chapter.
