AUSTIN, Texas – Keyholder’18, the fundraising event for the Women’s Fund at Austin Community Foundation, held on Dec. 4 raised nearly $300,000, a record-breaking amount for the Women’s Fund, which supports the economic security of women and children in Central Texas.
More than 400 women and men attended the sold out event, which included a networking cocktail party and an inspiring keynote address by Suzanne Malveaux, CNN National Correspondent and an award-winning journalist.
Malveaux spoke about finding her voice in her career as a female journalist, and in her personal life as a caretaker for her mother, who passed away this year from a long battle with ALS. She shared her mother’s last words, “Be strong” to the audience as she spoke about the challenges women face today and how finding our voice can lead to change in our life and in our communities. Those words resonated with many guests and inspired them to support the Women’s Fund.
After Malveaux’s keynote address, leaders of the Women’s Fund announced the Innovation Grant, a new grant opportunity that will be awarded in 2019 to a nonprofit organization that is taking a creative and innovative approach to addressing one or more impact areas of the Women’s Fund. The impact areas include housing, child care, education and unplanned pregnancy prevention.
“Investing in women is a smart investment in our region, and we can do more for our community when we do it together,” said Beth Goff-McMillian, Women’s Fund investor and chair of Keyholder’18. “By pooling our resources, we can truly move the needle on improving women’s economic stability and ultimately make Austin a better city for everyone who lives here.”
Special thanks to presenting sponsor Google.org; underwriters David and Ellen Berman, Anita and Scot Salmon, Jessica and Greg Weaver; leader sponsors Sheila Armitage, Bobbie Barker, Corinne Smith and Clark Hill Strasburger, Carrie Frugé, Janet Harman, Diane T. Land and Mayor Steve Adler, Jane Louis, the MFI Foundation, Anna Near, Edie Rogat, SKG, and Kerry Tate; and media sponsors The Honor Roll and Austin Woman Magazine.
Learn more about the Women’s Fund.