Middlesex United Way: Women’s Initiative to host Power of Vote benefit

MIDDLETOWN — The Middlesex United Way Women’s Initiative celebrates the power of women to bring about positive change in our community through philanthropy and service, and I am so proud of all of their accomplishments this past year.

The vision of the Middlesex United Way Women’s Initiative is to provide opportunities for women of all ages and backgrounds to invest their time, talents and treasures to increase women’s awareness of Middlesex United Way, promote and increase philanthropic giving to United Way, increase participation of women in volunteering, raise awareness of the resources that women bring to the community, and encourage and recognize women’s accomplishments.

The Women’s Initiative accepts grant requests throughout the year to fund programs geared toward women and children throughout Middlesex County. Most grants range from $200 to $1,000.

Some examples of programs the Women’s Initiative were able to fund in 2019 are: the Before and After School Recreation Enrichment Program of Durham & Middlefield, Children’s Law Center of CT, Hinka’s Food Pantry, Middletown Schools Discovery Grant, Girl Scouts of CT Campership Program, Middlesex YMCA, My Time Camp Ingersoll Youth Scholarships, John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency, Epoch Arts, Middletown Public Schools, 21st Century Summer Swim Program, Reach Out and Read, Middlesex Hospital Community Garden Club Partnership, East Hampton Parks and Recreation, Youth & Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth, Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project, STEAM Train, and the Young Leaders Society of Middlesex United Way Stuff a Cruiser Toy Drive.

Since 2008, 98 grants totaling $80,690 have been awarded, and over 10,000 women and children have been served in the Middlesex County area.

The funding for these grants is raised primarily from the Women’s Initiative annual Power of the Purse event held each June. In 2019, the event raised over $12,000, and honored women from Middlesex County who have had a positive impact in our community.

This year, the Women’s Initiative will host Power of the Vote as its annual fundraiser. The event will center around celebrating 100 years of the women’s suffrage movement.

The Women’s Initiative stands for female empowerment and women having the ability to give support to other women and children. The event will future a disc jockey, dinner, drinks and entertainment. It is open to men and women, and will be hosted at St. Clements Castle and Marina Nov 7.