The newly-formed WLC held its first public event on Friday evening at California State University, San Bernardino to promote support for the community and to introduce its 19 founding members to 50 local business and philanthropic representatives.   The event was sponsored by Arrowhead United Way, Costco, Edna Davis Herring, Gresham Savage Nolen & Tilden, PC, John Alan Winery/John and Kimiko Ford and the Office of the President California State University, San Bernardino.

“Women’s Leadership Councils are a new and powerful voice in philanthropy being heard across the country with more than 40,000 members,” announced Diane Eazell, immediate past chair of the Arrowhead United Way Board of Directors and a WLC founding member.   “Women control more than half of the private wealth in the U.S. and bring tremendous power to philanthropy.”

“Locally, the WLC is dedicated to helping young women help themselves succeed in life and to being better prepared for unexpected circumstances as part of life,” Eazell said.

“Our vision is to improve the lives of young women in San Bernardino County by identifying and supporting quality solutions with measurable results in areas such as education, financial stability and healthy lifestyles,” Eazell said.   “We plan to achieve this vision through activities that tap into the power of women’s philanthropy and community engagement including fundraising through members and special events, grant-making, forming partnerships with existing non-profit organizations and through volunteerism.”

Details are being finalized for the WLC to launch its first initiative this spring in the focus area of financial stability.  “Through a grant provided by Macy’s, the WLC will give a group of young women in the community the opportunity to successfully prepare for and execute a job search,” Eazell said.   Volunteer groups are currently researching and developing projects in the remaining focus areas of education and healthy lifestyles.

The local WLC founding members are:   Debbie Barrera, San Bernardino School Employees Federal Credit Union; Edna E. Davis-Herring, EDucational Network and Associates; Brenda Dowdy, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools; Diane Eazell, Arrowhead Credit Union; Dr. Carolyn Eggleston, California State University, San Bernardino; M. Kimiko Ford, Community Hospital of San Bernardino; Arlene Garcia,Inland Empire Job Corps; Angela Gordon-Nichols, County of San Bernardino; Jayne Hansen, Public Relations Consultant;  Renee Hunt-Moore, Arrowhead Credit Union; Vicki Lee, San Bernardino City Unified School District; Monique Mackey-Jackson, Arrowhead United Way;  Elsa Montes, Arrowhead Credit Union; Pam Mundt, Ruby Tuesday; Grace Muraligopal, Neonatology Medical Group; Cathy Paredes, Merrill Lynch; Joette Spencer-Campbell, San Bernardino City Unified School District; Carolyn Tillman, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools; and Dr. Nena Torrez, California State University, San Bernardino.

Communities served by the WLC in central San Bernardino County include:  Big Bear, Big Bear Lake, Bloomington, Blue Jay, Cedar Glen, Cedarpines Park, Colton, Crestline, Crest Park,  Devore, Fawnskin, Grand Terrace,  Green Valley Lake, Highland, Lake Arrowhead, Loma Linda, Muscoy, Patton, Rialto, Rimforest , Running Springs, San Bernardino, Skyforest , Sugarloaf and Twin Peaks.

"Now that a strategic plan is in place and the ground work completed, the WLC is ready to expand its membership and form partnerships with like-minded foundations and businesses", Eazell said.  For more information, call Knea Hawley, Director of Resource Development for Arrowhead United Way, at 909-884-9441, ext. 224.