GRAND RAPIDS – Michigan Women’s Foundation is strengthening its statewide reach through the appointment of Judith Welch as the Executive Director of West Michigan, in its Grand Rapid?s office, effective January 2, 2014.
?The board and I are delighted to welcome Judith Welch to our executive team, said Foundation President and CEO Carolyn Cassin. ?Her experience, contacts and skills will reinforce our network on the west side of the state. Her accomplishments as both a female entrepreneur and a women?s professional association executive will make a substantive contribution to further advancing the social, economic and professional well-being of Michigan women.?
Judith will join Deborah Phillips, recently retired Priority Health Executive, in leading MWF?s programmatic efforts and collaborations outside the Southeast Michigan area. Judith and Deborah will initiate Camp Moxie, University of Life, Power of 100 Women events and MWF?s Collaborative partnership with GROW (Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women) as well as the MWF Young Women for Change program.
Dr. Jackie Taylor, Chair of MWF?s Board of Trustees, enthusiastically endorsed the appointment of Judith Welch. ?Grand Rapids women have come to regard Judith as a leader and an advocate for all women and girls. MWF is pleased to welcome Judith to our leadership team.?
Inspired by Mary Jo Pulte, MWF was founded in 1987 by thirty dynamic women to address serious inequities in charitable support of women?s programs. At that time, women were underrepresented in philanthropy (only 3 percent of charitable giving specifically supported women and girls in the U.S.), had limited access to capital and the resources to start or grow a business.
Since then, MWF, through the generosity of more than 11,000 individuals, families, corporations and foundations, has made over $3.5 million in grants to more than 500 organizations working to advance equality and remove barriers.
In response to social and economic realities, today Michigan Women?s Foundation uses its resources of money and time to support efforts that impact demonstrable change in the lives of the state?s female citizenry. MWF?s Angel Microloan Fund provides capital and services to women entrepreneurs to help them grow or start businesses. The Foundation also advances the next generation of young women leaders through collaborations on highly acclaimed programs like Young Women for Change, Camp Moxie, University of Life and scholarship program.
Welch was the past Vice President of Inforum and Inforum Center for Leadership, Manager of Educational Services for National Heritage Academies and the president of the Uptown Cleaners chain. She was the first woman president of Western Michigan?s Better Business Bureau board of directors, recently recognized as one of the women in the 2013 Tribute Awards Women of Achievement Gallery, a past nominee of the prestigious Athena Award and a past member of the Grand Rapids Art Museum Arts Alive board of directors. She has managed to balance career, community service and family, as a dedicated wife and mother.
Michigan Women?s Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization that is supported financially and programmatically by some of the state?s top female executives and community volunteers through events like its annual Women of Achievement and Courage dinner (SE MI) and luncheon (Grand Rapids), and its Power of 100 Women donor group.
