While Main Street Community Foundation’s Women & Girls Fund supports the needs of local women and girls, it cannot be ignored that we are living in a global society. The stories coming out of Ukraine are touching the hearts of everyone, and the Women & Girls Fund wanted to spring into action.

At the Fund’s Wonder of Women (WOW) event on May 3rd, a little purse was put on each table and attendees were encouraged to Pass the Purse around their table and donate what they could to help the women and children of Ukraine. Over $5,100 was donated!

“Attendees opened their hearts and their wallets, and we are absolutely overwhelmed by the response to the Pass the Purse initiative,” stated Carolyn Ziogas, Co-Chair of the WOW event. “Our community shows us time and time again how generous they are, and we are so grateful.”

All money raised will be donated to the Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, an organization based in New Britain. They have volunteers in Poland that are working in support of women and children who have fled Ukraine and are settling in Poland.

The Women & Girls Fund was established in 2001 as a community-based endowment of the Main Street Community Foundation. The WOW event is an annual event whose proceeds support grants for programs that make it possible for women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott to improve the conditions and opportunities in their lives. Over the past 21 years, the Women & Girls Fund has awarded over $668,000 in grants and immediate response funds.