Women United

Women United

A growing, global force of 75,000+ women in 165 countries

Women United members are United Way leadership donors who want to do more.

They work actively to further childhood literacy through grantmaking and volunteering.

Since 2011, these powerful women have donated more than $5.3 million to United Way of Rhode Island to support our community. The group made grants of more than $1 million to support childhood literacy. And they also have fun together at members-only events throughout the year.

Women United Members

Members as of January 2023

Marisa Albanese

Elaine Alderdice

Peri Ann Aptaker

Maria Barry

Carol Barton

Dorothea Becker

Christina Bellanti

Natalie Benkovich

Eneida Bennett

Jane Berkowitz

Susan Bodington

Carmelina Borsellino

Maureen Brady

MicheleBrannigan

Amy Brown

Elizabeth Bryant

Patricia Buchanan

RobertaButler

Marcia Cade

Erinn Calise

Emily Camparone

Mary Ann Canavan

Lisa Capalbo

KathrynCarmichael

Lori Caron Silveira

Louise Carriere

Tina Chapman

Anne Ciresi

Bonnie Clarke

Brenda Clement

Mary-Ann Connor

Sandi Connors

Janet Cooper Nelson

Rachel Cope

Lynn Corwin

Kelly Coutu

Amy Daley

Joanne Daly

Tara DeMoura

Jill DeShiro

Ann Destefanis

Colleen Dickson

Angela DiPlatzi

Kristen DiSanto

Patricia dos Santos Borges

Judy Downey

Susan Duffy

Jenifer Dwyer

Heather Easterbrooks

Lucia Ann Edwards

Sandra Elias

Melissa Emidy

JenniferFaria

Margaret Farrell

Crystal Ferrigan

Elizabeth Flanagan

Rachel Flum

Paola Fonseca-Fernandez

Lisa Fougere

Mary Fox

Tricia Frerman

Cory Galloway

Carolina Garcia

AntoniaGarlick

Jenna Giguere

Mary Gilbane

Maryellen Goode

Elizabeth Goodermote

Lisa Goodlin

Ann Goudreau

Colleen Gouveia Moulton

Mary Grady

Pamela Griffing

Andrea Groth

Lisa Guillette

Mary Gutierrez Moody

Nancy Hagerty

Mary Halpin

Melissa Hamlin

Lise Hasegawa

Brooke Havens

Barry Hittner

Heidi Holden

Christine Hunt

Jessica Hutchison-Yeates

Patricia Ianiere

Janet Jagger

Petra Jenkins

Loree Kalliainen

Ann Kashmanian

Ronda Kelman

Dione Kenyon

Carolyn Killian

Katherine Klosowski

Maryclaire Knight

MaryKay Koreivo

Michelle Labonte

Emma Lalovic

Margaret Lamb

Sandra LeComte

MicheleLederberg

Julie Libutti

Jeanne Lieb

Jodi Lucchetti

Joann Lucia

Linda Lulli

Elizabeth Luzier

Giovanna Mace

Chantrey Marchand

Rebecca Marino

Patricia Martinez

Sabina Matos

Sandra Mazo

Cynthia Meek

Stephanie Mendes

Sandy Miniati

Debbie Mitchell

Terri Monjar

Deirdre Morrison

YolandaNazario

CortneyNicolato

Mary Noons

Rachel North

Terry Novak

Sandra Pattie

Stephanie Pelletier

Gail Petters

Paul Pimentel

Jill Pipher

Janine Pitocco

Danielle Podgayevskiy

Lisa Provost

Betsey Purinton

Lisa Reed

Carleen Regan

Barbara Reid

Helen Rosca

Kathleen Ryan

Nancy Safer

Jacqueline Savoie

Mary Semeraro

Nancy Serpa

Mary Jane Silva

Barbara Silvis

Kerry Soderberg

Stacia Soucy

Amy Stack

Richard Straughn

MicheleStreton

Joanne Tellier

Susan Tierney

Danielle Trombino

Lisa Videtto

Mary Wall

Jessica Wang

Emily Werbeloff

Debra Westgate-Silva

Lauren Whatmough

Lisa Whiting

Bonnie Willgoos

Kathryn Windsor

Women United Executive Committee

Peggy Lamb, Chair
MaryKay Koreivo, Vice Chair
Roberta Butler
Joanne Daly 
Mary Fox
Melissa Hamlin
Carolyn Killian
MaryClaire Knight
Chantrey Marchand
Sandra Mazo
Stephanie Pelletier
Helen Rosca

Women United Membership Committee

Liz Goodermote, Chair
Stephanie Pelletier, Vice Chair
Joann Daly
Lisa Guillette
Carolyn Killian
MaryKay Koreivo
Sandra Mazo

Women United Events Committee

Anne Ciresi, Chair
Heather Easterbrooks, Vice Chair
Roberta Butler
Colleen Dickson
Lisa Fougere
Mary Fox
Lisa Goodlin
Helen Rosca

Women United Community Engagement Committee

Nancy Serpa, Chair
Chantrey Marchad, Vice Chair
Jane Berkowitz
Melissa Hamlin
MaryClare Knight
Peggy Lamb
Debra Westgate-Silva
Bonnie Willgoos

Women on a mission

Women United’s mission is to engage and mobilize the power and leadership of women through education, philanthropy, advocacy, and service to ensure that every child in every Rhode Island neighborhood has equitable opportunities to learn to read. (Read more about United Way’s strategic focus on childhood literacy) 

  • Women United Executive Committee reviews applications and makes grants to Rhode Island literacy-focused nonprofits, granting $395,000 to eight organizations last year alone. 
  • Members also donate their time, volunteering 542 hours collectively last year. 

Want to support Women United’s mission? Text WUGive to 51555 or visit our Women United donation page.

United Way of Rhode Island
6H5A0298

Membership benefits

Women United members donate $1,000 or more annually to United Way’s Community Impact Fund and/or the Women United fund. 

The benefits of Women United membership include: 

  • Belonging to a community of like-minded women who share their time, talent and treasure
  • Volunteering alongside others who want to make a difference
  • Collaborating with business and community leaders
  • Helping young Rhode Islanders with literacy opportunities, including STEM
  • Participating in fun and educational members-only events 
  • Power of the Purse signature event: preferred tickets, preferred seating 
  • Opportunity to join and participate in Women United committees 
  • Women United members are “at the table” with both the United Way of Rhode Island Board and the Community Advisory Board
  • Participation in members Facebook and LinkedIn groups 

To discuss whether membership is for you, please contact Karen Alzate at karen.alzate@unitedwayri.org.

Already a Women United member?

Joining one of our social media groups – or both – is a great way to keep up to date with all our activities. You can find them on Facebook here and LinkedIn here.

Roshni Darnal is United Way of Rhode Island’s director of community investments. / Courtesy United Way of Rhode Island.

Five Questions With: Roshni Darnal

Providence Business News

Roshni Darnal is the director of community investments for United Way of Rhode Island... where she manages the organization's strategic direction to address the needs of Rhode Islanders through its grantmaking processes… Darnal spoke with Providence Business News about those grantmaking changes and what it means for the nonprofit community moving forward.

READ ON SITE

Providence Business News Best Places to Work RI Awards Winner 2023 logo.

PBN announces 2023 Best Places to Work honorees

Providence Business News

Sixty-seven honorees, including United Way of Rhode Island, have been named by Providence Business News for its 2023 Best Places to Work Awards program... The honorees will be recognized June 7 for their efforts in a ceremony at Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick in Warwick, where the company rankings in each category will be announced.

READ ON SITE

ANTHONY BOTELHO serves as senior vice president of commercial banking and team leader for the commercial and industrial group at The Washington Trust Co. / COURTESY THE WASHINGTON TRUST CO.

Five Qs With: Anthony Botelho

Providence Business News

Anthony Botelho serves as senior vice president of commercial banking and team leader for the commercial and industrial group at The Washington Trust Co. He was recently appointed to lead the bank’s commercial lending growth in Connecticut, where the company recently opened a New Haven commercial lending office. Anthony also serves on United Way of Rhode Island's Board of Directors.

READ ON SITE

Sandra Mazo Appointed to Women United Global Council

The Washington Trust Company… today announced that Sandra Mazo, mortgage loan officer (NMLS # 269909), has been appointed to the Executive Committee for the Women United Global Leadership Council of United Way Worldwide. Women United® represents 55,000 members working with United Way in more than 200 communities across the globe. Sandra was nominated by United Way of Rhode Island.

Nancy Wolanski Hired as Director of Nonprofit Resource Center

United Way of Rhode Island has hired Nancy Wolanski as the inaugural director of the state’s new Nonprofit Resource Center. She assumed the role on Monday, July 31. Most recently, Nancy was executive director of the Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island.

Power The Future Career Exploration Event Open to R.I. Students

Planned to be the state’s premier youth and family career exploration and workforce development event, United Way of Rhode Island will host its first annual Power The Future on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The empowering day is open to all local students and their families, at no cost.

UPCOMING EVENTS

97th Annual Celebration

You’re invited to join us as we celebrate another momentous year of making history, sharing stories, and honoring those who are making big moves in our small state.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Farm Fresh Rhode Island, 10 Sims Ave., Providence

This event is free and open to all. Registration is required.
For more information or assistance, email events@unitedwayri.org.

 

REGISTER