Metrowest Women's Fund Community Ambassadors
Metrowest Women’s Fund (MWF) Community Ambassadors are grassroots volunteers who spread the word in their community about the Fund and the needs of women and girls. Consider joining our team as a MWF Community Ambassador in your town! Contact us with about your questions and interests.
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Mara Bolis
MWF Community Ambassador - Needham
"I am so proud to be an Ambassador for this grassroots effort to combat violence and increase opportunities for the women and girls of Metrowest. Despite the unique needs of women and girls, only 1.6% of all philanthropic funding goes to support women and girls. It’s time for new interventions that provide women and girls with a seat at the table. Our societies will be safer and our economies more competitive. Every institution, every sector and every company can take part in undoing gender inequality by considering - and addressing - the unique needs of women and girls in their organizations and communities. We must do this locally - as Metrowest Women's Fund does - and globally as does Value for Women, the consulting firm where I work. I am delighted to be joining this amazing group of women at the Metrowest Women's Fund who are shining a light on the specific needs of the women and girls of our community."
Heidi Borella
MWF Community Ambassador - Hudson
"Being part of the MetroWest Women's Fund makes me realize the great need in our immediate area. By bringing like-minded people together, we can achieve anything. In helping others, we strengthen our community."
Erin J. Cox
MWF Community Ambassador-at-Large
"As a longtime Metrowest resident and a lifelong social entrepreneur and champion of women, I want to do my part to ensure that all women and girls – especially those in my ‘backyard’ – have access to resources and opportunities that will bring forth their full potential. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the Metrowest Women’s Fund and am honored to contribute to its potential to positively change lives."
Lindsay Crossley
MWF Community Ambassador - Newton
I am passionate about advocating for gender equity and empowering women in my community, which is why I am honored to be an Ambassador for the Metrowest Women's Fund. I believe that the MWF contributes to creating positive change in our region, and their commitment to support initiatives and programs that uplift women and girls aligns perfectly with my values. I am driven by the desire to foster an inclusive and equitable society where all women and girls have the opportunities and tools they deserve to thrive. By serving as an Ambassador, I hope to be an integral part of this transformative journey, making a tangible difference in the lives of women and girls in our community.
Stephanie Deeley
MWF Community Ambassador - Framingham
Stephanie is committed to drawing attention to the needs of women and girls in MetroWest. Her specific interests include: the plight of victims of domestic violence, the need for affordable housing, expanded child care options, access to mental health services, and higher education and vocational training for women. Stephanie is committed to advancing legislation and funding in order to improve the lives of women and girls in our community.
Mahsa Ghavamian
MWF Community Ambassador - Hopkinton
"Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, I moved to the United States right after graduating from high school. My parents insisted that I move to the United States to achieve a better quality of life and top-notch education. Having been born and raised in the Middle East, I have first-hand experience of the challenges women face every day. In my years of professional experience, I have been asked to “watch my tone” and “know my place.”
The truth is that women are undervalued and overlooked. Women can often be the most educated and capable person in the group, yet we take a back seat because of our gender. Therefore, as an empowered educated woman (and mother of a very strong 10-year-old girl), I am delighted and honored to be serving as an Ambassador for Metrowest Women’s Fund. I hope that with our efforts, we can encourage community members and leaders to invest in the futures of all the daughters through education and raising awareness around critical issues we face every day."
Shirley Hui
MWF Community Ambassador - Natick
"There are so many ways to contribute both time and money. When I learned about the Metrowest Women’s Fund’s mission, I realized that the goal of supporting women and girls is very important to me, and I wasn’t surprised to hear how few resources are available. I am a second-generation citizen, born in the US to immigrant parents. I was very fortunate to have support from teachers to pursue math and science, scholarships to attend engineering school, and to make my way in a long career in software development. I am looking forward to giving back and helping girls and women pursue their dreams."
Alicia Larkin
MWF Community Ambassador - Sudbury
"I am honored and humbled to join the Metrowest Women’s Fund as an ambassador. I grew up in Massachusetts, raised by a single mother who immigrated to the area from the Canary Islands in Spain. While we always had enough and I have fond memories of a happy childhood, I saw my mom's daily struggles of raising children on a very tight budget. My mom saved diligently when she could but I know that she also had to work the extra jobs to help keep us in the enrichment activities such as violin and flamenco dancing lessons which were very important to her. She always sacrificed her time to bring us opportunities.
I know how fortunate we are to have had her raise us, and I’m excited to pay it forward by working with the Metrowest Women’s Fund which helps bring resources to single working mothers who continue to live with the daily struggles I observed growing up. I hope to make a significant impact by leveraging my experience and my networks to bring awareness, build community and help raise funds to help these local women children."
Diahanne Lucas
MWF Community Ambassador - Sudbury
"When I learned about the Metrowest Women’s Fund and their mission – to invest in the needs of women and girls in three focus areas: Education, Girls: Our Next Generation, and Safety from Violence – they immediately had my attention and I wanted to participate any way I could. Plus, I was shocked to learn from founders Rachel Sagan and Rebecca Parkhill that only 1.6% of all philanthropic giving is dedicated to the issues of women and girls.
I have always been an active volunteer for various causes but the opportunity to serve on the Metrowest Women’s Fund's grant allocations committee, reviewing funding requests from area organizations, has really opened my eyes to the tremendous need in our communities. During the pandemic lockdown, nonprofit agencies that provide legal services and support for domestic violence victims saw a dramatic upswing in demand for their advocacy. So it was natural for the Metrowest Women’s Fund to give support to those groups who provide safe spaces and emergency shelter to women and their children in unstable and possibly volatile situations. The Metrowest Women's Fund has also partnered with the Center for Social Research at Framingham State University to conduct research for the report, a Needs Assessment of Middle School Girls: Metrowest. I'm the mother of a ten-year old, almost middle school girl, so it was important for me to think about how she and her peers are doing at a critical time and learning about what their concerns are around their mental health, self-image, and social relationships. I grew up in Sudbury and I returned to the community to raise my children so I am honored to be an ambassador for the Metrowest Women's Fund. I stand by the work they are doing to make all of our cities and towns a better place for women and girls."
Virginia Meaney
MWF Community Ambassador - Marlborough
"Having served several terms on the Board of the Boston Women's Fund, I am quite familiar with the philanthropic funding gaps that exist for women and girl's programs. As a resident of Marlborough, I am honored to be an Ambassador for the Metrowest Women's Fund. Research has shown that philanthropic funding for women and girl's programs is less than 2% of available funds. The impact is particularly burdensome on low-income women and girls and women and girls of color.
The Metrowest Women's Fund was created to raise resources to invest in our women and girls. Several years ago, after much deliberation and conversation, Rachel Sagan and Rebecca Parkhill decided to turn thoughts about unmet needs in suburban Boston into action. They "believed they could, so they did" and co-founded the Metrowest Women's Fund. Rachel and Rebecca share a passion for changing lives and improving communities. I am so pleased to be on this journey with them."
Catherine Riedel
MWF Community Ambassador - Weston
"Issues surrounding gender equity are incredibly important to me. Given the current political and social climate, I feel strongly that championing the critical needs of women and girls has never been so important. That’s why I’m so passionate about the Metrowest Women’s Fund. Their mission to help at-risk women and girls in our local community first attracted me as a donor. Learning more about their unique programs, and hearing the personal stories of the strong, resilient, and courageous women they’ve helped, convinced me to join them as a Community Ambassador. I look forward to bringing my personal passion and my 30+ year background in marketing, PR, and non-profit work to bear for the Metrowest Women’s Fund and the incredible community of women they serve."