What happened at the New Member Welcome

Last week, 39 of us gathered for our New Member Welcome at McMenamins Kennedy School. We chatted over spinach and goat cheese salad, sparkling water, and chocolates curated by Girlfriend Melissa C. While mingling, new member Sarah T. shared that Melissa officiated her wedding last year. And Sonjaly S. shared that she was introduced to ninety-nine girlfriends by Tammy W., whose husband is one of Sonjaly’s colleagues. 

The program began with introductions from Michelle Hynes, a founding member and the Fellows Program lead; Pip Meagher, a founding member and chair of the Governing Board; CeCe Petrick., a Fellow and PSU intern; and Tammy Wilhoite, chair of the Coordinating Council and Operations Committee.

The group welcomed a few questions to start things off. “How long until we get to learn the secret handshake?” prompted the whole room to burst into laughter and created a friendly opening for the next part of the evening.

Next, we broke into groups to explore our personal relationships with philanthropy. Debbie H., a returning member, shared that her donor-advised fund has been a meaningful and rewarding way for her to give. She also noted that ninety-nine girlfriends has helped her discover and connect with organizations she might not have found otherwise. Laurie D., a member of a grant review team, spoke about wanting to be more intentional with her giving, aiming to make a bigger, more consistent impact over time.

Our second breakout encouraged reflection on personal moments of action—“What have you done because you felt something wasn’t right?” And “What organizations inspire you to give?” New member Debbie E. spoke about her background as an emergency responder and her deep admiration for World Central Kitchen’s work. Former park ranger Linda D. shared her lifelong passion for the environment, noting that she founded the Mendocino Coast chapter of the Audubon Society. Heidi D. spoke movingly about her family’s experience with Ronald McDonald House, which supported them during her son’s childhood illness. She emphasized how volunteerism became a shared family passion after that experience.

 

The evening wrapped up with Q&A. Tammy, Pip, and Michelle shared information about volunteering, grantmaking, member voting, and the Meet the Finalists and Awards Celebration events. We left feeling more rooted in the ninety-nine girlfriends community and energized by all of the meaningful conversations. 


This article has been corrected to show Melissa as the wedding officiant. A previous version incorrectly identified that individual as Michelle H.


Member Spotlight on Tammy Wilhoite

I’ve been a Girlfriend for nine years and have volunteered the whole time. From my first gig as a GRT co-lead to my current positions of Coordinating Council chair and Operations chair, I’ve loved every minute. Even during the challenging times, I’ve found joy in working collaboratively and improving my professional skills.

I’ve loved most the culture of learning and continuous improvement, the collaborative leadership structure and willingness to try new things, and the women I’m in community with, who are here to be a force for good. 

Although I’m hopeful that the universe will allow me to remain a Girlfriend for another nine years, I’m helping to mentor and develop new leaders for the future of this amazing collective.

Tammy Wilhoite

Path Home

Last week, Path Home presented their Lullaby Project at Alberta Rose Theater. Through an ongoing partnership with the Oregon Symphony, the Lullaby Project uses creative expression to build bonds and improve maternal health for families experiencing homelessness. The project pairs musicians from the symphony and local singer-songwriters with parents from Path Home to create personalized lullabies for their children, expressing comfort and hope for the future. The project was an inspiring showcase for these powerful collaborations and received coverage from the Oregonian and KOIN. To learn more about the project and listen to prior seasons of the project’s lullabies, visit Path Home’s website. 

Join us at the price that works for you

One of the ways we embed equity into our operations is to offer a sliding scale to paid events:

  • Member + Help Another: for people who want to pay it forward and do a bit more          

  • Member (I could use a little help): for those who’d like financial assistance

  • Member or Fellow: tickets for members and Fellows

"Create inclusion with simple mindfulness that others might have a different reality from your own." — Patti Digh

Member Spotlight on Jessica Wechter

I returned to Portland in December 2023 after 20 years living on the East Coast for school and work. As part of this transition, I looked for (and continue to seek) different ways to plug into the region, especially alongside people who care about similar issues—whether that’s dismantling barriers to equity and opportunity or helping ensure that Portland and its people thrive. While living in the Washington, D.C. area, I had the privilege of serving as a founding member of a giving circle that launched right before the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience taught valuable lessons in the principles of trust-based philanthropy, like streamlining paperwork, getting to know the issues, and listening to nonprofit and community leaders. I knew I wanted to be part of another place-based and responsive giving circle that shared these values. I also was drawn to ninety-nine girlfriends because of its intergenerational membership and tiered contribution structure that lowers barriers to participation. Philanthropy should be for everyone!

I’ve spent my career in the nonprofit sector, working for both grant-making and grant-seeking organizations, but most of these organizations work nationally, not locally, making it easy to feel disconnected from the region I call home. Ninety-nine girlfriends offers a way to give where I live and learn about nonprofit groups that I might not have known about otherwise…as well as the current context of the communities they serve. I value being part of a group committed to collective action and learning together. As a new member, I also appreciated immediate opportunities to deepen my involvement by serving on a grant review team and attending educational and networking events throughout the year.

My ideal morning starts with a cappuccino and leisurely dog walk. New cafes or trail suggestions are always welcome! Final thought: The organizations that ninety-nine girlfriends funds are the experts at addressing challenges in our region. As members, it’s our job to give flexible funding and other resources and then get out of their way!

Jessica Wechter

FinAbility

FinAbility’s Survivor Advisory Committee just wrapped up their first 2-year term, working to ensure that the organization’s work is trauma-informed, accessible, and relevant – and they’ve created an impact report of their accomplishments since 2023…check it out on their Instagram or LinkedIn. Also, do you know anyone who would like to get more involved with their work? They are recruiting board members. 

ELSO

ELSO has been full steam ahead with its youth-focused programs. On May 10, they will host their annual Youth Design Forum, engaging young community members in learning about the history of Portland and collaborating to shape ELSO’s future headquarters! In addition, registration is now open for ELSO’s summer 2025 Wayfinders Camp, a STEAM-based program for K-8 students. These week-long adventures in July and August 2025 focus on science and nature, aiming to cultivate environmental literacy and a lifelong love of learning. Campers will engage in science projects and learn from expert speakers. For more information and to register, visit their website.  

Working Theory Farm

The team at Working Theory Farm is busy working their 24 acres of land, supporting vegetable and livestock farming and educational and employment programs for youth, so much so that they are sold out of their 2025 CSAs! For those hoping to snag a weekly veggie share, keep your eyes peeled for a reminder on their next round in October. But did you know that they also offer shares for sustainable meat? Working Theory Farm raises Red Wattle pigs known for their hardiness, foraging abilities, docile temperament, and high-quality meat. The pigs rotate through the forested southern end of the farm and are available for purchase by the whole or half pig on a sliding scale of $5.00-$6.50 per pound. For more information, check out their site or write henney@workingtheoryfarm.com. 

Path Home

Path Home's recent Family Reunion Fundraiser proved a resounding success, bringing in over $272,000 to support their vital programs and sharing uplifting stories from community members like Taylor and Trina, who stayed at Path Home's Goose Hollow shelter 15 years ago. Excitement is also building for their annual Lullaby Project, a beautiful collaboration with families staying at Family Village shelter and the Oregon Symphony.  Tickets are on sale for the May 13th event!  The impact of Path Home's work is evident in their 2024 Annual Report, which reveals that 98% of families transitioned from shelter to stable housing. Executive Director Brandi Tuck also recently lent her expertise to a broader audience, discussing solutions to family homelessness on OPB's Think Out Loud.

And we're off! Grant review teams dive in!

Last Saturday, 35 Girlfriends met for training to prepare for this year’s grant cycle. Over the next seven weeks, they will evaluate applications from 45 community nonprofits and conduct site visits with the top 16 candidates, all hoping to be selected for one of this year’s Impact Awards. We deeply appreciate the commitment of time, energy, and care that each member makes as they embark on this important and fundamental work!

Grant Review Team members at their workshop

Founding & fabulous: 23 Girlfriends still going strong!

We are honored to continue to call 23 of our founding members Girlfriends. Each of these women were here when it all started, and they’re here to celebrate our 10th year! Just thinking about the difference they have made through their commitment is humbling.

Thank you for your vision!   

Lisa Adatto, Deborah Edward, Jinx Faulkner, Betty Friedman, Andra Georges, Nancy Hamilton, Barbara Hershey, Barbara Hilyer, Claudia Hollister-Stearman, Kimberly Howard Wade, Michelle Hynes, Nancy V. Johnson, Maura Koehler-Hanlon, Shelley Laurance, Kathy Stuart Masarie, Pip Meagher, Susan Mersereau, Karen Rich, Halle M. Sadle, Robin Selig, Holly Vaughn-Edmonds, Tracy Wiens, and Erin Zollenkopf.

Member Spotlight on Pamela Neferkara

My dear friends Angela Patrick and Tammy Wilhoite invited me to join ninety-nine girlfriends. I admire both of them so much, so I knew it was going to be amazing!

The opportunity to affect local nonprofits quickly and significantly is hard to resist. I’ve seen us raise funds, evaluate organizations, and give away those funds in a 12-month cycle and achieve that repeatedly. That means our donations get to work quickly, so the impact can be immediate.

I love the egalitarian nature of our organization. We grow by inviting more women from our community to become involved, not by continually asking existing members to give more. That leads to greater impact, not only in dollars, but in our ability to truly reflect the makeup of our city. That’s our secret sauce!

Pamela Neferkara

FinAbility

FinAbility seeks volunteer financial mentors who can empower survivors to achieve greater financial independence through one-on-one support. No specialized financial background is required. You just need to complete financial coaching training, meet with mentees 3-5 hours a month over the year, and support at least one mentee per quarter. Learn more and apply at finabilityus.org/financial-mentoring.

Committing to protect philanthropic work

Our governing board voted unanimously to endorse the Council on Foundations’ public commitment to protecting our freedom to express ourselves, give, and invest in our communities. 

A Public Statement from Philanthropy

Everyone—wherever we're from or whatever our point of view—wants to live in a nation that upholds the fundamental rights and liberties we all deserve and need to thrive.

As charitable giving organizations – private and family foundations, community foundations, corporate foundations, and more – we contribute to communities in every corner of America. Together, we support new parents and elders, veterans and school children, hospitals and libraries, churches and food kitchens, artists and researchers, throughout rural, suburban, and urban communities in every state and territory. Yet in this moment, we face the threat of governmental attacks on our ability to carry out this vital mission, when the communities, organizations, and individuals we support need it most. Read the rest of the statement.

Discovery Forum unpacks critical issue

Sixty-five Girlfriends engaged with each other and the complex nature of homelessness at our recent Discovery Forum. Dr. Marisa Zapata, Director of PSU’s Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative, challenged us to look at our views of housing people in our own neighborhoods. You can find our program, “Understanding Homelessness: From Education to Action” and suggested actions on our website.

We will continue to examine housing and home stability throughout this year. If you have resources or ideas on this topic or one of our other focus areas, please contact Karen or Barbara, your member ed co-chairs. Enjoy the photo gallery. 

Member Spotlight on Jodeanne (Jody) Scheer

My son first encouraged me to join ninety-nine girlfriends, because his best friend’s mother was a founding member. At the time, I loved the idea of a women’s philanthropy group, but I was also overwhelmed with work, the birth of my first grandson, and other family and volunteer activities. When I retired, my friend and colleague Kathy Masarie invited me to attend an educational workshop with the Girlfriends. This workshop was scheduled on the exact same day as the COVID epidemic was called, and it was a memorable day of learning while we all faced a new and unknown adversary. I was immediately hooked on the experience of women working in service to create community. I have been a member ever since.

I love that there are so many opportunities to be involved that vary in responsibility, time investment, interest, and skills. I have enjoyed being on the member education committee, working on ideas for moving beyond a traditional land acknowledgment, attending educational offerings, and learning from other Girlfriends a deeper appreciation for and practice of philanthropy, racial equity, and social justice. I am delighted to work with such a large group of inspirational women dedicated to creating the world we want to live in.

I have spent my life as a wife, mother, pediatrician, world traveler, riverhouse community member, nature lover, sea kayaker, author, and seeker. I am also grandma to three rambunctious and adorable boys (ages three, five, and eight), who keep me entertained (and humble) two days a week. I also enjoy far too many book groups! 

I am deeply grateful for the people and support systems that helped me, an orphanage survivor, a foreign exchange student, and an emancipated minor, to achieve my dreams. I would love for all kids from humble beginnings—like mine–to have homes, food, healthcare, education, security, and mentorship to live their best lives and to know they matter. Working with women to make this happen, for me, is joyful work.

Jody Scheer