Chelsea McGraw
What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?
Hi! I am brand new to ninety-nine girlfriends this year! I was introduced to this organization through a women’s event my office has hosted for the last 10 years called Power, Purpose & Passion. Along with a financial education piece (power!) and a keynote speaker (purpose!), we introduced a local non-profit (passion!) at each event. Over the last 10 years we have hosted so many wonderful non-profits and have met many women doing tireless and amazing work for our community. Our event came to an end last year and ninety-nine girlfriends was the last organization to present. Joining the girlfriends seemed to me like a perfect way to continue working with women and help support non-profits in a meaningful way.
What keeps you engaged/interested/connected?
I attended one of the educational events as well as the initial round of grant letter reviews. It was encouraging to see so many women taking time out of their busy lives to learn, connect and put the time in to make a difference. The lunch session on poverty was eye-opening and a good reminder of how much work needs to be done and how much support is needed for the organizations out there trying to create change. The room of women brought many different perspectives to the table and I enjoyed having those conversations through the different lenses.
The grant letter review process was also really interesting, fun and felt like we were really getting a lot done. Everyone I have interacted with at the ninety-nine girlfriends events has been welcoming and friendly. So far it has been a great way to connect and learn.
What else?!
In my line of work as a wealth manager and financial advisor, I deal with high net worth on a daily basis. Taking the time to give back is important to me and also serves as a personal reminder to not get stuck in my own bubble. I believe that if we are in a place in our lives where we can share our time, resources or skills, it is important to use that for good—you never know how it could change the trajectory of someone else’s path in a life changing way.
On a personal note, I love playing tennis in my free time, attending concerts and traveling with my friends and family. My husband and I are big fans of the Oregon State Beavers and can be found at every home football game rooting for orange and black!