More than 1,000 women business leaders “stand tall” to help today and strengthen tomorrow

BOSTON- Wall Street wonder Carla Harris, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, author of Expect to Win, and newly  honored as one of U.S. Banker's Top 25 Nonbank Women in Finance, today urged more than 1,000 of the region's top women business leaders to "make giving back a part of your success equation."  Harris was the keynote speaker at this morning's United Way's Annual Women's Leadership Breakfast, which brings local women together through philanthropy to effect change in the lives of children, youth and families. 

The Women's Leadership Breakfast, sponsored by Deloitte, featured a "who's who" of the region's most powerful female executives.  Among those in attendance were First Lady Diane Patrick, Partner at Ropes and Gray and United Way Board member, Kristina Davis, Partner at Deloitte, Pamela Norley, Executive Vice President at Fidelity Investments, Beverly Edgehill, President and CEO of The Partnership, Inc., Myra Kraft, Honorary event chair and Board Chair of United Way, Marie Turley, executive director of the Boston Women's Commission, Carol Fulp, Senior Vice President at John Hancock Financial Services and Pamela Paton, Senior Vice President at State Street Corporation.  In addition to Deloitte, today's event was generously sponsored by Fidelity Investments and Sun Life Financial.  

"Being in this room today means that you had someone to stand tall for you," said Event Co-Chair Kristina Davis. "You had a supportive family or mentor, a quality education, a good job and you have survived the adversities in your life. This morning, we are reflecting on how we got here and why it is our responsibility to stand tall for someone else."

Funds raised at today's event will support programs and organizations that ensure families are financially stable, children are ready for school and young people stay engaged and graduate high school ready to compete.  Every year, more than 11,000 youth drop out of school, costing Massachusetts nearly $100 million per year in unearned wages, unpaid taxes, and social services. 

But thanks to the generosity of the community, Angie Rodriguez was not one of these young people.  Despite being initiated into a gang when she was 11-years old and witnessing the shooting of her older brother, Angie was taken in by Molly Baldwin, executive director, and the youth workers at Roca, a Chelsea-based organization that intensively serves more than 635 high-risk youth each year.

"I remember walking in to Roca and seeing a place different than what I was accustomed to, the diversity was amazing; young people and adults were working together and there was this dance class that piqued my interest," Rodriguez said this morning. "Molly and the Roca team made a deal with me: the deal was to attend the center for a few consecutive months and then they would offer me a job teaching dance classes, which they knew I loved.  They made a commitment to me."  Today, Angie has graduated from Emerson College and is giving back to the organization and community that supported her by working as the development director at Roca.

The Women's Leadership Breakfast is an annual event which demonstrates the scope of impact that can be achieved when Massachusetts women come together. A 2009 study by Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund found that almost half of women surveyed say they have the decision-making role in their households for both how much money to donate to charity and which charities to support.  

The community impact of this collective philanthropic power of women has been dramatic in the region.  Since its inception in 1996, funds generated by women business leaders have enabled United Way to invest more than $12 million in programs that have provided 275,000 young girls with innovative programs and opportunities that pair them with mentors, provide technical skills, and educate them about healthy lifestyles.