Women of Vision event raises funds, awareness

By Caroline Monday

Liz Murray addresses members of the Appalachian Women’s Fund at last Thursday’s Women of Vision event. Photo by Caroline Monday

The Appalachian Women’s Fund held its inaugural Women of Vision event Thursday, June 5, raising funds and awareness for its work serving women and girls throughout the Appalachian region.

The event featured Liz Murray and started off with a screening of “Homeless to Harvard,” a film made about Murray’s life.

Murray began her life as the child of cocaine-addicted parents in the Bronx. Her mother died of AIDS by the time Murray was 15, and Murray spent most of her teen years homeless.

Despite the odds, Murray told the fundraiser attendees, she always knew there was more. She found a high school serving at-risk youth and graduated at the top of her class. Murray’s hard work and determination won her a full scholarship to Harvard from the New York Times.

Murray transferred to Columbia University to be closer to her ill father but has since transferred back to Harvard and will finish a degree in psychology in the fall. She is 28 years old and supports herself through speaking engagements.

The AWF honored Murray as its first Woman of Vision.

Nancy Ashline, president of the fund, said that though the organization is not located in New York City, “unfortunately, we are not that different when it comes to women in need.”

“Women are looking for shelter, safety and opportunity,” she said. “By funding programs for women, we can be that support.”

The fund works to raise money that it allocated to service-providing agencies through grants. The funds raised through the Women of Vision event, and additional funds, will go toward the group’s first grant cycle.

The AWF is currently accepting grant applications from agencies supporting women and girls. For more information, visit appalachianwomensfund.org.

“The women’s fund is doing something incredible,” Murray said, adding she could not have made it as far as she had, if she had not received help from others. “There were angels who helped me along the way. I ended up with no safe place to belong.”

The fund, she said, is offering safety to other women.

After the film screening at the Hayes Performing Arts Center, the event moved to the Blowing Rock Country Club. At the country club, attendees had the opportunity to bid on hand bags in a silent auction. The day also included a live auction of “Girlfriend Getaway Trips.” These trips included visits and services from local resorts, as well as in tourist destinations across the country.

Major supporters of the event included Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer of Westglow Resort and Spa and Karyn Kennedy Herterich and Kathleen Kennedy-Olsen of the Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation.

Marty Couch and Michelle Couch Novacek of the Couch Family Foundation served as silent auction and welcome reception sponsors, and Rick, Linda and Joy Phelps were the luncheon sponsors.

Herterich said the group was hoping to raise between $75,000 and $100,000 at the event.

Bonnie Schaeffer, a major supporter of causes helping women, said that when women help each other, it gives them an opportunity to empower other women and themselves at the same time. “If women don’t champion women, who else is going to?” she said.

For more information about the work of Appalachian Women’s Fund and about how you can help, visit appalachianwomensfund.org.