|
|
The 2025-26 UWWI team has chosen to focus on Gratitude as this year’s theme. Join us as we become more mindful and take
advantage of the opportunities to express our gratitude to each other and ourselves.
"The amount of good things in your life depends on your ability to notice them." - Unknown
It's not about having more; it's about seeing more. More beauty. More progress. More peace. Gratitude sharpens your vision.
And when you start noticing the good, life starts feeling a whole lot fuller, even if nothing outside of you has changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Featured Impact: Women Who Rock
Empowering Houston Parents to Reach Their Dreams
|
|
|
|
|
Across Greater Houston, United Way Women Who Rock is changing the trajectory of families by doing something
deceptively simple but deeply powerful: making it possible for parents to stay in school while their children receive safe,
quality care.
The
United Way of Greater Houston's Women Who Rock Child Care Scholarship
(formerly the United Way Young Mother’s Child Care scholarship) covers child care costs and other critical resources to
support parents who are committed to continuing their education beyond high school. Recipients of these scholarships are
provided financial and employment coaching through a partnership with United Way and The Women’s Resource of Greater Houston.
Since its launch, the scholarship has supported more than 150 parents in post-secondary education, and has
celebrated 32 (and counting) graduates who have earned degrees or certifications so far!
The annual Women Who Rock Luncheon, presented by ExxonMobil—held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center—serves as the primary fundraiser for this life-changing program, bringing together sponsors, community
leaders, exciting keynote speakers, and volunteers to “rock” for a good cause.
Get involved: Learn more about opportunities to get involved or refer a qualified and deserving parent to
apply for next year's scholarship at the link below. Attend or sponsor the luncheon, give through United Way of Greater
Houston, or help spread the word so more families can benefit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See the impact: Learn how the
Women Who Rock scholarship has made a
meaningful impact for parents like Makayla.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meet Women’s Initiative Members
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sr. Vice President & Treasurer
Plains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women’s Services Patient Care Director
Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Director, Advancement
Operations
United Way of Greater Houston
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women Who Rock 2026: A Record-Breaking Luncheon for Houston Families
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On Friday, March 6, 2026,
more than
1,000 supporters filled the
ballroom at
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel &
Convention Center
for the
United Way of Greater Houston Women Who
Rock luncheon, fueling a record year for the
Women Who Rock Child Care
Scholarship, which helps parents continue their
education while their children receive quality
care.
The event delivered its signature blend of
glam, grit, and impact,
featuring:
-
1,000+ attendees united
to support child care scholarships for
Houston-area parents
-
A record
211 Glam Pull bags,
turning fun into serious fundraising
-
More sponsors than ever before, reflecting strong corporate and
community commitment
Keynote speaker
Melissa Radke brought the
house down with a talk that had guests
laughing, crying, and reflecting. Her central message—that
the power of community is
unparalleled—was visible in the crowd of Women’s
Initiative members, corporate partners, and
donors investing in families they may never
meet.
Over the life of the program, the scholarship
has already helped
more than 150 young parents
pursue post-secondary education, and those
numbers will grow thanks to the momentum of
this year’s luncheon.
Year after year, volunteers, donors, and
Women’s Initiative members return because
Women Who Rock doesn’t just feel good; it
moves the needle. By filling
tables, funding scholarships, and powering the
Glam Pull, they are helping neighbors
land on their feet and stay there—proving once again that when
women rock, families rise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Help Our Neighbors Access the Integrated Client Journey!
|
|
|
|
|
In October 2024, United Way of Greater Houston launched an all-new self-service platform that makes it easier than ever for
people to connect to the support they need through the Integrated Client Journey.
From their phones or computers,
users can set goals, explore resources in their area, set up appointments, and build momentum on their journey to financial
stability.
And with the Small Wins, Big Moves campaign, we are working to make sure that everyone in our community
knows just how simple it is to access the Integrated Client Journey and access resources that help them land on their feet—and
stay there.
We need your help: The more people who know about the Integrated Client Journey, the
more people we can connect to life-changing services. Share this resource with your community, your place of worship, your
family, your social media network—you never know which share could be the one that makes a difference.
Simply post
the graphic above and share the link smallwinsbigmoves.org to help us connect more people to possibility.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well-Deserved Recognition!
|
|
|
Two amazing women from our circle, Amanda McMillian and Sarah Trend, will be recognized and honored as
Breakthrough Women at the 2026 International Conference for Women presented by the Greater Houston Women’s
Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC).
If you would like to join other WI members and friends to attend and cheer for Amanda and Sarah, we’re organizing a
table.
The conference is on Friday, May 15, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the George R Brown Convention Center, and
includes speakers, presentations, and networking opportunities.
|
|
|
|
|
WI members are being offered a discounted ticket price of $300! Use the
link to register
and for more info.
At checkout, enter the promo code to reduce the ticket price to $300.
-
If your company is a GHWCC Member, use promo code GHWCC2026
-
If your company is not a member, use promo code GHWCC26
|
|
|
|
|
|
When Giving Time Gives Back
|
|
|
Claire went to the food bank one Saturday because she’d finally run out of excuses. It was supposed to be “just a few hours”
of helping. They put her at the check-in table. She took names, handed over bags, and heard the same words again and again:
“Thank you for doing this.”
“Thanks for being here.”
Driving home, she realized nothing about her circumstances had changed—her inbox was still full, her house still messy. But
she felt different. She saw her own pantry with new eyes: shelves full, fridge humming, no anxiety about the next meal.
Gratitude stopped being a vague idea and became something concrete: a deep appreciation for ordinary things she’d never
noticed. What surprised her most was that the time she’d “given up” hadn’t really been lost. Donating those few hours had not
only helped strangers feel seen; it had quietly widened her own heart, teaching her to value what she already had.
She still donated money, but now she understood: when you donate your time, you don’t just help someone else. You also train
your own heart to notice, to appreciate, and to be quietly, deeply grateful for the life you already have. She continued to go
back—because she’d learned that when you give your time, you don’t walk away empty. You walk away more grateful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADT Road Trippin’ to Round Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Campaign Closing Celebration
|
|
|
Date: Tuesday, April 28 2026 | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr., Houston, TX 77007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women’s Initiative Year-End Event
|
|
|
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
| 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Amegy Tower, 1717 W
Loop S, Houston, TX 77027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stay current on events and happenings, connect with fellow members, and learn more about the impact we make together in our
Women's Initiative LinkedIn group. The Women’s
Initiative Steering Committee is in the process of inviting all members to the LinkedIn page. If you have not joined yet,
please do!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
About the Women’s Initiative
|
|
|
Women’s Initiative brings passionate and influential professionals and community leaders together to support the work of
United Way of Greater Houston. This powerful network of women helps our neighbors land on their feet—and stay there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
