Women’s Fund fall luncheon to be a “Rad Women Celebration”

Kate Schatz

MILWAUKEE (Sept. 26, 2016) — For 27 years, the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee has hosted a fall event focusing on women and girls. In 2016, the organization’s 30th anniversary year, the organization will transform the luncheon into a “Rad Women Celebration,” recognizing the fact that history was made by countless rad—and often radical—women. By offering a fresh and diverse array of local, national and international female role models, the event will celebrate many places to find inspiration, and that being smart and strong and brave is rad. The luncheon is set for Thursday, October 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Italian Conference Center, 631 East Chicago Street, Milwaukee.

Rad American Women A to Z.

Leading the celebration will be New York Times bestselling author Kate Schatz with a keynote on “Being Rad for Social Change.” Her book, Rad American Women A to Z, illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl, documents America’s famous and unsung heroines. Like all A-Z books, this one illustrates the alphabet—but instead of “apple,” A is for Angela—as in Angela Davis, the iconic political activist; B is for Billie Jean King, who shattered the glass ceiling of sports; C is for Carol Burnett, who defied assumptions about women in comedy; D is for Dolores Huerta, who organized farmworkers; and E is for Ella Baker, who mentored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and helped shape the Civil Rights movement. The list of great women continues, spanning several centuries, multiple professions: artists and abolitionists, scientists and suffragettes, rock stars and rabble-rousers, and agents of change of all kinds. Her book has received accolades from the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, BuzzFeed, MTV, Ms., Teen Vogue, Huffington Post, Kirkus Reviews, GOOD, BUZZ, AFROPUNK, and others. Her latest book, Rad Women Worldwide has a Sept. 27, 2016 release date.

At this year’s luncheon, the Women’s Fund will also recognize “Rad Milwaukee Women,” those who have been selected the Women’s Fund and event sponsors based on how they are a role model, provide inspiration, have accomplished in a nontraditional role, have achieved success in the face of odds, stand up for what they believe in, advocate for others, create and educate and/or listen and learn. The “Rad Milwaukee Women” are:

• Linda Benfield, Foley & Lardner, LLP (Honored by Foley & Lardner, LLP)
• Corry Joe Biddle, FUEL Milwaukee/MMAC (Honored by Women’s Fund)
• Sandra Botcher, Northwestern Mutual (Honored by Women’s Employee Resource Group of Northwestern Mutual)
• April Calvert, FIS (Honored by FIS Endpoint Exchange)
• Katherine L. Charlton, Hawks Quindel, S.C. (Honored by Friends of Katherine L. Charlton)
• Dr. Darienne Driver, Milwaukee Public Schools (Honored by Herb Kohl Philanthropies)
• Margaret Henningsen, Women’s Fund-retiring (Honored by the Women’s Fund)
• Janel Hines, Greater Milwaukee Foundation (Honored by Brewers Community Foundation)
• Kara Kaiser, BMO Private Bank (Honored by BMO)
• Carmen Pitre, Sojourner Family Peace Center (Honored by Johnson Bank)
• Molly Snyder, OnMilwaukee.com (Honored by OnMilwaukee.com)
• Teri Sullivan, Arts@Large (Honored by former/current Arts@Large board members)
• Deborah Telman, Johnson Controls (Honored by Johnson Controls)
• Amalia Todryk, Quarles & Brady, LLP (Honored by Quarles & Brady, LLP)
• Tammie Xiong, Hmong American Women’s Association (Honored by Women’s Fund)

“Milwaukee is the birthplace and beneficiary of a multitude of “Rad Women,” said Margaret Henningsen, executive director, Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee. “At this historic time in our nation’s history, we are so pleased to recognize these women for all they have done and continue to do for this community, the nation and the world.”

Rad Women Worldwide

The event benefits the Women’s Fund which is dedicated to harnessing women’s philanthropic and leadership power to create a world that is just and fair. Today, the organization’s total grant making exceeds $3 million in support of women- and girls-led social change initiatives. The key funding areas and programs focus on economic empowerment, leadership development and education. The Fund recognizes that investments in women and girls can accelerate positive change in communities: that improving conditions for women and girls has a ripple effect. When you invest in a woman, you invest in her family, and ultimately, her community.

Planning for the 2016 luncheon is led by a volunteer committee: Racquel R. Bell of Northwestern Mutual; Susan Hickey of Johnson Financial Group; Debi Miller of Quarles & Brady LLP; Robin Reese of Vangard Group; and Julie Ragland of Johnson Controls.

Sponsorships, tables and $100 individual tickets are currently available. For more information, please contact the Women’s Fund at (414) 290-7350 or visit the website at www.womensfundmke.org.

Event sponsors include media partner OnMilwaukee.com; Arts@Large current and former board members; BMO; Brewers Community Foundation; FIS; Foley & Lardner, LLP; Friends of Katherine L. Charlton, Shareholder, Hawks Quindel, S.C.; Herb Kohl Philanthropies; Johnson Bank, Johnson Controls, Northwestern Mutual, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and Quarles & Brady, LLP.

About the keynote speaker, Kate Schatz

In addition to Rad American Women A to Z, Kate Schatz has a new book released Sept. 27, 2016, Rad Women Worldwide. She describes herself as a “writer, teacher, editor, southpaw, feminist, mama.” She is a cofounder of The Encyclopedia Project, and is the Chair of the School of Literary Arts at Oakland School for the Arts. Kate received her MFA in Fiction Writing from Brown, and a double BA in Women’s Studies/Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz. She lives in the Bay Area with her family.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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