Reach for the Stars is an annual campaign to help build awareness and financial support for the Women's Employment Network.  It's a quick, laid back, and fun fundraising campaign that allows participants (STARS or AMBASSADORS or FRIENDS or CHAMPIONS - you get the point) to start their own "Giving Circle" to support WEN.  The "Giving Circle" can be among friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, FaceBook friends, etc. 

We just ask each participant to raise a minimum of $500.00 within the designated campaign timeframe and we strongly encourage each STAR to ask their company to support and/or match the funds raised for their campaign; however this is not mandatory.

2010 Campaign - STAR Roster:

*Shannon Swift, JP Morgan
Angela Tower, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Shelley Ericsson, Lathrop & Gage LLP
Megan McCurdy, Stinson Morison Hecker LLP
Jackie Helm, Blue Cross Blue Shield of KC
Linda Laurence, Missouri Bank
Kayden Howard and Doniele Kane, Kansas City Southern
Sheridan Sechter, Flourish Magazine
Shirley Cooper, Hallmark Cards
Joyce C. Murray, Zimmer Real Estate Services, L.C.
Suzy Hall, Country Club Bank
Amy Migliazzo, Migliazzo Design & 2010 WEN Graduate
* Nan Vail, working with Shannon Swift

To become a WEN STAR in 2010, contact Amie Hankel
Or enroll in the campaign on-line through ActiveGiving.com

New for the 2010 Campaign -
- Each STAR can have their own personal fundraising page through ActiveGiving.com
(we will get each STAR set-up on ActiveGiving.com at the Kickoff Meeting on August 12th)
- Terrific prizes for the top 3 campaign fundraisers
- Chances for STARS to win great raffle prizes - just by attending the Kickoff and Report Meeting

Plan to attend these fun events throughout the campaign - 
1.  the 2010 Kickoff on Thursday, August 12th at the Women's Employment Network from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
2.  the mid-point report meeting (Happy Hour) - Thursday, September 9th at Californos (Westport) from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
3.  the victory celebration to conclude the campaign and celebrate achieving our goal of $10,000.00 - this event is tentitively schedule for Thursday, September 30th at Kansas City Southern from 5:30 to 7:00 pm

Important 2010 Campaign Materials -

One-Page Women's Employment Network Overview

2010 Campaign Overview / Timeline

Follow These Steps to Fundraise Like a Pro

A Fundraising Idea for Everyone

Sample Email / Letter (Solicitation)

Donation Form for RFTS

Campaign Contribution Tracking Form

Reach for the Stars 2009 Recap

On June 18th, 2009, WEN kicked off its first annual Reach for the Stars campaign. With this campaign, WEN set out to find a minimum of 10 STARS or “ambassadors” in the community to raise funds and awareness for WEN. Each STAR was responsible for raising a minimum of $500 within the 6 week time frame of the campaign. STARS raised funds in a variety of fun and unique ways, they: held raffle drawings at their place of work, hosted happy hours after work and invited their friends and co-workers to come and learn about WEN, hosted ice cream socials at their company in exchange for donations to WEN, collected money from their company‘s casual / jean day on behalf of WEN, and simply asked their friends and co-workers to support the Women‘s Employment Network.  It's fun & easy & most importantly, it helps a great organization get women back on their feet and back to work.

In addition, this campaign focused on leveraging gifts from companies in the Kansas City community with matching gifts programs. Through this campaign $3,700 was raised from companies with matching gifts programs.

The campaign was a HUGE success. We had a total of 13 STARS and brought in over $11,000, which was more than $6,000 over our projected goal.

WEN would like to thank each STAR and the company they represent:

Shannon Swift – JP Morgan
Edie Battaglia – AT&T
Laura Rogers – Bank of KC
Lisa Wright – Spencer Fane Britt & Browne
Kelly Nash/Amy Cline – Bryan Cave LLP
Doniele Kane – Kansas City Southern
Angela Tower – PricewaterhouseCoopers
Debora Field/Joyce Murray – Zimmer Real Estate Services
Shelley Ericsson – Lathrop & Gage LLP
Amanda Ketchum – Dysart Taylor PC
Dawn Murphy – Saint Luke‘s Health Systems
Jackie Helm – Blue Cross Blue Shield KC
Linda Laurence – Missouri Bank

Photos from 2009 Reach for the Stars: