Congratulations to the Working Group on Girls of Schenectady on winning Women United's Perfect Pitch $10,000 United Way Grant and being named the Women United 2024 Premiere Partner! Women United's signature event, Perfect Pitch, is a "Shark Tank-style" competition at which four local nonprofits "pitched" an idea for an innovative program that supports Women United's mission of advancing women’s rights and health and educational and economic equity for all women in the Greater Capital Region. 

Delivered by Board Co-Presidents Chinira Lovick and Monique Wade, the Working Group on Girls of Schenectady pitched an original program called FRESH (Food, Resiliency, Education, Socialization, and Health). FRESH's main benefits are educating, empowering, mentoring, and providing sustainable life skills to young women in the Schenectady community. FRESH will be a holistic program including several components: mentorship, leadership, gardening, farm-to-table, health and wellness, entrepreneurship, social-emotional learning, and community service.

Capital District Recovery Center Wins Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation $2,500 Fan Favorite Award

Congratulations to the Capital District Recovery Center (CDRC), which the audience voted to receive the Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation Fan Favorite Award! CDRC will receive a $2,500 grant courtesy of our partners at Sunmark.

Delivered by Board President Deborah Eley, CDRC pitched an idea to expand its Trauma Workshop for Women and the Social Determinants of Health program.  This initiative grew out of recognizing that men and women need separate supports that recognize the specifics of women’s diverse experiences and needs. 

The proposed workshop focuses exclusively on women participants and centers on how gender impacts health inequities and social determinants of health. Being trauma-informed helps those in recovery to understand themselves and why they began using, their need for emotional safety, the universal need for healthy coping skills and connections, and their right to feel calm and good about themselves.

Thank You to Our Sharks

L to R: Cinnamon Carlarne, Vera Cohen, Jennifer Keida, Leola Edelin, Carrie Hillenbrandt. Not pictured: Georgia Kelly

The toughest job in the building went to our Sharks, who were tasked with picking a winner after hearing four amazing pitches. In addition to being business leaders in the Capital Region, each of these women has prioritized giving back to the community.

Immediately before the night's winners were announced, our Sharks surprised the audience by combining to donate an additional $3,500 to the contestants! We can't thank them enough for their generosity and support of Women United and its partners. 

Thank you:

• Cinnamon Carlarne, President & Dean, Albany Law School
• Vera Cohen, President & CEO & Broker, Vera Cohen Realty
• Leola Edelin, General Manager, Renaissance Albany Hotel
• Carrie Hillenbrandt, Senior Vice President, BBL Hospitality
• Jennifer Keida, President & CEO, Standard, Heating, Cooling & Insulating
• Georgia Kelly, Senior VP, Senior Financial Advisor & Portfolio Manager, Merrill Lynch

Thank You to Our Emcee, Trishna Begam

Back for the third consecutive year, News10 ABC's Trishna Begam did an amazing job as our mistress of ceremonies. We appreciate Trishna's continued support and the enthusiasm she brings to make Perfect Pitch an annual night to remember! Thank you, Trishna!