Women supporting each other is a powerful force that can create a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Women United, an initiative through United Way of Greater New Bedford, is a prime example of what can happen when individuals work collectively to empower other women.
Making lasting changes in their community, these women have created a network that raises funds for education, action, and philanthropy — all meant to give strength to women who need it most.
“I absolutely love working with and for women,” said Paula Montgomery, the Women United director for the United Way of Greater New Bedford. “It is an honor to see the difference we are making in the community.”
What is Power of the Purse?
The Power of the Purse is the Women United’s signature event. The quintessential girls’ night full of fun, entertainment, and stunning designer bags up for auction.
Although the event on Thursday, April 24, is sold out, you still have a chance to bid on the live auction happening now.
The purse auction boasts nearly 90 handbags in every style, shape, and color you can imagine. Have you always wanted a designer bag? Brands like Louis Vuitton, Brahmin, Dior, Valentino, Kate Spade, Coach, and more are up for bidding.
There are new and previously loved bags for all wallet sizes, with bags from $10 to over $1,000, and all the proceeds going towards early childhood success, early literacy, and financial literacy.
Getting influenced by Women United
In a series of TikToks, Freetown native-turned-makeup influencer Mikayla Nogueira Hawken joined forces with United Women to donate luxury bags to the event.
After posting a TikTok about expensive purchases she regretted, Erin Nogueira (no relation), a committee member from the United Way, stitched the video offering her a solution for all the handbags — donating them back to her roots in the SouthCoast.
“Mikayla was amazing to work with. When Erin reached out to her on social media, she jumped right in to help,” said Montgomery. “Although she doesn’t live in the area anymore, she still has a connection to the SouthCoast and was thrilled to help women in the community.”
Hawken announced that she donated 20 of her designer handbags to the Power of the Purse, with many being put on the auction block.
Among the bags donated by Hawken are a Christian Dior Bobby Bag, a Mark Jacobs Tote Bag, a Louis Vuitton Grand Palais, a Saint Laurent LouLou Quilted Shoulder Bag, and a Fendi Baguette.
“We are beyond thrilled to have partnered with Mikayla and appreciate her generous support of the program.” Montgomery continued. “We hope her purses bring a lot of money.”
How to bid on a purse
The auction is live at onecau.se/uwgnbpop25 until 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24.
You can also buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win the “It Bag.” This $40 ticket puts you in the running to bring home a YSL Le 37. The bag is retailed at over $3,000 and is crafted with luxurious leather.
You do not have to attend to purchase a raffle ticket or bid on an item. Winners will be announced through text message on April 24. Winning items can be shipped at cost to the winner.
For more information, visit https://unitedwayofgnb.org/powerofthepurse.
Where do the proceeds go?
Womens United has four fantastic programs geared towards supporting early childhood success, early literacy, and financial literacy.
“It is my pride and joy being the director of Womens United,” said Montgomery. “We are proud to be able to help women become financially independent, give pregnant women support when they most need it, help children build their own personal library, and support caregivers.”
Wash and Read is a program offered by Womens United that provides families with access to free children’s books. To achieve this, they partnered with 11 local laundry mats, creating designated “reading corners” within the facilities. These corners are stocked with a variety of books, which are refreshed on a monthly basis. The hope is to not only encourage children to develop a love for reading but also to enable them to build their own personal home libraries.
Bright by Text is a free text messaging service for parents or caregivers of children up to 8 years old. The program offers tips, activities, and resources tailored to your child’s developmental stage. It also sends notifications about local events and provides content on reaching milestones and your child’s development.
Baby Bundles supports new moms with the basic essentials and community resources. They host a free community baby shower for new or expectant moms. Sponsored by numerous programs and community members, the event “provides valuable resources to support their parenting journey while also celebrating the recent or pending birth of their child.” Additionally, they are provided with Baby Bundles containing essential items such as diapers, wipes, bottles, books, and more.
Financial Wellness is their newest initiative, which is committed to giving women financial security. It is a 10-week in-person program that “focuses on building healthy financial habits through goal-setting, budgeting, credit management, and long-term financial planning.” The program is designed to help women “achieve their personal financial goals and build generational wealth.”
“None of this would be possible without our Women United Leaders, the Women United Leadership Council, and our amazing volunteers and community members,” said Montgomery.
For more information about these programs, visit https://www.unitedway.org/women-united.
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