About Us

A Woman's Work is a unique funding source for women in the St. Vrain Valley who need financial support for immediate needs that cannot be met by other sources.

A Woman's Work assistance pays for a wide variety of needs including child care, housing, transportation, medical needs and more.  All women who receive help from A Woman's Work must live or work in the St. Vrain Valley for at least 90 days.  In return, A Woman's Work asks only that the recipient pays the kindness forward.

It was a question asked by a small group of women in 2003: What happens to women in our community when they are met with financial crisis and there is no help available from family and friends?  The answer, they found, was disappointing - there was little support available to many women who found themselves in that situation.  This group of women took matters into their own hands and set a goal of finding 100 women in 100 days who would donate $100.  They met their goal in 13 days, and thus, A Woman's Work began.

Research shows that social investment in women reduces poverty, raises productivity and accelerates economic growth.  Support for women benefits families and strengthens entire communities.

More than 80% of our funds come from individual donors in our local community.  The other 20% comes from grants, corporate sponsorship and special event revenue.



How Does it Work?
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Understanding the Grant Process

The following criteria and guidelines are used to determine grants made by the Advisory Board of A Woman's Work.

 
When You Contribute to a Woman's Work
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When you contribute to A Woman's Work...

...you assist a young mother who bravely moves on from a long-standing physically abusive relationship to raise three children on her own. The oldest child, age 12, who should be in school, stays home to care for the littlest one who is not in school. Mom needs to work to support the family and can't afford daycare. A Woman's Work (AWW), in conjuction with a child care grant through the Ed & Ruth Lehman YMCA funded daycare for the littlest one so that the 12-year-old could get back to school. It was a win-win situation because each of the organizations did a little bit to make a big thing happen for a woman in need.

 
The History of a Woman's Work
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In the fall of 2003, a group of local women committed their time and money to raise the necessary dollars to make A Woman's Work a reality. Together, they created strategies for raising and sustaining funds, and developed a means for distributing funds through local non-profits, schools and churches.

The group's initial goal was to raise $10,000. The plan was to get 100 women to donate $100 each, in 100 days. That goal was achieved in 13 days! In fact, the group's efforts were met with resounding support from the community. As a result, at the end of its fourth month of existence, nearly 200 local women had contributed over $20,000 to A Woman's Work.  During that same period of time, over $8000 was distributed to women in need.

 
A Woman's Work Advisory Board
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Below is a directory listing of our Advisory Board and the Executive Director.

To view the list, please click the 'read more' link.

Pat Carson

Pat Carson joined the board in 2010. She is co-chair of the Outreach Committee and also serves on the Executive Committee. Pat brings a wealth of volunteer experience as well as corporate knowledge to the board. She and her husband Mitch have two sons attending St. Vrain Valley schools.

Wendy Conder

Wendy joined the board in 2010 and is serving as co-chair for the Evening of Great Tastes on Saturday, May 7th and also on the Magnificent Men of A Woman's Work Committee. She is a Real Estate Broker with Windemere Realty, Inc.

"I believe in the philosophy of a "hand up", I was a single mom and it could have gone either way for me many times. I really enjoy the great volunteers and heartwarming work that is done."


Nancy Driscoll

Nancy joined the board in 2010. She serves on the Outreach Committee. She is the Vice-President of Patient Care Services at Longmont United Hospital.

"A Woman's Work fills a gap by providing financial assistance to women who are in need of immediate help. I believe it is the hand up that many need to return to self sufficiency. I am honored to be part of this wonderful organization that serves women in need in our community."


Kate Gaddis
Kate is serving her second year as Board Chair of AWW. She joined the board in 2006 and also serves on the Executive and Fundraising Committees.

She is married to John Gaddis, Jr. and am the proud parent of Grant (6 years old) and Clare (3 years old).

“My husband and I grew up in Longmont, and when we moved back five years ago, it was important to me to find a way to give back to the community that has given me so much. The mission of A Woman's Work resonates with me because we all have been there or know someone who needs a helping hand or just a little bit of help so she won't fall. A Woman's Work provides help to women in a dignified, loving way. Our community is better because A Woman's Work is in it.
What I like best about this non-profit is being a part of an organization that is comprised of so many dynamic, hard working, compassionate women (and men, too). We may disagree on small points here and there, but we all work with the same mission in mind: to help the women in need in the St. Vrain Valley community. It's awe-inspiring dedication of the volunteers and the board to be successful and serve women (and their families).



Betsy Gray

Betsy has served on the board since 2005 and has been active on the Fundraising Committee and currently serves as Secretary for the Executive Committee of the Board. She is also a valuable volunteer in the office. She is retired from Wells Fargo Bank and she and her husband, Al, live in Evans, Colorado.

Kathy Ewing

Kathy served on the Evening of Great Tastes Committee before joining the board this year.



Shirley Lemmex
Shirley moved to Colorado from Massachusetts in 2000. Shirley has been involved with AWW since 2006 and serves on the Fundraising Committee. She is also a member of Longmont Rotary and Light of Christ Ecumenical Catholic Church. She and her partner Brad Box live in Longmont and Shirley is the proud mom of her adult son, Ben.


Jody Lyons

Jody joined the board in 2005 after retiring from the St. Vrain School District.l She was the original chair of the Education and Information Committee and chairs that committee. She and the committee have spoken to numerous community, school, social services and business organizations. She also serves as Past Chair on the Executive Committee. She and her husband Dick have lived in Longmont for thirty years and are the proud parents of Trey and Annie.

"AWW is a local non-profit that answers needs that can't be met promptly by other groups in our area. I have experienced first hand the difference that AWW makes on a daily basis to women and their families. One of the best things about the organization is that it has made so much sense to the community. I feel like AWW has been adopted by not only the women but the men in our area. There is great need for many - and many great people of the St. Vrain Valley have seen that need and by their support, validated the work done by AWW."


Laurie Mazzetta
Laurie Mazzetta is a full time "mom" volunteering at A Woman's Work weekly. She is on the Events Committee. She and her husband, Tom, have four children and live in Niwot.


Stephanie McKay

Stephanie has been donating money to AWW since the inception of the organization. When she became employed locally at Heritage Title Company she decided to give of her time as well as her money through community service. AWW was the non-profit she chose to become involved with by volunteering to be on the Anniversary Luncheon Committee. She joined the Board of Directors in 2009 and co-chaired the 2010 and 2011Evening of Great Tastes. She also serves on the nominating committee.

"I remember talking with Julie Stapp about the idea of AWW before it was born...it is great that the women of Longmont made it happen. Women helping women ... what is more empowering than that! I also love that the application process is so simple, and that once approved, AWW assistance can be made immediately to women in need."



Melody Mills
Mel is the Pincipal/Owner, Laughing Betty Creative; Marketing & Special Events Coordinator, Longmont Clinic and has served on the board since June 2010. She has served on the Fundraising, PR and Events Committees and is repsonsible for all the AWW design work."I see myself in so many of the women we've helped. I've been a single mom and self-employed for 24+ years. I know what it's like to struggle to pay your mortgage, buy groceries, find childcare, and make ends meet. I know what it's like to come up short. I would've been lost without the support and help of my wonderful family – without that loving network of support I could very well have been one of the women we help. I am honored and humbled to be a part of an organization that can step in and help when no one else can," she said. "I love that we can providecompassionateassistance to women and their familiesquickly. Sometimes you simply don't have the luxury of waiting two or three months until that check comes in or you've just hit a really rough patch in your life -- we can literally be the bridge that helps someone get to the other side of financial stability, dignity and self-sufficiency. "I am the extremely proud mother of Ben Mills, who finally -- after 2 years of struggling and sending out thousands of resumes -- got his first 'official' job at Nickelodeon Television in Los Angeles. Thank you, God, and WOOOOO HOOOO!








Kirsten Pellicer

Kirsten joined the Advisory Board in 2008 after serving for one year on the Fundraising Committee and currently serves on the Executive Committe, Finance Committee and PR Committee. She also is the Treasurer of the Executive Committee. Professionally, Kirsten works in her family's Ace Hardware business doing marketing, human resources and buying. She and her husband, Manny Pellicer, have one son, Logan.

"I chose to become involved with AWW because of the impact I know the organization has in the lives of women and their families. It's real, tangible and timely. I love the fact that AWW is 100% local and makes a difference in the community I grew up in and chose to raise my family in. I also love the fact that I get to work with so many fun and inspirational women."



Janie Waters

Janie Waters joined the board in June 2011. She is a retired educator from the St. Vrain Valley School District. She has been a supporter of A Woman's Work since it's inception and has served on the Education and Outreach Committee and the Anniversary Luncheon Committee for several years.

"I believe in the power of A Woman's Work, and have seen first hand the positive impact assistance makes in supporting families," she said.



Glendora Shaffer
Glendora served for many years on the Outreach Committee before joininig the board this year.


Diane Stow

Diane joined the AWW Board in 2007. She serves on the Public Relations Committee. Diane is active in the community & currently serves on the Board of Teaching Peace. She has been a residential Realtor with Re/Max Traditions since 1989, is a native of Longmont.

She is Past President and on the Board of LCJP (Longmont Community Justice Partnership) formerly Teaching Peace.

"I am honored to be a part of this great group of generous women helping other women when they need it most."

She has four grown children & four grandchildren. http://www.dianestow.com


Karen Wood


Karen Wood joined the Board of a Woman's Work in March 2011 after serving on the Fundraising Committee. Karen is a third generation Longmonter, so she has deep roots and love for the community. After attending a number of A Woman's Work events, she was inspired by the impact the organization was making in so many women's lives and wanted to be a part of it. She enjoys working in the family business as a travel consultant at Gold Key Travel, with her husband, Don, and son Eric.




Cindy Noble
Cindy Noble serves as the Executive Director of A Woman's Work. One of the founders of AWW in 2003, she was the original director while serving as the Executive Director of the Longmont Community Foundation. She and her husband Paul have two daughters.





Special Thanks To All the Ladies Who Have So Generously Served!

Monica Baldwin Laura Bickers Laura Cotter Tammy Evevard Libby FitzGibbons Debbi Ford Ann Hall Nanci Kalamaya Connie Lehman Evelyn McMahon Sue Mesch Jill Nelson Sheila Phillips Shelley Saxton Kay Stanley Julie Stapp Fran Wahl Pat Walton Kathy Weber-Harding Darla Wiley Janet Worrell Dene Yarwood

 
June AWW Newsletter
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In this issue of A Woman's Work Newsletter:

  •  Love Letters to AWW
  •  Fairy Tales Really Do Come True...
  •  2011 Funding Champions
  •  Magnificent Men of A Woman's Work Returns
  •  NEW AWW Board Members
  •  An Evening of Great Tastes With A Western Touch
  • Community Day Raises $21,000
  • Swinging for A Cause
  • 2011 Donors to A Woman's Work
  • Special Gifts to A Woman's Work
  • Honorariums and Memorials
  • 2011 Calendar of Events

Download the June Newsletter