Member Spotlight: Toni Freeman As a founding member of Women’s Impact Fund, Toni shares both what she has loved about the legacy of WIF and what she is looking forward to in the future. Tell us about YOU. What do you want other WIF members to know? I have been actively involved in community engagement […]
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Member Spotlight: Annie Filer Learn more about Kari’s WIF experience, including what inspires her about the Spark Committee. Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? I was raised on a wheat farm in Kansas and earned my undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Kansas (Go
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Member Spotlight: Kari Kalgren Learn more about Kari’s WIF experience, including what inspires her about the Spark Committee. Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? I grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota after being born in South Korea and adopted as an infant, so
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Stories of Impact: Shelter Health Services This Story of Impact highlights Shelter Health Services, a Women’s Impact Fund grantee. Shelter Health Services’ mission is to remove health issues as barriers to self-sufficiency and upward mobility for homeless women, and as impediments to development and readiness to learn for homeless children, by providing free healthcare and health information that is
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Stories of Impact: Right Moves for Youth This Story of Impact highlights Right Moves for Youth, a Women’s Impact Fund grantee. Right Moves for Youth’s mission is to help students in grades 6-12 make the most out of their education, connections, and opportunities, setting themselves up for future success. Its vision is a city where
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Member Spotlight: Laurie Schwartz By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about Laurie’s WIF experience and the fun hobby that energizes her! Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? My family moved to Charlotte 2 weeks before I started the first grade and I’m still here. A degree
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Member Spotlight: Kristina Burke By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about the the thing Melissa loves most about our city! Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? I hail from Virginia, moved to Charlotte after Hugo, during Zo’s iconic winning shot and before South End was more
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Stories of Impact: Independent Picture House As Charlotte’s only nonprofit arthouse cinema, The Independent Picture House (IPH) exists to educate, engage, and enable our community through the power of film. In 2025, that mission has been reflected in both attendance and impact. IPH has welcomed 45,000+ ticketed attendees and now serves 1,474 active members, including 311
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Member Spotlight: Melissa Hovey By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about the the thing Melissa loves most about our city! Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? I’m originally from Texas, where I spent 20 years at Dell Technologies in Austin leading global marketing and sales teams.
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Stories of Impact: Arts+ Arts+ was founded as Community School of the Arts in 1969 by Henry Bridges, the organist and choir director of the First Presbyterian Church in Uptown Charlotte. He envisioned the program after realizing the church had 15 unused pianos in its basement and was surrounded by an urban neighborhood with children who
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Executive Director
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org
With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.
