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Celebrating a Month of Connection and Momentum: May 2025 Events Recap

May was a meaningful and energizing month for Women’s Impact Fund as we closed out our fiscal year with exciting events that celebrated our accomplishments and welcomed the next wave of member engagement.

We kicked off the month on a high note with our sold-out Annual Meeting on May 6 at The Union at Station West. Members, community partners, and nonprofit leaders gathered for an inspiring evening reflecting on WIF’s impact and looking ahead to the future. Board Chair Katie Susong opened the program with a warm welcome, followed by remarks from At-Large Director Blanca Gonzalez, who highlighted the power of collaboration.

The evening featured updates on our strategic plan, organizational milestones, and the impact of our 2024 grants. We also celebrated the announcement of the 2025 Grant Recipients and Spark Award honorees, marking over $8.5 million in total giving since our founding. A heartfelt farewell was shared for Executive Director Patricia Massey Hoke, whose six years of leadership helped shape the strong foundation we stand on today. It was a powerful evening that reaffirmed WIF’s role as a catalyst for positive change in Charlotte.

On May 17, we embraced the summer spirit with an Outdoor Social at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in Ballantyne. A small group of members gathered to relax, connect, and enjoy a beautiful evening together. It was especially exciting to see so many of our newest members join in the fun and start building community within the organization.

Continuing the momentum, more than 20 enthusiastic newer members joined us on May 20 for our Newer Member Orientation. It was a great opportunity to connect, share stories, and learn more about WIF’s mission, structure, and all the ways to get involved. We loved seeing everyone’s energy and excitement, and we’re so glad to welcome these amazing new members.

As we look ahead to a new year of opportunity, we’re grateful for the energy, commitment, and generosity of our members. Thank you to everyone who made May such a success!

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Janet LaBar

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.