2025 Power of the Purse
Standing alongside 250 attendees and 100 designer purses, one of the former Power of the Purse grantees Sandy Williams smiled widely while she reminisced on how the event has empowered her over the years.
“I love Power of the Purse,” said Sandy, who is the executive director of Foundation’s Preschool of Washtenaw County. “It’s my favorite event.”
Thanks to a grant from 2023’s Power of the Purse, Foundation’s Preschool supported parents with wrap-around services in their Parent Empowerment Program.
Around Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building, attendees at this year’s event read the stories of five organizations helping the community thrive with funds raised by Power of the Purse in 2024. Among them Housing Bureau for Seniors, whose executive director, Janet Hunko, graced the stage to share her gratitude.
“On behalf of the entire Housing Bureau for Seniors team, we are grateful for the Power of the Purse award,” said Janet. “HBS has utilized some of the funds granted to bolster our visibility.
“We also saw a need for professional development for our team,” continued Janet. “Please know your donations are being well spent.”
Network of Support
Echoing the night’s sentiment of interconnectedness, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell recognized the network of important non-profits United Way’s funding reaches.
“I always come to this event because of two things– women donate purses, and we all love our purses, but more importantly it shows our power in supporting the work United Way does to support so many important nonprofits in our community,” said Congresswoman Dingle. “Tonight, it’s about the women– speaking up, speaking out and showing the power of the purse.”
Presented by Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, the 2025 Power of the Purse raised $83,500 for the betterment of women and children in Washtenaw County. Since its inception in 2008, the event has reinvested more than $700,000 into the community.
Honoring Changemakers
Women United, a philanthropy group dedicated to early childhood education and literacy, honored Dr. Rose B. Bellanca, president and CEO of Washtenaw Community College, with the 2025 Woman of the Year award.
“United Way and WCC have so much in common because we both focus on raising people up— helping them overcome barriers and make their dreams come true,” said Dr. Bellanca. “It means so much to have women who believe in other women supporting me.”
Joined by her family, Dr. Bellanca celebrated her 14 years of impact in Washtenaw County. Her innovative initiatives address the skills gap by increasing access to education and training.
“Power of the Purse affords us the opportunity to be changemakers in our community,” said Dr. Darienne Hudson, president and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “We have a lot of work to do— keep in mind there is a community out there depending on us to do the heavy lifting.”
Ready to be a changemaker in your community? Join Women United, or learn more about other philanthropic groups here.
