Women Moving Millions Marks First ‘International Day of the Girl’ with Bold Challenge: Make Women and Girls a $1 Million Priority

• Unprecedented Philanthropic Organization has Already Mobilized More than $240 Million; Celebrates First-Ever United Nations ‘International Day of the Girl’ with Call to Action
• Women Moving Millions Forms Inaugural Board of Directors Composed of Outstanding Women Leaders
• Jacki Zehner, Former Goldman Sachs Partner, Named First CEO

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To mark the United Nations’ first International Day of the Girl, Women Moving Millions (WMM - www.womenmovingmillions.org) is issuing a bold challenge to the global philanthropic community: Make women and girls a priority by giving $1 million or more to organizations that support their advancement.

“Despite many advances, women and girls continue to be disproportionally affected by poverty, violence and gender stereotyping”

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011, the purpose of the International Day of the Girl is to “help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.”

WMM is stepping onto the public stage on this special day to underline the importance of making big, bold investments in girls. Women Moving Millions is led by an extraordinary member leadership team, including Co-founder Helen LaKelly Hunt, new CEO Jacki Zehner, and an inaugural, nine-member board of directors comprised of some of the most visionary philanthropists of our time.

“Despite many advances, women and girls continue to be disproportionally affected by poverty, violence and gender stereotyping,” said Zehner. “On the other hand, women have more economic power than ever before, and are using it in alignment with their values. For the first time in the history of the world, women and men have come together to fund causes that support women and girls at the million-dollar level. We challenge everyone to make giving to women and girls a priority. And we ask those with capacity to join us by giving $1 million or more. Together, let’s mobilize our collective resources – our money, our influence, our leadership, our power – towards creating a world where girls and women everywhere are more fully supported and empowered.”

WMM is a growing community of individuals who have made pledges of $1 million or more to organizations and initiatives that promote the advancement of women and girls around the world. The organization’s motivating sentiment of “unprecedented giving” is galvanized by the belief that women’s rights are human rights, and that investing in women and girls leads to healthier families, communities, institutions and nations.

Women Moving Millions began as an initiative by sisters Helen LaKelly Hunt and Ambassador Swanee Hunt to raise the bar on women’s giving. Between 2007 and 2009 under the extraordinary leadership of LaKelly Hunt, WMM partnered with the Women’s Funding Network on a campaign that generated $182 million to 41 women’s funds. As of October 2012, WMM members have given or pledged more than $240 million to over 100 organizations and initiatives serving women and girls.

A member of WMM since 2009, the appointment of Jacki Zehner as WMM’s first, full-time CEO marks an important milestone in the organization’s history. Zehner was the youngest woman and first female trader to be made a partner at Goldman Sachs, and for over a decade has been an engaged funder and advocate of women and girls. WMM is poised to harness the collective power of its members, as well as the larger philanthropic community to make an even greater difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide.

• For more information about Women Moving Millions, visit www.womenmovingmillions.org.
• For information about WMM’s CEO and board, visit www.womenmovingmillions.org/who-we-are/our-leaders/.
• For facts and other information, please visit the WMM Press Room at http://www.womenmovingmillions.org/how-we-do-it/news-press/.

About Women Moving Millions

Women Moving Millions is a growing community of individuals who have made pledges of $1 million or more to organizations and initiatives that promote the advancement of women and girls around the world. WMM’s main objectives are to significantly increase funding and new gifts that support the advancement of women and girls, and to grow a strong and committed community of diverse donor leaders around the globe. This work brings attention to the fact that so little funding goes to support women and girls relative to their need, and serves as a call to action for all, particularly to individuals who have the capacity to give big and bold.

In Fall 2012, WMM held an inaugural summit in New York. The event officially marked the transition from a campaign to an established 501(c)(3) entity that will provide ongoing organization and support to members in making women and girls a philanthropic priority. Participants included keynote speaker Tyra Banks, whose TZONE Foundation promotes leadership in girls; legendary women’s rights advocate Gloria Steinem; Stephen Lewis, co-founder and co-director of Aids-Free World; Leymah Gbowee, founder and president of Gbowee Peace Foundation USA, and winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, and; Musimbi Kanyoro, president and CEO of the Global Fund for Women.