Partnership Will Help Fund and Empower Women Entrepreneurs
Two leading women entrepreneurs are joining forces to establish the She Angels Foundation to empower women across a range of fields via annual grants to female-founded and operated non-profit organizations that provide mentorship, funding, training, and advancement resources to women entrepreneurs.
Internationally known philanthropist Catherine Curry-Williams, who has raised over $70 million to build universally accessible playgrounds worldwide through Shane’s Inspiration, the organization she co-founded over twenty years ago, has partnered with media entrepreneur Catherine Gray, founder of the She Angels Pitchfest and TV show as well as inspirational speaker and producer. Multi-hyphenate Gray is also host of the Invest in Her podcast, launching in September 2020 to be available on iTunes, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found.
Created to address the enormous funding gap in venture capital between female and male business owners, the She Angels Foundation will pool funds raised through its membership and then award annual grants to women through an evaluation process.
Curry-Williams noted, “For many years, I’ve gotten an immense amount of purpose and fulfillment as the Founder of Shane’s Inspiration. And now it’s time to use my skills to bring another dream to fruition. That dream is supporting women through the creation of the She Angels Foundation.”
The She Angels Foundation will draw upon a deep bench of entrepreneurial talent and leadership from among its founding members and advisory board. With members who represent the worlds of entertainment, business, cuisine, and fashion, the organization will offer more than funding, and is poised to share professional advice, camaraderie and mentoring in a range of fields.
Among the advisors and investors are globally recognized celebrity chef Cat Cora; award-winning producer and CEO of Cat Cora, Inc. Nicole Ehrlich; Celia Zaurrini-Kahn, president and owner of Milano, the iconic Montreal Italian market; leading voice over artist, Randy Thomas; Emmy-winning casting director Holly Powell; SenYon Kelly, who serves on the advisory board of the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, New York; renowned empowerment coach Andrea Quinn; and author and real estate broker Debra Smalley, who also serves on the Los Angeles Jewish Community Foundation Board.
“We have plenty of female founders; however, we must have more female funders in order to address the issue of the underfunding of women entrepreneurs. This is why we want to educate and encourage the manifestation of more angel investment groups around the country for women. Think of it as the new book club: only more fascinating and more lucrative, too! We must encourage women to be both philanthropists and investors,” asserts Gray.
Membership is available at various levels that come with benefits ranging from entrée to the organization’s in-person and online events and inclusion in the newsletter to representation on the research team that will assess the charities to designate the grants and voting power on the recipients of the grants.
She Angels funder and Pitchfest judge Kelly commented, “It is special and honorable, to become involved in the She Angels Foundation and be given the opportunity to empower women to develop and grow their business ideas. This is when I realized that my life’s purpose and giving back is bigger than myself.”
Recent She Angels grant recipient Melissa Scott exemplifies the qualities that meet the organization’s criteria. A genuine trailblazer, Scott is the founder and CEO of MODEFYWear and a competitor from the She Angels Pitchfest, which was hosted by actress and entertainer Susan Anton. MODEFYWear specializes in athletic clothing tailored for women who adhere to the guidelines of traditional modesty, such as those of Muslim, observant Jewish and Indian conventions, without foregoing stylish design and comfort.
Her innovative, stunning line of athletic clothing, which draws on her two decades’ experience working with the Olympics, won the support and investment of She Angels judges. Scott notes that it is this mentorship that She Angels offers that sets it apart from other organizations, explaining, “The team offered me continual empowerment. Not only did these women believe in me, they solicited my input, brainstorming ideas with me. That’s how they lift other women up.”
In a further expansion of her success, the first MODEFYWear retail store opened on famed Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles in July 2020.
For more information on the She Angels Foundation and to learn how to become a member, please visit: sheangelsfoundation.org
