2026 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST CO-CHAIRS ANNOUNCED

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to the 2026 Women's Leadership Breakfast Co-Chairs, Monesia Brown and Becky Harnden!

Monesia Brown has dedicated her career to strengthening communities through visionary leadership, philanthropy, and a steadfast commitment to expanding opportunity for children, families, and future generations. A nationally recognized executive, attorney, and civic leader, she has spent nearly three decades bringing together the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to solve complex challenges and create lasting community impact.

As Co-Chair of United Way of the Big Bend's Women's Leadership Breakfast, Monesia continues a longstanding commitment to advancing the organization's mission, following her previous leadership as UWBB Chair of Power of the Purse and service on the UWBB Board of Directors.

Becky Harnden is a mission and relationship-centered leader whose career reflects more than two decades of service in nonprofit healthcare. With a focus on fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement, she has served locally in leadership roles with Neighborhood Medical Center and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Foundation.

As the 2026 United Way of the Big Bend Women’s Leadership Breakfast Co-Chair, Becky is honored and eager to inspire generosity, elevate women’s leadership, and mobilize community support to meet critical needs. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of the collective joining their time, talent, and treasure to create meaningful impact.

Monesia Brown and Becky Harnden will be revealing this year's speaker at our upcoming Annual Community Meeting as well as providing other information about this year's event.

Join us for our Annual Community Meeting this month on August 25th! Tables are available now, click the button below to secure yours!

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL

For the past several years, our MathPals program has been a quiet success story in the Big Bend. Every week, students who once dreaded facing simple math problems walk into our one-on-one sesisons, sit down with a tutor who knows their name, and start to understand. That lightbulb moment, when a child realizes they can do math, is what gives us the drive to keep this program going.

But right now, that light is flickering.

Your support matters because math confidence in elementary school isn't just about grades, It's about giving kids the foundation to pursue whatever they want - whether that's science, trades, art, or just making it through homework without tears.

So, what now? We have the curriculum and dedicated volunteers, but your support is the crucial third piece that makes this program successful. Help us reach our $2,500 goal to start the school year off right by clicking the button below.

UWBB PROGRAM PARTNERS GATHER TO DISCUSS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

As we venture forward into the age of AI, UWBB is making sure all of our funded program partners come with us! After receiving AI training as a team, United Way of the Big Bend hosted training sessions for our funded program partners to provide additional clarity on the current state of Artificial Intelligence and the risks, benefits, and use cases for nonprofit organizations.

Recently, some of our program partners gathered to share how they are currently using, or looking into using, AI for different things related to their work/programs/agencies. We can't wait to see how this technology helps the Big Bend thrive!

UWBB HOSTS REALITY STORE AT

LEON CO. LIBRARY

On July 13th, UWBB hosted a Reality Store event facilitated by members of the Omega Lamplighters program at Leon County Library's main branch, offering young participants the chance to experience the expenses of life without the risk.

The simulation provides valuable context on average cost of living expenses, as well as introducing participants to expenses they may not associate with living alone, like car insurance, utility bills, and unexpected life events.

If you'd like to host a Reality Store event, contact Tatianna Martinez at tatianna@uwbb.org today, or learn more at the button below!

UWBB ATTENDS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S FORUM

This past week, some of the UWBB team attended the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's Professional Women's Forum on August 4th.

They heard from speaker Dr. Patty Ghazvini, a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Florida A&M University and a clinical pharmacist at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare with more than 23 years of experience in helping people make informed decisions that improve their healthcare and state of well-being.

Dr. Ghazvini discussed the role of supplements and vitamins in women's health, drawing on her years of expertise in patient education, internal medicine, mental health, and clinical pharmacy to give talk participants the tools they need to make informed decisions about their personal health.

Pictured: Taylor Donnelly, Donor Engagement Manager; Caylie Atkins, Special Events Manager; Dr. Patty Ghazvini; and Angela Gibbs, VP of Philanthropy & Communications

HELP LOCAL STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE

Some of the best moments in a child's week are the simplest ones: curling up with a good story, finally cracking a math problem that used to feel impossible, or just interacting with a positive role model. You can be part of those moments by volunteering with our ReadingPals and MathPals programs!

Our community is looking for friendly, patient volunteers for these programs that help Big Bend students build confidence in the basics.

ReadingPals pairs you with a young struggling reader for about one hour a week. You'll read together, sound out words, and practice reading skills-based games - no teaching experience needed, just a love of children and a little patience.

MathPals matches you with a child struggling to grasp basic math skills. In a weekly hourly meeting, you'll help kids learn math concepts and practice basic skills - including problem-solving - in a low-pressure, encouraging way.

Ready to change a life? Click the "learn more" buttons below to get started.

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