On May 8, United Way of Salt Lake’s Women United hosted the 18th Power of Your Purse gala at the Asher Adams. This year’s theme, Rooted in Purpose, celebrated the resilience and vision that inspires our work. Even as we grow, innovate, and rise to meet the evolving needs of our community, our mission remains a steady foundation that guides us forward.
The gala was a sold-out event with 280 tickets sold, plus those who participated in the silent auction virtually. Attendees joined us in their floral prints, fascinators, and garden party chic attire, ready for a fun and impactful evening. Deanie Wimmer, Anchor at KSL News and founding member of Women United, served as our emcee for the evening, supported by remarks from Women United Chair Jamie Issowits. Throughout the program, attendees gained a glimpse of the incredible difference their support makes to ensure 100% of Utah kids and families thrive.
Growing Local Impact
Proceeds from this year’s silent auction and paddle raise support Promise Baby & You and the Deborah S. Bayle Scholarship Fund for Youth, the two priority programs selected by Women United as the focus for their volunteerism and philanthropy. During the gala, Jennifer Williams, Baby & You Liaison for Davis School District, spoke about the impact of the Promise Baby & You program for parents and caregivers of children ages 0-3.
“Our goal is simple but powerful: that every child arrives at kindergarten healthy and equipped for learning—and that every parent feels connected to a strong community of support,” Williams said. “Every week, I have a front-row seat to witness the impact this program has on real families right here in our own community.”
Promise Baby & You provides families with the knowledge and skills they need to support their child’s development. To date, 156 families have completed the program across 9 cohorts in South Salt Lake and Davis School District, and $75,500 in seeded funds for my529 college savings accounts has supported the future education of 151 children whose families completed the program.
At the other end of the education journey, the Deborah S. Bayle Scholarship Fund for Youth helps local high school students pursue post-secondary education. In addition to financial support for tuition, books, and other education expenses, students receive resources and ongoing support throughout their college journey—building access and opportunity for all. As Issowits noted during her remarks, “women’s philanthropy [has the power] to drive measurable change. This scholarship honors that legacy—not just by supporting individual students, but by strengthening the future of our entire community. When we invest in education, especially for women and girls, we create ripple effects that extend far beyond one person. We build leaders, mentors, and change-makers.”
Together, the Promise Baby & You initiative and the Deborah S. Bayle Scholarship Fund for Youth tell a powerful story. From the very beginning of a child’s life to when they graduate high school and continue on to college, United Way of Salt Lake is right alongside them the entire way—removing barriers, providing opportunities and support, and creating pathways to lasting economic mobility.
Inspiring Keynote Offers National Perspective
After enjoying dinner, gala attendees had the opportunity to hear from Keynote Speaker Cecilia Gutierrez. Based in the Greater Boston region, Gutierrez is the Managing Director at Blue Meridian Partners—one of the largest philanthropic initiatives focused on economic and social mobility in this country. During her keynote address, Gutierrez shared how her life’s trajectory was altered forever when her teachers and mentors believed she had what it takes to go to college and build a better life than the one that was preordained by the circumstances of her birth. Her personal reflections emphasized the need for intentional, robust systems of support to ensure every child receives those same opportunities—not just the lucky few.
“When a community makes a deliberate, sustained, unapologetic investment in a place – in every single child, not just the lucky ones – the trajectory changes,” Gutierrez said. “Children who were never supposed to make it, make it. Families who were never supposed to thrive, thrive. Not for a lucky few. For everyone.”
This sentiment is at the core of United Way of Salt Lake’s mission to ensure 100% of Utah kids and families thrive. Together with our many partners and supporters, we are doing the work to transform entire communities so every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
“What I see here in Salt Lake genuinely moves me,” Gutierrez noted. She highlighted the true impact of the gala and the work of United Way of Salt Lake more broadly when she said, “Every dollar raised tonight tells a story — to national funders, to policymakers, to every child in South Salt Lake and Kearns and Millcreek counting on this work. The story is the same one this community has been telling for twenty-one years: we see you. We built this for you. And we are not walking away.”
Thank You for Your Support
This year, the Power of Your Purse gala raised $361,349—exceeding our fundraising goal and making a significant impact for Utah’s kids and families.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the gala attendees, Power of Your Purse sponsors, in-kind donors, silent auction and paddle raise participants, the Women United Power of Your Purse Committee, and everyone else who made this incredible event possible. Together, we are united by a shared vision, and when we remain rooted in purpose, there is no limit to the impact we can create.
Written by Jenna Fischer, Content Strategist
About Women United
United Way of Salt Lake’s Women United is a passionate group of advocates, volunteers, and donors working to create opportunities for Utah kids and families. To learn more about Women United and the step-up options for membership, please contact Bridget Lee at bridget.lee@uw.org.
