Ginger Zee captivates crowd at 2018 Power of the Purse Event

Posted on December 11, 2018

Ginger Zee, ABC News Chief Meteorologist and best-selling author of Natural Disaster: I Cover Them, I am One, delivered a compelling presentation on mental health to about 400 attendees at the Women’s Foundation of Collier County Power of the Purse Luncheon on Wednesday, December 5, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.

Ginger is known to millions as the face of ABC News’ meteorology Good Morning America team, as well as for her third-place finish on the 22nd season of Dancing with the Stars. She captivated the crowd with her funny, self-deprecating, and brutally honest portrayal of her mental health struggles, and how she overcame them to became the first female chief network meteorologist at a network.

Jackie Pierce, Women’s Foundation of Collier County Board Chair announced The 2019 Women of Initiative at the Power of the Purse. The Women of Initiative program honors local women leaders who, through their leadership styles, are an inspiration to all women seeking to make a difference through philanthropy and civic engagement.

The 2019 Women of Initiative are:

Mary Ann Bindley
Lynn Yaeger Davidson
Kathleen Flynn Fox
Myra Friedman
Sonya Sawyer
Chief Stephanie Spell
Barbara Teaford
Susan Warren
Pat Wheeler
Linda Yost

These women will be honored at 2019 Women of Initiative Honorees Luncheon on April 5, 2019, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.  Tickets are $225.  Click here to register.

“The Women’s Foundation of Collier County has always been a strong supporter of mental health issues which affect women and girls in Collier County,” said Jackie Pierce. “Many of the agencies who have received WFCC grants are those who service this issue in our community.  Ginger Zee’s testimony reflected those of many of our grantees.  The need is so great and is so often overlooked.”

The Women’s Foundation of Collier County, a fund at the Community Foundation of Collier County, hosted the Power of the Purse. BMO Private Bank and Gulfshore Life sponsored the event.   Net proceeds will support the Women’s Foundation of Collier County grantmaking.

This year, the Women’s Foundation focused its grantmaking on supporting three organizations, which were recognized during the program, with larger impact grants including:

  • Naples Senior Center at JFCS
  • David Lawrence Center
  • The Shelter for Abused Women & Children

Click here to watch the grant videos.