HYANNIS, MA, October 30, 2019 – WE CAN, Women’s Empowerment through Cape Area Networking, an organization dedicated to helping Cape Cod women achieve lasting positive change for themselves and their families, held their community breakfast today at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa in Hyannis.
Lisa Guyon, Executive Director of WE CAN explained, “This event is special because it brings together all those who make WE CAN’s work possible from the participants themselves to the supporters and volunteers who create the foundation for our work.” She added, “As we look ahead to 2020, we continue to see the growing need for our services in all regions of the Cape and we will continue to focus on that expansion of services to women on the Upper and Outer Cape.”
To celebrate the WE CAN staff presented a look back at the past year with details of WE CAN help in the areas of Finance, Work Support, Legal, Mentorship, Personal Development, and Volunteers. In total WE CAN served more than 2,700 women participants with 330 volunteers who gave more than 8,500 hours in service. More than 700 generous donors, from individuals to monthly donor Champions, to business Community Builders and Major Donors were thanked and all were celebrated for this annual achievement.
WE CAN presented outstanding service awards to three members of the organization who were recognized in the areas of volunteerism, partnership and support: Betsy Bray, Distinguished Volunteer; Falmouth Service Center, Exceptional Community Partner and Gail and David Oppenheim, Celebrated Supporters.
WE CAN offers work support, financial guidance, legal services and mentoring to women who find themselves in need. For More Information contact: www.wecancenter.org or call 508-430-8111.
ABOUT 2019 WE CAN COMMUNITY AWARDS WINNERS
Distinguished Volunteer Award
Betsy Bray, started as WE CAN’s Words, Wit and Wisdom (W3) House Manager, then quickly moved-on to serve as Co-Chair of the W3 event for four years (2016-2019) alongside Rick Morris, Lynn Comandich, and Anne LeClaire. Betsy is best known for her “Can Do” attitude and behind the scenes she has led teams of volunteers through year-long planning to deliver WE CAN’s largest event, W3, hosting more than 470 people for this one of a kind experience, year after year. Betsy has also served on WE CAN’s Annual Meeting Committee. WE CAN thanks Betsy for her many contributions to the success of these key events.
Exceptional Community Partner
The Falmouth Service Center (FSC), under Brenda Swain and Kerin Delaney’s visionary leadership, embraced WE CAN’s proposal to become a collaborative partner in 2015. FSC hosts WE CAN at their site in Falmouth each month to conduct free and confidential legal, work support, and financial empowerment services. FSC and its leadership recognized this opportunity for collaboration to serve the Falmouth community in new and different ways. Thank you for your foresight and generosity to WE CAN. Our strategic partnership enabled WE CAN to expand services to the Upper Cape.
Celebrated Supporters
Gail and David Oppenheim and the Chatham Wayside Inn are steadfast supporters of WE CAN as major donors and volunteers. Gail has served as a Mentor to a PathMaker and David serves on WE CAN’s Board of Directors and Development Committee. The Chatham Wayside Inn and their staff, under Shane Coughlin’s leadership, serves as a Community Builder donor and host of many WE CAN participant, volunteer, and donor appreciation events. In 2018, the Oppenheims led the effort to launch the Andi Genser Strategic Opportunities Fund, inspiring 40 donors to contribute special funds to ensure that WE CAN has the resources to meet emerging organizational and community needs. Thank you to Gail and David for your leadership, generosity and commitment to WE CAN and the women we serve across Cape Cod.
About WE CAN
WE CAN changes lives. Since 2001, WE CAN has provided unique, practical services that empower Cape Cod women to achieve lasting positive change for themselves, their families and, ultimately, for the entire community. For more information, visit www.wecancenter.org or call 508-430-8111.
