Julie Wade is a connector—a type of uncommon human beings who not solely sees the potential of connecting one alternative with one other, however takes motion to convey concepts and folks collectively, making a multiplying energy that results in one thing significant, efficient, and thrilling.
Julie has labored and volunteered for nonprofit organizations all through her life. When she and her household lived in Hinsdale, IL, Alternative Worldwide’s headquarters have been near dwelling. Nearly twenty years in the past, one of many first Alternative folks she met was Lillian Covington, initially from Kenya and at this time a vp of philanthropy on the group. Julie and several other of her pals had the possibility to find out about our work; she remembers visiting with daughters of girls who had obtained enterprise loans, coaching, and assist by means of Alternative Belief Teams in Africa. These younger ladies had traveled to the US to share their tales of hope and objective; Belief Teams have been a key issue within the success of the ladies mortgage recipients – success that rippled to their daughters’ era.
Round that very same time, Julie grew to become a stylist with cabi, a trend firm dedicated to social accountability. The Coronary heart of cabi Basis works to empower ladies by means of restoration, vocation, and schooling; they’ve been a longtime, loyal associate of Alternative Worldwide. For each new cabi stylist, cabi offers funding to assist a lady entrepreneur in a growing nation. Cabi prospects can select to spherical up their order complete, supporting Alternative’s work. Via cabi, Julie’s entrepreneurial abilities and her coronary heart for supporting impactful nonprofits discovered a beautiful place to flourish.
Like all good connector, Julie sees “the subsequent chance.” She notes the crucial significance of human-centered interventions and adapting to the particular wants of the folks we serve; she remembers studying that, as Alternative listened to our microloan shoppers, we heard {that a} frequent problem was repaying the mortgage whereas needing to pay college charges to ship their kids to highschool. We noticed the chance—the possibility for connection—and launched Alternative’s Training Finance program that connects each mother and father and colleges to monetary assets, coaching, and assist—one in every of only a few nonprofit organizations to take action.
In search of deeper and broader connections all the time, Julie’s neighborhood of family and friends continues to assist Alternative with their time, expertise, and treasures. Julie cherishes the possibility to “open folks’s eyes” to our huge and various world. She traveled to China with Alternative and has an upcoming Perception Journey to Colombia; she has attended a number of Alternative Summits across the nation; she graciously has hosted occasions that convey collectively new and outdated pals to be taught extra about our work from Alternative senior leaders. She has volunteered to overview functions for the Girls and Women Alternative (WeGO) Awards. Julie has dedicated to supporting Alternative as a Governor, with presents and repair as an Alternative advocate to pals and colleagues.
Julie continues to volunteer in her communities in Florida and Michigan; she has raised her kids to have the identical dedication to creating our world a greater place. When the pandemic pressured an area nonprofit to cancel their “enjoyable run,” Julie satisfied her household to do their very own run and despatched the donation to the nonprofit. It was so rewarding, they created their very own ten week “enjoyable run” tour, selecting to assist a unique nonprofit each week.
We’re so grateful for literal and figurative “go-getters” like Julie and her household, pals, and colleagues. As an Alternative Worldwide Governor, she leads by motion, by instance, by coronary heart—motivated to assist allow folks to construct lives of dignity and objective.
