Women’s Philanthropy Board at Auburn University to celebrate 20th anniversary

Published: September 09, 2022

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The Women’s Philanthropy Board, the flagship division of the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at Auburn University, will commemorate its 20th anniversary during the 2022-23 academic year with a series of events and programs.

The Women’s Philanthropy Board, or WPB, was established in 2002 as an educational, outreach program in Auburn’s College of Human Sciences in order to address a growing need for women-focused personal financial and philanthropic education programs, to sponsor programs that provide Auburn students with financial and philanthropic experiences and to serve as a philanthropic funding channel for the College of Human Sciences.

Since its inception, WPB has hosted more than 15,000 participants at 150 educational programs featuring 275 speakers including former First Lady Laura Bush, international nonprofit leader and conservationist Jane Goodall and financial journalist Knight Kiplinger.

WPB members and the community are invited to help celebrate the last 20 years of education, inspiration and philanthropy with several events:

WPB’s 20th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration will be held on Sept. 29, from 6-9 p.m., at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. The evening will feature the Auburn Knights Orchestra, dancing with the Auburn Swing Dancers Association and a silent auction benefiting the WPB 20th Anniversary Fund.

The 20th Annual WPB Fall Luncheon, featuring Auburn Baseball head coach Butch Thompson, will be held on Sept. 30, from 12-1:30 p.m. at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Thompson joins the event fresh off his team’s 2022 College World Series appearance.

On March 27, 2023, WPB will host its 20th Annual Spring Symposium and Luncheon, featuring three women leaders: presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin, financial expert and correspondent for NBC’s “The Today Show” Jean Chatzky and global wealth manager and UBS vice chairwoman Paula Polito.

WPB’s anniversary year celebrations will conclude with its second ever Summer Nights event, featuring a storytelling concert by Grammy award-winning singer Amy Grant on June 22. Grant, who is recognized as one of Nashville’s leading philanthropists, will perform at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center.

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary, WPB is launching the WPB Inspire Awards. These awards will recognize individuals and businesses that have demonstrated a shared commitment to the ideals of WPB’s mission and will include honoring a Corporate Philanthropist, Small Business Philanthropist, Financial Educator, Mentor and Philanthropist of the Year. The awards will be presented throughout the upcoming year at WPB’s major educational programs.

To purchase tickets or sponsorships for upcoming WPB events, visit aub.ie/wpb20th. To receive email announcements from WPB, visit aub.ie/wpbinfo. For more information, call 334-844-3524 or 334-844-9156.

Submitted by: Kim Walker