MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Ronni Smulian
Ronni is a Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade member and contributes to our Endowment.

Q: What led you to the Women's Fund of Miami-Dade?
A: I attended a Women’s Fund Annual Luncheon because a friend of mine, Susana Ibargüen, was being honored. One of the luncheon speakers was a formerly incarcerated woman who talked about her experience participating in ArtSpring, a performing arts program that works with women in prison and a Women’s Fund grantee partner. Her presentation moved me. I also appreciated how many women of all ages, shapes, and sizes attended the Luncheon.

Q: Why do you think it is important to contribute to the Women’s Fund Endowment?

A: My husband and I have contributed to the endowment and we will continue to support it. The endowment is important because it makes the organization stronger and more stable for the long term. The Women’s Fund has a much larger scope than it did when it started and the Fund still does so much with so little - it is impressive. The tone of everything is just right. There is a good deal of clarity in the mission, and the Fund should keep doing what it is doing – and not have to worry about the instability of living year to year, without savings for the future.

In addition to my contribution to the endowment, I make an annual membership donation of $1,000 in memory of my mother, Miriam Marks. She is an inspiration to me. She was always very giving to people on a personal level; always interested in helping. I like to know that I am honoring her memory and generous spirit with my donation each year.

Q: Why should others get involved and support WFMD?

I think women and girls are at a disadvantage and we need to level the field. Women’s Fund help address this simply through its events. I leave Women’s Fund events with my heart full and proud to be a woman. There is a just a mushrooming of good energy that inspires people to do the right thing.