ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE: CHECK OUT THESE SADIE NASH DONOR STORIES
Sadie Nash Leadership Project’s mission is to strengthen, empower, and equip young women and gender-expansive youth of color as agents for change in their lives and in the world. To do this work, every member of our community — from program managers, to deans, to donors — has an important role.
Driven by the theme of our 20 year anniversary, “Act with Love, Act For Liberation”, we are centering the voices of our community members and sharing their experiences with SNLP.
Get to know a few of the SNLP donors…
We know that everyone has different ways they’ve come to be a part of the SNLP community, so we asked SNLP donors, “How did you find out about Sadie Nash Leadership Project?”
Rosemary Johnson (she/her) shared that she found SNLP after she moved to New York City the summer after her college graduation. She said, “As I made the city my home, I was looking for a place to give back to the community that was giving so much to me. My sister had attended the Garden Party the year before, and connected me to Sadie Nash.” She began her work as a mentor for Nashers applying to college, but has also served as a writing coach for personal essays, fundraiser, host committee member, and a communications consultant in addition to becoming a donor.
We’re happy to know that some Nashers have had such transformative experiences within SNLP programs that they are moved to become donors as alums. Paige Wallace (she/her) is one of these incredible alumni, and she said, “As a teen in NYC I was involved in several nonprofits, one of them being Global Kids which is where I met [Sadie Nash Leadership Project Executive Director] Tené, and one of my peers referred me to Sadie Nash.” Paige was able to leverage her employer’s matching gift program to double her contributions!
Sadie Nash Leadership Project means something special to everyone involved, so we also asked our donors What does Sadie Nash Project mean to you?
Stacy Chacko (she/her) is a former SNLP Dean and current donor. She said, “SNLP curated a space where I could learn, be myself, and be vulnerable - without judgment. [The] timing was perfect - Sadie Nash found me right (or I found SNLP) when I really needed it and it helped make me more confident, more fearless, more open, and more comfortable with my evolution as a woman and person navigating this complex world.”
There are so many incredible organizations doing powerful work to empower and equip Black girls and gender-expansive youth to have an impact on their world. This is why we asked, “Why do you give to Sadie Nash?” and we were bowled over by the responses.
Some donors are called to give because of the unique positioning of our organization, which operates in both New York City and Newark, NJ. Ama Burnham (she/her), who was on the Host Committee for Joy & Liberation 2019 and attended SNLP Leadership Labs said, “I believe in its mission, and having grown up in Newark, it’s sentimental.”
“I donate to Sadie Nash to give back. I have little sisters also growing up in NYC and I think about all the young women like me who are looking for a community,” Paige shared with us. “That’s why I support Sadie Nash, I want Sadie Nash to be available for more young women.”
Even those who aren’t directly impacted by SNLP have been called to give. Lola C. West (she/her) came into the SNLP community through her work serving on the Brooklyn Foundation’s Spark Committee, and told us that she donates to SNLP because she “supports what [she] believes in.”
We’re so grateful for the support of all of our donors. To learn more about our donors’ journeys and other members of the SNLP community, visit our Instagram page!
You can also become a donor yourself—just in time for our 20th anniversary celebrations— by visiting bit.ly/SNLPDONATE.