Our Purple Presence
When the Women’s Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation celebrated 20 years, we wanted to thank and celebrate the people who ensured that our journey was successful.
Purple has been our signature color since our inception. Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. It is the color used to identify royalty and leadership. It is the color of ambition, but also the color of waiting and patience.
Our work is not made for those who need instant gratification. Our supporters know that because our work is important, it cannot be rushed – there is an inborn sense, and acceptance, of steady and sure progress.
We know the importance of women’s self-sufficiency is not a red issue or a blue issue; it’s a purple issue—one that should be a community imperative. Purple reminds us that only through true collaboration can we affect meaningful change.
To honor and thank those who have influenced The Women’s Fund, we are presenting them with their own piece of purple – either a pashmina (or, more appropriately, a “passion”mina) or a pocket square. At our events, it identifies them; it calls them out as someone who has supported our work for five consecutive years or more, and as someone who will have our back in the years to come. These donors are our royalty.
The first person to receive a pashmina was Les McNeill. Les is the mother of The Women’s Fund. It was her vision, in 1995, to create The Women’s Fund as part of her Leadership Cincinnati class. When the pashmina was presented to her, she reminded us that purple is also the color of St. Lydia – a seller of purple cloth – who gave shelter to strangers.
Our Purple Presence Members Make Us Proud