9th Annual Women’s Wealth Symposium in Dallas, Texas Honors Four Exemplary Nonprofit Leaders
Dallas, TX – February 06, 2025 – The Women’s Wealth Symposium (WWS), presented by Bank of America, is proud to honor four exceptional non-profit leaders, the Purple Diamond Award winners, at its 9th annual symposium on March 8th in Dallas, Texas.
The prestigious Purple Diamond Award, sponsored by Morgan Stanley, honors exceptional leaders in recognition of their service to the community and to the mission of the Women’s Wealth Symposium: to enhance the quality of life, the financial independence, and confidence of women worldwide. At the 9th Annual Women’s Wealth Symposium, in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th, we honor four of these remarkable leaders creating sustainable, positive impact for women.
· Trisha Cunningham is President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), a $200 million nonprofit focused on eradicating hunger in a diverse 12-county service area. Together with their partners, the NTFB team of more than 200 employees and 35,000 volunteers provided access to a record 106 million physical meals in their last fiscal year – the most-ever physical meals distributed in their history and a nearly 10 percent increase from the previous year. Additionally, NTFB provided access to more than 19 million meals through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
· Paige Flink is the National Director of DVBeds, leading its collaboration with the National Domestic Violence Hotline to create a national network of more than 1200 shelter programs. As the retired CEO of The Family Place, the largest family violence service organization in North Texas, she developed the technology platform for DVBeds, which provides real time availability for emergency shelter space in 35+ organizations in Texas.
· Lynn McBee – As a volunteer leader in Dallas for more than 30 years, Lynn has worked more than 45,000 hours of service for more than 30 different non-profit groups. Lynn has served more than ten years as CEO of Young Women’s Preparatory Network, a public-private partnership that creates STEM-focused schools of choice in an all-girls setting. To date, YWPN grads have a 100% college acceptance rate – many of them first generation college goers. Over ten years as CEO, Lynn has grown revenues 300% and gained a deep understanding of how to partner with ISDs to improve student achievement.
· VR Small, a Navy Veteran, is the Founder and CEO of the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC), a national initiative empowering entrepreneur women associated with the military to scale their businesses successfully. Recognized nationally by the Department of Veteran Affairs, Center for Women Veterans, as a Trailblazer “Women Veterans Leading the Way,” VR strives daily to empower women veterans to pave their own path to success, by providing access to the resources they need to succeed.
“Women’s health is inextricably linked to women’s wealth. By empowering women to prioritize their health, Morgan Stanley helps pave the way for them to achieve personal wealth—proving that true success begins with well-being,” said Dr. Kim Henderson, Managing Director and Head of Health & Wellness Education for Morgan Stanley | Private Wealth Management.
“More than half of women ages 55-66 have no retirement savings, and many of those who do, feel anxious it won’t be enough. Bank of America stands alongside the Women’s Wealth Symposium in its dedication to improving financial literacy and empowerment for women,” said Jennifer Chandler, president, Bank of America Dallas.
Since 2021, the Women’s Wealth Symposium has reached a worldwide audience by livestreaming the event globally. By offering women the opportunity to participate in the livestreamed event, the symposium can reach and positively impact women around the world, increasing their financial knowledge, insight and potential. The event on March 8th offers a dynamic program of presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, all aimed at equipping participants with the tools and knowledge they need to achieve financial independence. This event is open to the public and provides free resources to help attendees take charge of their financial future.
Following the Purple Diamond Awards ceremony, Wendy Colonna will be the featured musical artist for the two-hour reception. With over 20 years of experience as a touring singer-songwriter, nine studio albums, and collaborations with iconic brands like Coca-Cola, Wendy has brought music to life on stages around the world, including tours with legends like The Zombies. She’s been described as “ethereal” by the NY Times, “a gifted singer-songwriter” by the Wall Street Journal, and the Austin American Statesman calls her “a force of nature.”
For more information about the Purple Diamond Awards, event schedule, and registration, please visit the LeadHERship Global event page at LeadHERshipGlobal.com/WWS-Event.
About the Women’s Wealth Symposium (WWS):
Founded in 2015, the Women’s Wealth Symposium is a volunteer-operated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing financial literacy and fostering empowerment for women of all backgrounds. The annual event offers accessible and comprehensive financial planning knowledge and resources, impacting women around the globe by increasing their financial knowledge, skill, and impact. Learn more at https://leadhershipglobal.com/wws-event
About Morgan Stanley Wealth Management:
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses, and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, cash management and lending products and services, annuities and insurance, retirement, and trust services.
About Morgan Stanley:
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, investment management, and wealth management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions, and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.
About LeadHERship Global:
LeadHERship Global is an impactful community of more than 10,000 extraordinary women in C-Suite leadership around the globe. LeadHERship Global’s comprehensive methodology is designed to unleash the full potential of high-performing and growth-oriented leaders in a confidential, supportive and private community. LeadHERship Global helps members accelerate their success by defining their vision, growing their leadership, expanding their influence and leaving a lasting legacy. We are the only organization embracing the passion of high-performing women to positively impact their lives and accelerating their success by integrating self-directed learning, impactful group experiences and expert-led coaching and mentoring. Learn more at https://leadhershipglobal.com
