“More and more, we women wanted to break that barrier of just men being financial leaders and wanted to do something that would make a difference. And I think most women nowadays really want to do that. And indeed, even when I started it, I had a group of women that always were interested, but they'd never known quite how to do it.”

Berry saw the need, and she, herself, decided to fill it. She spent much of the 1980’s as the National Chairwoman of Volunteers of the American Red Cross and was even the first female board chair of our very own United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. She continues to serve on several boards of nonprofits.

Through her exemplary leap into volunteerism and financial philanthropy, she set the stage for a new generation of women to own their power.  And as the second wave of Feminism in America rose, so did leaders born into the Baby Boomer (1946-1964) generation. One of those leaders is Taylor Foss, who is currently an integral part of the UWABC Tocqueville Society. Most notably, Foss co-created Women United for United Way Worldwide; she explains her reasoning as she reflected on what the philanthropic landscape was like growing up. 

“The men were making all the decisions,” said Foss, “and they weren't even asking women for money. At the time, women were usually married to a man who gave the check and therefore made the decisions. And if you looked at the board, the worldwide board was just men.” 

Of course, the beneficiaries of Foss’s work are women today who readily have the option to utilize their financial gifts. Julie Smith, born into Generation X (1965 - 1980) was coming of age at the time women like Foss were helping other women have a seat at the decision-making table. As ideas shifted, the women of Generation X were primed to continue building financial power and literacy. So much so that a young Julie Smith was inspired by her peers to create and hold a leadership role in the UWABC Highland Circle giving society.

Dakota Owenby is one of Gen Z’s in UWABC’s network who is doing just that. 

For Owenby, many of the challenges her elders face are not as prevalent. She explains, “In my workplace, it is a woman-led department. I have a lot of women around me, so I’ve never seen women not having financial power as an issue or holding back for me.” Owenby acknowledges, however, that female financial power still has room to grow in a society that can still be male-dominated. Being a member of the Highland Circle affinity group, the very one established by Julie Smith, Owenby consistently explores avenues to further cultivate opportunities for young women to assume leadership positions.

The great privilege UWABC has to create a dialogue among women from the Silent Generation to Generation Z  underscores the transformative power of shared identity and the evolving role of women in philanthropy. Charlotte Berry, inspired by volunteerism, recognized the need for financial leadership among women and became a beacon for change. Taylor Foss, breaking barriers, championed the financial leverage of women, catalyzing Women United Worldwide and Asheville/Buncombe Women United. Julie Smith and her Generation X peers built upon this foundation, creating giving societies like the Highland Circle. Now, Dakota Owenby, part of Gen Z, continues this legacy, focusing on creating spaces for young women to lead, recognizing the importance of financial power in philanthropy. Their stories echo the call for intergenerational unity and support, beckoning others to join affinity groups, contribute their voices, and embrace their leadership for collective good.