Recent Events

On February 9, 2011 – Organizations that received funding from the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation were featured at Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls' Annual Meeting at the Hartford Golf Club.

Pictured (left to right) are grantee representatives Lynne Williamson, Founder and Director of the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program, Matt Fitzsimons, Head of the Grace Academy in Hartford; and Kathleen Bornhorst, Aurora Grant Committee Chair.

Who We Are

Transform a Life, Change the Community...
Aurora Women & Girls Foundation was founded in 2000 by a group of forward thinking women who wanted to make a difference for other women and girls in their own community. Since that time, Aurora has evolved into a 501(c)(3) entity with a board and officers, as well as committees to oversee the work of the Foundation.

2011 Board of Directors
Clare R. Feldman, Chair
Janet Bailey Faude, Vice Chair
Susan Rottner, Vice Chair
Kathleen F. Bornhorst, Esq, Secretary
Carle Mowell, Member at Large
Anita Schepker, Immediate Past Chair
Ann E. Thomas, Treasurer
Carla Balesano
Caroline Benoit
Kathleen Bromage
Lori Budnick
Nancy Fellinger
Laura Grondin
Joan King
Jan-Gee McCollam
Linda J. McDowell
Thea Montanez
Michele Parrotta
Meg Sakellarides
Jennifer Steadman
Chantal Verbeek-Vingerhoed

Honorary Directors
Leah Bailey
Hyacinth Douglas-Bailey
Felice Gray-Kemp
Eileen Kraus
Paddi LeShane
Marie O’Brien
Pam Partridge-West
Kristen Zarfos

What We do

Our Mission is to invest in and inspire women and girls in the Greater Hartford community. We promote and celebrate philanthropy by and for women and girls.

We Invest by funding grants to local organizations whose programs focus on:

1. Leadership development and teamwork skills
2. Economic self-sufficiency, through job training and financial literacy
3. Positive character development and achievement
4. Opportunities to participate in philanthropy

We Inspire by raising awareness of the importance of philanthropy by women and girls through events such as our Annual "An Inspirational 90 Minutes With..." Signature Event, which raises awareness and inspiration about the importance of philanthropy targeted to women and girls. Past speakers have included Kathy LeMay, Helen LaKelly Hunt, Claire Gaudiani, Nancy Lublin and Kim Phuc.