Adopted Nonprofit Program

Each year the Women’s Business Council (WBC) partners with a nonprofit organization to help raise awareness about issues that are impacting our communities. The WBC also provides a platform for sharing information, making valuable connections, and accessing resources.

Each year the Women’s Business Council (WBC) partners with a nonprofit organization to help raise awareness about issues that are impacting our communities. The WBC also provides a platform for sharing information, making valuable connections, and accessing resources.

The adopted nonprofit must be a Capital Region Chamber member in good standing and be willing to have a representative regularly attend WBC programs and committee meetings.

Reasons to Apply to Serve as the WBC Adopted Nonprofit:

  • Increase awareness of your organization and its mission
  • Raise money to support your programs and the people you serve
  • Make new connections and promote volunteer opportunities to WBC members

Since its inception in 2002, the Women’s Business Council’s Adopted Nonprofit Program has raised more than $62,000 for local nonprofits and has helped raise awareness about many worthy organizations in our region. The program began to educate and increase awareness of local nonprofit agencies, and to provide volunteer opportunities for members of the WBC.

 

The 2025 Adopted Nonprofit is Girls on the Run Capital Region

Girls On the Run Capital Region – Unlocking Power & Potential

Girls on the Run (GOTR) Capital Region is a recognized leader in physical activity-based, positive youth development programming, with a mission of inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. We aim to improve the well-being of all girls across the region through dynamic lessons that instill valuable life skills, including the important connection between physical and emotional health. These lessons allow GOTR to make a stronger impact than organized sports or physical education in teaching life skills like managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others, and making intentional decisions, with lasting impact in our community through positive social, emotional, and physical health outcomes. Our trained volunteer coaches foster a safe, caring environment and deliver the program across a variety of sites, comprised of public, private, and parochial schools, and community centers. The positive health outcomes from the Girls on the Run program extend to caregivers, coaches, and the community, with engaging activities that support participants.

GOTR remains steadfast in serving our whole community and works diligently to remove barriers to participation, financial and otherwise. Annually, with the support of our community, we fundraise to provide financial assistance to enable all participants to be a part of our program. This amounts to more than 45% of Girls on the Run participants receiving support to participate. Additionally, as a part of our dedication to inclusion and access for all girls, we have carefully created a welcoming, safe space where all participants (intersecting social identities, including all races, ethnicities, income levels, sexual orientations, religions, and those with/without disabilities) can have a meaningful and engaging experience. GOTR sets itself apart with inclusive practices throughout— from curriculum development and coach training to hiring processes and vendor selection.

To donate, volunteer and learn more about Girls on the Run Capital Region visit www.gotrcr.org.

Follow Girls on the Run Capital Region on their social pages: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.

 

For more information about the partnership, click here. To see a list of previous Adopted Nonprofits, click here.

At WBC events, the Adopted Nonprofit will have opportunities to raise awareness and raise funds through member donations.

For additional information, contact Jennifer Sims at 518.431.1418.

 

TESTIMONIALS

“On behalf of our Board of Directors and Staff, I extend my deepest appreciation to the Women’s Business Council of the Capital Region Chamber for selecting the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York as your 2019 Adopted Non-Profit. We have had such an amazing year working with all of you! We had several goals as we entered this partnership including increasing awareness of epilepsy, putting a face to epilepsy by introducing local women, professionals in our community, who are living with epilepsy personally, or caring for a family member with epilepsy, and finally teaching everyone to recognize seizures and provide appropriate first aid. We accomplished all of this, and so much more! We made new friendships and connections, and we raised money to support local programs for people in our community affected by epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation could not have the impact that we do without the incredible support of the business community. Thank you for making 2019 a special year for the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York.”
– Jeannine S. Garab, Executive Director, Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York, Inc., 2019 Adopted Nonprofit

“We are so thankful to the Women’s Business Council for selecting Whitney Young Health as 2017’s Adopted Nonprofit. This past year demonstrated the whole-hearted support the business community has for our patients and our mission. This year-long adoption allowed WYH to enlist scores of new ambassadors for the organization as we continue to meet our mission. The success of this partnership exceeded even our most lofty expectations, enabling us to continue to provide the best care possible to our patients — the very people who benefit from this program. We couldn’t be prouder of the relationships that have been forged as a result of this partnership, or the ability to continue our mission of providing quality care to the community members who need it, regardless of income.”
– David Shippee, President and CEO, Whitney Young Health, Jr. Health Center, 2017 Adopted Nonprofit

As the 2015 Adopted Non-Profit, the WBC membership mobilized behind the St. Paul’s Center mission in many impactful ways. The monthly raffles and the holiday party were effective in raising funds – but really, the benefits go beyond that. The longer-lasting impact came by way of Board member recruitment, ongoing committee participation, and increasing awareness. Speaking at each WBC program and participation in shelter activities brought to life the impact of homelessness. And most importantly, each member understands the impact one person can make in changing the life of a homeless family.
– Tracy Pitcher, Executive Director, St. Paul’s Center, 2015 Adopted Nonprofit