Save the Date for this year's Perfect Pitch
December 6, 2023, at Revolution Hall

We are NOW ACCEPTING Perfect Pitch Agency RFP applications!

Perfect Pitch is a 'Shark Tank' style event powered by United Way of the Greater Capital Region's Women United, where four local nonprofit agencies will have the opportunity to 'pitch' their innovative idea for the chance at a $10,000 grant and will be the Women United Premier Partner in 2024.

Reserve your seat starting October 11

About Women United

Women United is a group of energetic, passionate, and philanthropic women empowered by the United Way of the Greater Capital Region (UWGCR) to make a true impact in our community. Our many and diverse experiences moving through the world as women inform how we mobilize change to invest in, advocate for, and host events with a mission to drive equity and excellence for all women.   

In 2024, Women United will focus on organizations that address women’s rights, center women’s experiences, and look at the social determinants of health that affect women in the Capital Region. We recognize that women experience the health, education, and economic systems differently and we know that programs designed to support the health and well-being of women are not prioritized and adequately resourced. This past year, we have been active and vocal in what needs to be done to support the well-being of women.  

• During International Women’s Day, panelists spoke about gender health inequity in this country. Women in America are unwell. We’re sicker, more stressed, and die younger compared to women in other high-income countries. Key findings highlighted the maternal mortality crisis in this country, death from preventable disease (being a woman is not a disease), higher rates of chronic illness, and bias in the healthcare system. NYS Department of Health, in its Health Equity Impact Assessment legislation and statute categorizes “women” as a medically underserved class.  
   
• In May, we advocated on Menstrual Equity Day, asking New York lawmakers to provide sufficient funding for free and consistent access to menstrual hygiene products in all public schools, NYS facilities, pantries, shelters, and correctional facilities. Menstruation should not prevent or limit any girl, woman, or person who menstruates from participating in their daily lives, yet for many, it does.  We will keep this on the agenda for the 2024 legislative session and the 2025 Budget.   
   
• We are working to ensure nutrition security is equitable. 53% of SNAP participants in NYS are in households with children. Recent data on participation show that women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities were more likely to participate in SNAP, the bedrock nutrition and anti-hunger program in this country. This fall we will continue to keep the pressure on state and federal lawmakers for key nutrition programs that if not passed and/or not sufficiently resourced will have an inequitable negative impact on women and children. 

Post-pandemic, we know that many families and especially those headed by women are struggling to make ends meet.  74% of these households in New York are below the ALICE threshold, meaning they do not have enough to afford their essentials for housing, food, education, health and transportation (2023 ALICE Report). The pandemic showed us possibilities and promises of reducing poverty, supporting nutrition security for kids and their families, and increased health access; however, many of these supports and programs have ‘returned to normal’, meaning we are reversing course. 

We know there is much to be done. Our goal with Perfect Pitch is to help shine a light on the importance of women’s health, education, and economic equity, uplift outstanding leaders and efforts in this space, and generate community-wide discussion and advocacy for positive change. Our intention with Perfect Pitch is to encourage organizations with their new initiatives to lean into something promising, or to support their work in changing the dominant narrative molding women. While not every organization will walk away with the grant, we can promise that each finalist will walk away with a network of people who want to support this work and will follow that up with action.  

Thank you to our Perfect Pitch sponsors

Learn more about Women United and how you can get involved today