In honor of Women’s History Month, United Way of Northeast Florida highlighted women in the community who are helping families and individuals better make ends meet. In case you missed it on Facebook and Instagram, check out the four women you should know:

Karen Millard, Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc.

Karen’s words to live by:

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Her work in her words:

“As a staff attorney at Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc., I provide free legal representation to those individuals with limited income who were impacted by Hurricane Irma. I helped individuals file appeals with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to obtain benefits that they needed to repair their home and to obtain money to relocate while those repairs were being made. I assisted people with contractor disputes regarding the extent of work to be performed and the cost associated with that work. I provided representation in many cases in which the insurance companies did not initially pay the total amount that was owed under the insurance contract for damages caused to people’s home, content, and other structures. I’ve also delivered numerous presentations in the community at public libraries and outreach events to help educate the community about the FEMA appeal process and the homeowner’s claim process.”

Janet Owens, LISC Jacksonville

Janet’s words to live by:

“Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth.” – Shirley Chisholm

Her work in her words:

“Shirley Chisholm’s charge reminds me that we’re here on this earth to improve neighbors’ lives. And our efforts must be guided and informed by the individuals and families we seek to help. At LISC, we equip struggling communities with the capital, strategy and know-how to become places where people can thrive. Working with local neighborhood leaders, we invest in housing, education, health, public safety and employment–all basic needs that must be tackled at once so that progress in one is not undermined by neglect in another.”

Alex Rudnick, Generation

Alex’s words to live by:

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Her work in her words:

“When you enter a Generation program, the goal is to move you into a career. Something more than a job, a career creates a pathway for your journey through work, learning, and personal development. Over the past three years serving the Jacksonville community we’ve had the privilege to work with more than 500 people on their career journey. In partnership with many other organizations across the city, Generation helps increase financial stability by providing job training, mentorship, and job placement to anyone ready to take the next step on their career path.”

Melinda Zetrouer, Bank of America

Melinda’s words to live by:

“Simply put, everything comes back around – what you put out to the universe is often what you get back.”

Her work in her words:

“I’ve worked at Bank of America for 30 years and have spent a majority of that time involved with the United Way in various ways: I’ve worked on the annual campaign, school beautification projects, playground build outs and more. But for me, what’s been one of the most rewarding aspects of supporting the community is giving hardworking folks in Northeast Florida the power to reach their financial goals. When it comes to money, a little knowledge can go a long way. Through the bank’s Better Money Habits program, we’ve been able to share resources, tools and solutions to help tackle saving and budgeting, home ownership, planning for college and more.”

How you can help

For decades, women have come together to make a difference in their community. Now, through United Way, women can join the movement for a stronger Northeast Florida by becoming a member of Women United, a leadership society for women who donate $1,000 or more.

Women United, formerly Women in Local Leadership, celebrates the power of women to bring about positive change in our community through philanthropy and service. Women United members enjoy volunteer opportunities, agency tours, social gatherings and networking events just for female leaders in Northeast Florida. For more information on how you get involved, contact Emily Lawrence, affinity groups and individual engagement manager, at 904-390-4003 or emilyl@nulluwnefl.org.