From left to right: Bristol Walmart Store Manager, William Fenlon; Jeanne Radcliff, Early Leader of the Women and Girls Fund; Susan Scarritt, Early Leader of the Women and Girls Fund and Co-Chair of the 2026 WOW Event; Mary Benoit, Early Leader of the Women and Girls Fund and original organizer of the first fundraiser, “The Mother of All Bake Sales;”; Bristol Walmart People Lead, Joanne Picard; and President & CEO of Main Street Community Foundation, Susan Sadecki.

The establishment of the Women & Girls Fund at Main Street Community Foundation began with a bake sale. In June 2001, a group of visionary women, known as the Early Leaders, organized and held a bake sale at the newly-opened Walmart store in Bristol in order to help raise funds toward the $10,000 needed to establish a fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

“This was the ‘Mother of All Bake Sales’ thanks to the willingness of so many mothers, future mothers, mothers in spirit (and a couple of guys, too). It was a tremendous success which helped to raise funds towards the $10,000 needed to start a fund dedicated to serving the needs of local women and girls,” stated Mary Benoit, an Early Leader of the Women & Girls Fund.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the first fundraiser for the Women and Girls Fund, some of the Early Leaders along with this year’s Wonder of Women (WOW) event Co-Chairs visited the Bristol Walmart.

“We want to thank the Store Manager and the staff of the Bristol Walmart for once again partnering with the Women & Girls Fund to celebrate the 25th anniversary of both the Fund and the opening of this location in Bristol,” stated Jeanine Audette, Co-Chair of the 2026 WOW Event. “Walmart’s continued support will help us create change for local women and girls.”

This year the Women & Girls Fund at Main Street Community Foundation has “A Million Reasons to Celebrate.” With an endowment of over $1 million and a total of $921,000 awarded in grants since the Fund’s establishment in 2001, the Women & Girls Fund at Main Street Community Foundation invites you to join them for the 25th Anniversary Wonder of Women (WOW) event to be held on April 30, 2026 at 5:30 pm at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. The guest speaker is Kara Wolters, an Olympic Gold Medalist, UConn National Champion and WNBA Champion as well as a nationally-recognized broadcaster and entrepreneur. Proceeds from the event support grants awarded to programs that assist women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott.

For more information on the Women & Girls Fund and the 25th anniversary celebration, contact the Main Street Community Foundation at 860.583.6363 or visit mainstreetfoundation.org/women-girls-fund.