The Angels Network Profile

Washington, DC region
http://www.theangelsnetwork.org/

Snapshot:
The Angels Network (TAN) is a charitable organization in the Washington, DC region. TAN is an all-volunteer organization founded by Judi Nardella, Cindy Brent, Jill Lubore, Kathy Woodward, Cathy Lange, Jodi Robison, and Adrienne Albers. The organization focused on providing financial support and volunteers to developing community based organizations servicng women and children in need in the Washington Metropolitan area.
 
TAN held its first network reception in January of 2000. Jim Kimsey, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of AOL, hosted the gathering at the City Club in Washington DC. The founders had no idea if this would bus attract diverse women—executives, professionals women business owners, young women, work at home moms—to this type of networking and charitable event. But by the end of the evening they knew that there was a real need and desire by women to be able to come together in a comfortable environment where they could talk, eat, drink, laugh and give back to the community. The founding board members worked very hard to lay the foundation for the organization and with support from friends within the business community who have repeatedly answered calls for help, TAN has grown a network of women who believe in and know the value of helping others.
 
The Angels Network organizes networking receptions hosted by well known leaders  in the community to benefit a specific charity or cause. In the past we have supported a wide variety of local charities that cover a spectrum of needs and issues. They have included sports programs at recreation centers, library programs for children in need, clothing programs for women re-entering the workplace, summer camp programs and women’s abuse centers. This year TAN’s focus is to support four Second Chance Housing (transitional housing programs) in the greater Washington area. These are programs that provide safe, supportive supervised living arrangements for homeless women and children. They help womens to build a self-reliant future by providing various support resources, training and skill development activities.

Cathy Lange, President of The Angels Network says that the Network has grown because “We help those in our own backyard. At our receptions our members hear up front and personal about the featured program of the evening. They meet once homeless women talk about what their transitional housing program has done for them. They meet young people who have found support for their dreams. There usually isn’t a dry eye in the audience.” On top of that Ms. Lange adds, “ And all the money we raise that evening goes directly to the charity, so people know exactly where their giving goes.”

Mission:
To financially support community based organizations focused on women and children in need in the DC region. Financial Commitment Members attend the receptions for free. They are asked to make a contribution to the charity featured that evening.

Number of Participants:
Over 500 women have participated in some way since the circle's inception.

Participant Demographics:
Women of all ages, backgrounds, working, working out of the home.

How the Circle Functions:
The Angels Network is component fund of the Northern Virginia Community Foundation, which is a 501c3. There are no dues or fees for membership. There is no staff; everything is done by volunteers
 
Future Ambitions:
TAN wants to continue to expand our network of like-minded women across the Washington area and build capacity to support local organizations even more deeply.