Last week, in celebration of Women’s History Month, the 2020 RiverBend Growth Association’s (RBGA) LeadHERship Seminar Planning Committee, donated Comfort Closet Kits to five local organizations. 

Participants’ donations along with a portion of the proceeds raised at the event were collected during the LeadHERship Seminar and 30 kits were distributed to Boys & Girls Club of Alton, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Lewis & Clark Community College, Lewis & Clark Elementary (Wood River), and Riverbend Family Ministries.

The 2020 committee consisted of the following members: Jacinda Dunlap (Best Western Premier), Neena Frisch, (Busey Bank), Debbie Hagen (RiverBend Growth Association) Trish Holmes (RiverBend Growth Association), Jen Jackson (Helmkamp Construction), Michelle Matsche (Challenge Unlimited), Angela McDowell, Lee McRaven (OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center) and Stefanie Withers (RiverBend Growth Association).

“The RBGA is very lucky to have amazing women leaders in our community willing to step up each year to help plan our LeadHERship Seminar and have plans to see that the Comfort Closet will continue to grow so we can give back more to our community”, says RBGA’s Director of Member Services, Trish Holmes. 

Event Chairperson and Assistant Vice President, Mortgage Originator of Busey Bank, Neena Frisch, also adds, “LeadHERship is an event designed by women, for the women in the communities who want to lead, inspire and connect. This seminar helps bring together like-minded women who have a common goal, to grow. We have opportunities to learn and expand whether that is personally or professionally and this space aims to create an atmosphere to help start that mindset and conversations.”

The LeadHERship Seminar is an annual event with a purpose of giving women a space to gather, network, learn and grow. This year the event will take place on October 8th. More information will be available at a later date.

The RiverBend Growth Association is the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Organization for the communities of the Riverbend. As a Chamber of Commerce, we actively promote activities between our member businesses. As an Economic Development Organization, we work closely with state, regional, county and local officials to develop new employment opportunities. The Growth Association serves the following communities in southwestern Illinois: Alton, Bethalto, East Alton, Elsah, Foster Township, Godfrey, Grafton, Hartford, Roxana, South Roxana, Wood River and Wood River Township. The mission of the Growth Association is to provide leadership required to attract, promote and support new and existing enterprise growth throughout the Riverbend community.