My parents were very careful about spending money. Yet, I never felt that we were poor—even though I often heard the word used at home. Today, as an adult, I understand why: through a proper alignment of values, a clear sense of priorities, and character built on self-discipline, our family’s inner compass ensured we had everything we truly needed.
As I write these lines, I do not know who will read them. I might not know you, the reader, personally. I might not know where you live, what you do, or what joys and hardships you are facing. Perhaps you belong to a Unitarian or Unitarian Universalist community, and perhaps we share similar views on humanity, God, the world, and our religious worldview. Perhaps... What is highly likely, however, is that you also earn your money through hard work and effort, and that you also think carefully about how you spend it.
We are constantly bombarded with invitations to spend our money, and wise spending requires immense attention; with just one wrong click, our computers or phones spend our money for us. Many of us buy much more than we actually need.
With all this in mind, I am now asking you for your money. I know that you, too, understand money is far more than paper bills and coins. To someone walking in the desert, it might be a glass of water; to a desperate soul, an outstretched hand; to the vulnerable, a restoration of dignity. Money in the right hands teaches women that their voice is important, their opinion matters and needs to be heard and considered when decisions are made. Money can support projects that raise "good touch, bad touch" awareness for girls and teach them that they have the absolute right to say no to unwanted physical contact. Money can bring opportunities for growth that lead to healthier families and children.
How you spend your money is an important decision, a choice of values: right now, you can support us with money. You perhaps already support a local organization, offer baked goods for a worthy cause, volunteer your time for a neighboring organization. Right now, I am asking you to add ICUUW to the list of organizations you support.
Neuroscientific studies show that helping others activates the brain's reward center—a phenomenon psychology calls the "warm glow." Giving connects us to our communities, both near and far. The women working on our projects receive hope and a tangible proof of social solidarity—the message that they are not alone. On the giving end, altruism provides a deep inner satisfaction and a sense of purpose in life: a true "warm glow."
We welcome congregational support through the well-known and widely practiced Share-the-Plate (STP) Sunday offerings. This support strengthens our capabilities and enables us to implement our programs and services effectively. Congregations that have supported our work in 2026, some already more than once, include Brisbane UU Fellowship Australia, Edmonds UU Congregation, WA, UU Fellowship of Los Gatos, CA, UU Fellowship at Stony Brook , Universalist Unitarian Church of Joliet, European Unitarian Universalists, First Unitarian Church of San Jose, All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK, Westminster Unitarian Church, UU Congregation of Monmouth County. Wouldn’t you like to see your congregation added to this list?
Without them we could not do the work we do advancing women’s leadership and self-determination. We recognize the creative and healing power inherent in money, and through our giving, let us create a more just and livable world. The true value of money is not measured by the number of zeros in a bank account, but by the positive change we can bring about in the lives of others.
Please talk to your congregation’s decision makers in order to schedule a date and plan for a STP event. Feel free to reach out to me at