RENO, Nev. – Nevada Women’s Fund (NWF) is honored to recognize co-founders Barbara Thornton and Maya Miller as well as founding board chair Lynn Atcheson with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award at the 2023 Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon on Thursday, May 25 at the Downtown Reno Ballroom.
After 40 years of empowering achievement in women and their families, NWF has cemented its legacy as one of the most respected non-profit organizations in the region having awarded more than $9 million in academic scholarships to northern Nevada women and grants to local organizations serving women and children. This legacy traces back to the visionary female leaders who confronted blatant inequity with tenacity, compassion and enterprising leadership.
“The progress and impact of the Nevada Women’s Fund continues to amaze and exceed all expectations! Over the past forty years the NWF has improved the lives socially, professionally, and economically of countless women and children,” said Lynn Atcheson, founding NWF board chair, “As Founders and Founding Board Members who were there in the beginning, we are profoundly grateful.”
Frustrated with the lack of support for women’s causes, longtime activist and philanthropist Maya Miller joined forces with University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) ethics and communication professor Barbara Thornton. Their mission was daunting but straightforward — correct the national imbalance of financial distribution from traditional resources that resulted in less than 6% of grants going to women and children. Despite facing unjust scrutiny, Miller and Thornton established NWF in 1983, creating one of the first women’s funds in the U.S. at that time.
The seed had been planted, but determining how to achieve their mission in a sustainable and measurable way was essential. Community leader and founding NWF board member Lynn Atcheson was tasked with bringing structure to Miller and Thornton’s vision. With experience in organizational management and fundraising, Atcheson’s keen insights were instrumental in building strong community relationships and defining the ethos of NWF.
Armed with the steadfast intention to support education for women of all ages, races, backgrounds, political affiliations and financial means, the founding members set their sights on raising money. At this point, board opportunities for women were scarce, but the NWF board offered unprecedented opportunities to develop fundraising skills and gain board experience while simultaneously supporting women in their educational pursuits. In its first year, NWF awarded two $500 scholarships and $10,000 in grants thanks to the dedicated efforts of Miller, Thornton and Atcheson. In order to sustain these efforts, the three founding members and the founding Board of Directors worked to secure funding for future generations.
In 1988, the Federal Department of Health & Human Services approved NWF’s request to match fundraising for the development of an endowment, which was opened at Valley Bank with an initial $30,000 deposit. This endowment is now valued at more than $3 million, generating funding for scholarships annually and in perpetuity thereby affirming the founding member’s mission.
The growth continued in 1992 when Atcheson led the effort to establish Salute to Women of Achievement, a fundraising effort with the dual purpose of recognizing women’s contributions and leadership in the workplace while engaging corporations, small businesses and organizations throughout the community. The event is now a major annual fundraiser for NWF and is considered the largest business luncheon in Reno.
The mission set into motion 40 years ago is now a powerful reality. Since its inception, NWF has provided millions of dollars in scholarships and community grant funding, but the impact extends beyond financial assistance. The enduring legacy of NWF is believing in the triumph of women who face unimaginable struggle, believing in the generosity of the community, and believing in a more prosperous future for all families. This legacy would not be possible without the visionary leadership of Miller, Thornton and Atcheson. The Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon is a fitting location to celebrate these founding members with the Lifetime Achievement award, an honor that embodies decades of inspiring women to dream bigger and achieve greatness for themselves, their families and their communities.
For more information about NWF’s impactful work and the annual Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon, visit nevadawomensfund.org or call (775) 786-2335.
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About the Nevada Women’s Fund
Established in 1982 the Nevada Women’s Fund (NWF) has been supporting women and families through the allocation of education scholarships and community grants to help northern Nevada women increase their chances for a self-sufficient future by awarding more than $9 million. NWF works to empower achievement in women through educational and career advancement opportunities.
