Dedicated to improving the economic viability of women and girls through focused philanthropic efforts in areas of education.
WFA's 2011 Power of the Purse keynote address was delivered by ABIGAIL E. DISNEY.

ABIGAIL E. DISNEY is a filmmaker, philanthropist, and scholar. Her longtime passion for women’s issues and peacebuilding culminated in her first film, the acclaimed PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL, about the Liberian women who peacefully ended their country’s civil war. She is currently Executive Producer of the groundbreaking PBS mini-series WOMEN, WAR & PEACE, the most comprehensive global media initiative ever mounted on the roles of women in peace and conflict.

Along with her husband, Pierre Hauser, Abigail co-founded the Daphne Foundation, which funds programs that confront the causes and consequences of poverty in the five boroughs of New York City. Her work in philanthropy, women’s engagement and leadership and conflict resolution has been recognized through the Epic Award from the White House Project, the Changing the Landscape for Women Award from the Center for the Advancement of Women, and the prestigious International Advocate for Peace (IAP) Award from the Cardozo Law School’s Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution. Abigail holds degrees from Yale, Stanford and Columbia. She lives in New York City with her husband and four children.
Small Purse.  Big Impact.
Keynote Speaker
One highlight of the luncheon is the keynote address.  While the past speakers have come from diverse backgrounds, they have all been powerful and persuasive women who shared their stories of how giving back benefited their communities and created balance in their hectic lives.  They challenged those attending to engage others in charitable activity and to imbue a philanthropic spirit in their peers. 
Past keynote speakers have included:
  • (2010) Snow Ledbetter Moen & Grainger Ledbetter - accepted the inaugural Brownie Ledbetter Civic Engagement Award in honor of their mother, a tireless supporter and founding member of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas who passed away in March 2010.Transcript of Moen & Ledbetter's remarks.
  • (2009) Gena Lovett - Arkansas native now employed as a Partner and COO of Alexandra Investment Management in New York; also currently the President of the 3000-member New York City Junior League.
  • (2008) Dee Dee Myers - Author of Why Women Should Rule the World, and a popular lecturer on politics, the media and women's issues; served as White House Press Secretary during President Clinton's first term.
  • (2006) Janis Kearney – Writer, lecturer and literacy advocate; Arkansas born; served as Personal Diarist to president William Jefferson Clinton; recipient of the Silas Hunt Legacy Award from her alma mater, the University of Arkansas.
  • (2005) Geneva Overholser - A former Arkansan and 1998 Chair of the Pulitzer Prize Board; worked as the Ombudsman for the Washington Post, on the New York Times Editorial board, and as Editor of the Des Moines Register, during which time she and her staff were nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in editorial commentary.
  • (2004) Maria Haley -  Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, former Senior Director for Asia with Kissinger McLarty Associates and board member of the Export Import Bank of the United States.
  • (2003) Regina Hopper - Licensed attorney; Currently serves as USTelecom's Executive Vice President, former Emmy Award-winning national network correspondent for CBS.
  • (2002) Dr. Kathy Brittain White - Former Executive Vice President and Chief Information Office of Cardinal Health; serves on the boards of directors at Mattel, Inc. and Certegy, Inc.; named to Forbes magazine’s TOP 25 American Business Women.
  • (2001) Tracy Gary  - Heiress of two large fortunes and noted philanthropist for more than 25 years who educates and supports donors, family foundations, financial service organizations and non-profits about the stewardship of money, leadership, and philanthropy; founder of more than 18 non-profits, including Resourceful Women and the The Women’s Foundation of San Francisco.
  • (2000) Lieutenant General Claudia Jean Kennedy - First female to reach the rank of three-star general in the U.S. Army; named Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence; a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.
  • (1999) Beth Dixon - Past Executive Director of the Women's Foundation of Greater Memphis.