Yesterday, members of United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) spent the afternoon wrapping books as holiday gifts to give to students at John Muir Elementary School, a community school supported by United Way. The WLC has chosen to partner with John Muir Elementary School as part of its efforts to improve educational opportunities for children from low-income families.

“Thanks to our generous Women’s Leadership Council members, all 27 fifth graders at John Muir Elementary School will be receiving a holiday care package containing two of their favorite books – one to read on their own and a second for their caregiver to read with them,” said Shani Ahearn, senior director, who is United Way’s lead for the Council. “In addition, our holiday drive inspired a group of amazing Girl Scouts to donate money from their cookie sales to purchase 10 books for the book drive. Incredible and completely inspiring!”

Click on the photo gallery below to see the merry WLC elves in action.

The holiday book drive, gift-wrapping party, and delivery of the books to students this week wraps up an eventful first year for the Women’s Leadership Council. The WLC launched in May, when more than 75 women leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds came together to create a women’s leadership group dedicated to United Way’s poverty-cutting goal.

The group offers members opportunities to make a meaningful difference through advocacy, volunteering, networking, and professional development. Current projects include a year-long lecture series about the need for more women in leadership roles and collaborating with United Way staff to refine our public-policy agenda, as well as the blossoming partnership with John Muir Elementary School. The Council has also organized a school-uniform drive, which will continue into the New Year.

Learn more at www.uwba.org/wlc and/or subscribe to the WLC mailing list.