Our Giving Pledge

January 2019

Signing the Giving Pledge is simply formalizing our belief that it is our privilege to help others because we are the ones that truly benefit by doing so. We are grateful to Bill and Melinda Gates for acting as model philanthropists.

As a social issue film and Broadway producer as well as a social entrepreneur, I want to use my producing talents to help alleviate extreme poverty. I feel blessed to have been born with a sense of empathy and the knowledge to know that talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. Over the last ten years, I have worked with women who were raped and survived the genocide in Rwanda and those who were recently released from prison in Hudson County New Jersey. Working on the ground in Rwanda and in Jersey City, I have seen that the dignity of work is the “hand-up” that makes the difference in their lives. Watching these women transform and accomplish great things for themselves and their families has deeply inspired and transformed me.

With the support of my husband, Rick, we have lived our lives championing those who may be overlooked or need a second chance. Through our Foundation, we focus on issues that directly impact women including criminal justice reform and re-entry, HIV/AIDS, gender equity, abuse and trafficking, homelessness, female entrepreneurship, as well as access to education and job skills training. Our goal is to give them the tools to transform their lives with dignity.

We are passionate about achieving these goals. It is an honor to be part of the Giving Pledge.