Women's Fund to Host Leadership Luncheon May 11, 2026
Chattanooga, TN. In an effort to bring together women committed to leadership, professional growth, and making a meaningful impact in our community, the Women’s Leadership Collective, under the umbrella of the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga, will host a Leadership Luncheon on Monday, May 11. The featured speaker will be Janet Rehberg, President & CEO-elect of EPB.
This luncheon will bring together new, established, and emerging leaders in our community to continue the conversations, connections, and leadership development that is missing in our community. Generously sponsored by Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. and Pinnacle Financial Partners, the event is being hosted by a committee of women that are committed to developing and supporting women leaders in Chattanooga.
“This new effort will reconnect the spirit of leadership and community that has existed here for decades, but has been missing over the last few years,” said Patti Frierson. “We are excited to join efforts with the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga to provide a meaningful space to reconnect with established leaders and welcome in new women in all stages of their careers.”
This gathering is designed to be both meaningful and informal—a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new leaders, and explore how we can continue supporting women’s leadership in our community.
“Janet is an innovative leader in our community, and we are honored to learn from her insights at our first event,” said Melody Shekari, Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga Executive Director. “Recently, we have heard from a number of women that we need more opportunities for them to connect, learn, and develop, and we are so grateful for this dynamic committee to lead this effort with us.”
The Leadership Luncheon will be held at Embassy Suites in Downtown Chattanooga from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM on Monday, May 11, and is open to the public. The cost is $30 per person. Tickets are available online at: www.givebutter.com/may-2026-leadership-luncheon-wfgc
About the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga
The Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga unites efforts for social change that improve life for women and girls across the region. Through advocacy and philanthropy, we catalyze movement toward a just society that is safe, nurturing, and full of opportunity for women. The Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga is made up of brave advocates and bold philanthropists. For more information, visit www.chattanoogawomensfund.org.
Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga Announces Sponsors for Voices
Sponsorship opportunities still available for the Sept. 24 annual fundraiser
CHATTANOOGA––The Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga’s (WFGC) announces the corporate sponsors for this year’s annual fundraiser, Voices, that will be held on Wednesday, September 24 at The Chattanoogan Hotel. This year’s corporate sponsors are:
Endorser Sponsor: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
Mission Sponsor: EPB
Promotor Sponsors: First Horizon and Truist
“We are so thankful to this year’s Voice’s sponsors. Their support allows us to create an engaging and energizing event.” said Melody Shekari, WFGC’s executive director. “Their support allows us to create an engaging and energizing event for the 400 attendees.”
The event encourages attendees to learn more about local advocacy work and the power of collective philanthropy.
“We are always looking for additional sponsors and support for Voices, so it’s not too late to become a sponsor for the event,” added Shekari. “Proceeds from this event go toward our important advocacy work to improve the lives of women and girls in Tennessee.”
The corporate sponsorship opportunities that are still available are:
Presenting Sponsor (exclusive sponsorship tier)
Endorser Sponsor
Promoter Sponsor
Champagne Sponsor (one spot left)
Advisor Sponsor
Table Sponsor
Each sponsorship tier comes with different benefits. For more information about how to become an event sponsor, visit tinyurl.com/voices-sponsor or email melody@chattanoogawomensfund.org.
Event keynote speaker and ticket sales will be announced at a future date.
The Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga is a nonpartisan policy nonprofit that aims to make Tennessee a safer, more equitable state for women and girls. Together, with other advocates and with allied organizations across the region and state, we find ways to improve the lives of Tennessee women in the areas that matter most: economic opportunity, health, and safety. The Women’s Fund leverages advocacy, philanthropy, and a robust network of partners to diminish the root causes of inequity.
For more information on the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga, please visit chattanoogawomensfund.org.
Women's Fund 2024 Period Poverty Drive & Advocacy on Feminine Product Tax
Tennessee advocates battling to scrap tax on feminine products.
In 2024, WFGC ran their annual Period Poverty Awareness Drive, started five years ago through a CGLA student concerned about student access to period products. This year, we collected over 1500 period products, which would cover 75 girls for ONE cycle. No woman or girl should miss on school, work, or life experiences due to period poverty! See coverage of this issue, including efforts to remove the item tax as a luxury, at the link: Tennessee advocates battling to scrap tax on feminine products.
Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga Announces a New Executive Director
Chattanooga-area policy and advocacy-focused nonprofit, the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga (WFGC), brings in new leadership and experience with the selection of Melody Shekari as the organization’s executive director.
Shekari has extensive experience managing teams, working with notable stakeholders and advocating for policy issues. Most recently, she worked as an attorney and consultant at her own firm, Shekari Law PLLC, where she consulted with local officials and worked on federal grant applications.
“Our board is thrilled to have Melody lead the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga in this new chapter,” said WFGC hiring committee chair and past board chair Rachel Sauceman. “As we focus on increasing positive outcomes for women and girls across the state, Melody brings a deep understanding of advocacy and policy to our organization.”
Her leadership experience includes managing the Shekari Law PLLC office, with over 800 clients served in five years, and running a large organization at the University of Southern California, with a budget of $2 million and 18 employees.
Melody earned a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics from Bentley University, a Master in Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Southern California.
The new executive director will be supported in meeting the organization’s goals by the 2024 board of directors, led by the recently appointed board chair Stefanie Crowe.
“I’m beyond excited to serve as the 2024 chair of the Women’s Fund, following Rachael Sauceman’s exceptional leadership this past year,” said Crowe. “It was an honor to work alongside current and past board members on the executive search committee to choose Melody as our new leader, and I look forward to supporting her, alongside our board, as we work to make life better for every woman and girl in Tennessee.”
Legislative Outcomes 2023
2023 Legislative Outcomes
Please keep in mind this is year 1 of the 2 year session!
WINS
SB 979/HB 944 | Financial Abuse | Senator Gardenhire & Representative Alexander | WFGC | Defines Financial Abuse and attributes that definition to domestic abuse and abuse against those who are considered “vulnerable adults.” (Written and lobbied for by the WFGC as our proactive legislation.) Chaptered.
Special thanks to the following Co-Sponsors, Underlined Co-Sponsors signify our Hamilton County Delegation:
Senate: Campbell, Yarbro, Briggs, Jackson, Massey, Rose, Walley, Watson
House: Hardaway, Crawford, Helton-Haynes, Littleton, Davis, Vital, Hakeem
SB 1458/HB 983 | Maternity Leave for Local Education Agencies | Senator White & Rep/Spkr Sexton | A Better Balance | Expands leave for adoption or birth for education employees. Passed. To Become Law.
SB 276/ HB 324| Paid Family Leave | Senator Lamberth & Rep Johnson | A Better Balance | Expands leave options for adoption or birth for state employees. Chaptered.
SB 745/HB 883 | Medical Procedures for Pregnant Women | Senator Briggs and Representative Helton-Haynes"| Replaces the affirmative defense of “proving an abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman”'; and instead provides that it is not an offense for a physician to perform an abortion under circumstances that are substantially similar to those required to establish the affirmative defense under present law. Chaptered.
A note about the following legislation:
*SB 187 | Maternal and Infant Mortality Prevention Act | Senator Lamar | Would create a doula services advisory committee to promote core competencies and standards for doula services.
*This bill was substituted by SB 394/HB738 | Senator Lamar & Representative Love | Creates the Doula Advisory Committee, which will advise on training requirements for doulas to be TennCare providers and on equitable reimbursement rates. Chaptered.
SB 1205/ HB 686| Victim Confidentiality | Senator Campbell & Senator Freeman | Senator Campbell & Representative Freeman | Prohibits an advocate from disclosing any communication received from a victim, or the location of their shelter, unless the victim waives this right by written consent. Chaptered.
SB 419/HB 557 | Increase Age for Forensic Youth Interviews | Senator Haile & Representative Littleton | Children’s Advocacy Centers| Increases the age for the admissibility of statements during a forensic interview from 13 to 17 and would allow statements describing abusive or violent contact with or on the child, instead of just sexual contact. Chaptered.
SB 346/ HB 933 | Highschool Heads-up for Voter Eligibility | Senator Campbell & Representative McKenzie | This bill was promoted by high schoolers!| Requires each high school to inform each high school senior that upon reaching the age of 18 the student may be eligible to vote and provide information from the secretary of state about voter eligibility and how to register to vote. Passed. To Become Law.
We are glad the following bills did not progress as we are opposed to them:
SB 603/HB 571 | Mandating Cultural Incompetence in Medical Education and Practice | Senator Hensley & Representative Carringer | Would, among other things, prohibit medical education institutions from requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and education for purposes of the issuance of a degree. Taken off notice for cal in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee of Education Administration.
SB 1222/HB 267 | State Mandated Mental Health Barriers to Economic Success | Senator White & Senator Terry | Would require a child seeking to expunge their record to undergo a favorable mental health evaluation. Held in committee (some sponsors withdrew!)
TO BE CONTINUED - For one or more reasons, these bills didn’t run this year, but we anticipate their continued efforts next session.
SB 227/HB 442 | Paid Family Leave for State Employees | Senator Yarbro & Representative Shaw | A Better Balance | Would expand paid leave for State employees. Taken off notice for cal in s/c Public Service Subcommittee of State Government Committee.
SB 16/HB 547 | Paid Family Medical Leave for State Employees | Senator Lamar & Representative Harris | A Better Balance Would expand paid medical leave of State employees. Failed in Senate State and Local Government Committee.
SB 885 / HB 1084| Decriminalizing Contraceptive Care| Senator Akbari & Representative Chism | Would clarify use of contraceptive care is not considered a crime. Failed in Senate Judiciary Committee.
SB 177/HB 567| Maternal Health TennCare Telehealth Pilot | Senator Massey & Representative Carringer | Would direct Tenncare to create and implement a three-year pilot program to provide remote maternal health services to eligible Tenncare recipients. Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.
SB 983/ HB 778 | Authorizing Lifesaving Medical Procedures for Pregnant Women | Senator Yager & Representative Helton - Haynes Limits the offense of criminal abortion to only apply to elective abortions. Taken off notice for cal in s/c Population Health Subcommittee of Health Committee.
SB 719/HB 1140 | Human Trafficking Victim Confidentiality | Senator Lamar & Representative Miller Would specify that a communication between a human trafficking victim advocate or trained volunteer and a human trafficking victim is confidential if it is not intended to be disclosed to a third party. Held in committee.
SB 875/ HB 546 Removing Barriers From Fines and Fees | Senator Akbari & Representative Harris | Would suspend payment of criminally assessed fines and fees within the first 180 days of someone reentering society. Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Criminal Justice Committee.
A Special Note:
**SB 128/HB 576 | Doula Pilot for High Risk Pregnancy TennCare recipients | Senator Lamar & Representative Hemmer Would require Tenncare to establish a pilot program to provide payment for doula care services for high-risk pregnant women enrolled in TennCare. This bill did not pass. However, Governor Lee set aside $1,000,000 (non-recurring) for implementing a doula pilot program in the 2023-2024 Revised Budget.
This year was very full. With the historic events transpiring from the Covenant School shooting through to the reinstatement of two Representatives of the Tennessee House, we are very fortunate to have written passed a proactive piece of legislation and to have a successful list of wins. Thank you for your advocacy.
A note: The Governor’s Special Session on Public Safety will occur in August of 2023.
Questions or comments can be directed to Joanna Theolene, Manager of Policy and Advocacy, Advocacy@chattanoogawomensfund.org