Fund for Women names new board members

The Fund for Women at the Delaware Community Foundation welcomes Melissa A. Micek, secretary; Jennifer Sonson, treasurer; Monica Shockley-Porter, advocacy chair; and Jennifer Vitak, New Castle County development chair; to its board of directors.

Louie Phillips, FFW chair, also announced the transition of Kathy Kiernan from secretary to advancement chair and Cynthia Carter-Wedgewood from collaborative grant chair to governance chair. Phillips said these appointments and transitions serve to further strengthen FFW’s ability to meet today’s challenges in empowering Delaware women and girls to achieve their potential.

The FFW extends thanks to departing board members Susan Sherk, Molly Giordano, Lynn Evans and Kristen Kuipers for their years of service.

Melissa A. Micek serves as director of engagement for Philanthropy Delaware, formerly known as the Delaware Grantmakers Association. She has been involved with the FFW since 2019, serving on the grants committee and the young founders committee, which recruits and promotes FFW to other young professional philanthropists to grow the endowment and give back to the community. In her role on the grants committee, Micek is committed to a diligent review and decision-making process for grants.

As a Leadership Delaware graduate and fellow in the Class of 2020, Micek is committed to enhancing knowledge, vision, integrity and networks to significantly impact and transform Delaware’s communities. Micek received her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Delaware. She graduated cum laude from the University of Lynchburg’s Westover Honors Program with a dual degree in political science and philosophy.

Jennifer Sonson has been with Raymond James Financial Services since 2010. Beginning her career as an intern, Sonson worked several years as a client services liaison before attaining the notable CFP designation. She currently specializes in assisting young professionals and women with wealth accumulation strategies, risk assessment and long-term financial planning.

Sonson joined FFW as a young founder in 2020 and has been an active member of the finance committee. She also is a member of the Padua Academy Alumni Association. She has a degree in finance and marketing from Wilmington University.

Monica Shockley-Porter has been responsible for marketing, outreach and management of several programs during her career and currently serves as community relations director at Dover Behavioral Health System. Since her family relocated to Delaware in 2019, Shockley-Porter has become actively involved with Network Delaware, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Delaware chapter. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.

Shockley-Porter has volunteered in various capacities with FFW, serving on the advocacy, grants and young founders’ committees. She earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Savannah State University, a master’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Louisville, and a master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University.

Jennifer Vitak is a local insurance agent with Liberty Mutual. Her passion for helping clients with their insurance started in her early 20s and comes from knowing she has the ability to protect families, give them peace of mind and educate them about their specific insurance needs. Vitak said she thoroughly enjoys engaging with the community and giving back in any way she can.

Vitak has been a founder since 2019 and has been very involved in the young founders committee. She loves being able to support women and girls in Delaware. She volunteers weekly at Faithful Friends Animal Society and has been an animal lover and advocate since childhood. Vitak has an associate’s degree in business from Cecil College.

Through collective philanthropy, the Fund for Women invests and advocates by bringing together members’ knowledge, passion and commitment to empower women and girls in Delaware to achieve their potential. The FFW was established in 1993 as an endowment at the Delaware Community Foundation. Since then, the FFW has issued more than $3.2 million in grants to hundreds of nonprofit programs statewide.

For more information, go to fundforwomende.com.