Youth Volunteer of the Year - Madeleine Gordillo 

Madeleine began volunteering with Women Giving Back in May 2024 and has already contributed an impressive 123 hours of service. As a Sort Leader, she leads with confidence and care, creating an environment where every volunteer feels welcomed, valued, and essential.

She brings both precision and compassion to her role, working at what she describes as “the intersection of compassion and operations.” Inspired by WGB’s commitment to providing dignity through meeting basic needs, Madeleine has fully embraced her role in supporting both volunteers and the families we serve.

Volunteer Group of the Year -
Junior League of Northern Virginia

JLNV is a valued volunteer partner to Women Giving Back, bringing both leadership and heart to their service. Since 2023, more than 130 members have contributed nearly 1,000 hours, supporting WGB through group volunteer days and ongoing individual service.

Their impact reaches across the organization, from warehouse and boutique support to leading initiatives like Career Wear and helping establish the Period Pantry. In addition to hands-on service, JLNV has also supported WGB’s mission through grant funding for programs serving women and children in crisis.

Volunteer of the Year Award - Angie Erschens

Angie first connected with WGB in 2019 through a corporate volunteer event and quickly turned that introduction into a lasting commitment. Since then, she has become a dedicated leader, even launching evening volunteer shifts to expand access for those with daytime commitments.

She brings both leadership and heart to her work, not only supporting operations in the warehouse but also engaging others in WGB’s mission through group volunteering, donation drives, and fundraising efforts. In 2024, Angie reached an impressive milestone of 250 volunteer hours. Her generosity, dedication, and ability to inspire others have made a meaningful and lasting impact.

Bill DuBois Legacy Award - Shay Onorio

Shay has been a trusted partner to Women Giving Back for more than a decade, offering both leadership and expertise to help guide the organization’s growth. As Owner and President of Red Thinking, she has played a key role in shaping WGB’s brand and visibility.

She led WGB’s social media efforts for years, growing a strong online presence, and spearheaded a full brand refresh through Red Thinking’s pro bono Brand Jam - work that continues to define WGB today. Shay also led the development of WGB’s website, secured Google Ad Grants, and introduced innovative solutions like Give Back Box to expand national donation access.

Her steady leadership, generosity, and behind-the-scenes impact have helped build the foundation for WGB’s future.

These awards were presented at our Volunteer Appreciation Awards on April 22nd. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our luau-themed celebration to recognize these outstanding individuals, and to all of our volunteers who made 2025 such a meaningful year.

We are deeply thankful for all of you and the difference you continue to make every day.

Our annual Cinco de Mayo: Fiesta for a Cause is almost here - we're just days away from the celebration on May 7th! Tickets are on sale now, and we’d love to have you join us for this fun, special evening supporting our mission.

This festive event is our way of celebrating the incredible sponsors, volunteers, and community members who make our work possible - all while raising critical funds to keep it going. There’s no better way to mark the occasion than under our Fiesta tent, enjoying delicious Latin-inspired food, refreshing drinks, and lively music.

Don’t wait - secure your spot today and be part of an unforgettable night for a great cause!

Questions? Reach out to us at Hailey@WomenGivingBack.org

On May 3rd, Women Giving Back is proud to be a beneficiary of Run the Greenway - and the big day is almost here!

There’s still time to join our team, the Women Giving Back Wonder Women, and hit the course in support of WGB. Even if running isn’t your thing, we’d love to see you out there cheering on participants and soaking in the energy of race day.

Be sure to stop by our table to say hello, enjoy some great food vendors, and stick around for the live band - it’s shaping up to be a fun, high-energy morning for a great cause.

However you show up, your support helps us go the extra mile for women and children in our community!

We’d like to give a special shoutout to Ruth Tilson, whose support has meant so much as we prepare for Cinco. A dedicated volunteer with over 230 hours, Ruth has also played a key role in gathering auction items - securing more than a dozen contributions and helping us build new connections with local businesses along the way.

We’re incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and laughter she brings to everything she does. Thank you, Ruth!

The need in our community is growing, and your steady support helps us meet it head-on.

By becoming a monthly donor, you’re joining a special group of changemakers who ensure women and children in crisis have access to clothing, resources, and hope - all year long.

It’s easy, automatic, and incredibly powerful. Just set it once, and know you’re making a difference every single month.  When giving monthly is simple and recurring, the support never stops, and the impact lasts a lifetime!

We were incredibly grateful to welcome the team from Cooperative Finance Corporation, whose generosity made a meaningful impact across so many areas of our work. Their support included a $5,000 gift, a $5,000 diaper order, additional donations of diapers, socks, and underwear, and 300 snack packs for the families we serve.

Their contributions touched nearly every corner of our programs - from keeping our Diaper Bank stocked, to supporting our Snack Pack program, to providing essential clothing items for the Boutique. Their financial gift also helps us respond where the need is greatest. This kind of multi-faceted support strengthens our work across the board, and we’re truly thankful for their partnership.