100 Men for Gender Equity

Join the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island for a very special presentation on June 9th.

Women need male allies more than ever. In the past year, hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost and the majority of those belonged to women. Women are leaving the workforce in record numbers causing AND women are picking up extra schooling, childcare, and home labor duties in addition to working full-time. How can you, as a man, support your colleagues, partners, family, or children? We’ll launch our 100 Men for Gender Equity campaign this night and have some thought-provoking discussions and actions to take.

Our featured speaker is Ted Bunch, co-founder of A Call to Men.

This is a free event, but the Women’s Fun hopes you will make a donation – their goal is to raise $10,000 through 100 men raising $100 each. Are you up for the challenge?

About Ted Bunch

Ted Bunch is an author, educator, activist, and lecturer working to end all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls. Bunch is Chief Development Officer of A Call to Men and is internationally recognized for his efforts to prevent violence against women while promoting a healthy, respectful manhood.  He is a leading voice on male socialization, the intersection of masculinity and violence against women, and healthy, respectful manhood.

Ted is the co-author of The Book of Dares, 100 inspiring, creative, fun challenges for boys based on the work of A Call to Men. The Book of Dares has been called “a direct answer to parents’ cries for building healthy masculinity, respect, and emotional literacy in their sons.”

Ted is an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is the former director and co-creator of the largest program for domestic violence offenders in America.  His innovative work laid the groundwork for the prevention strategies now endorsed as best practice in engaging men to end violence against women. Bunch developed and implemented model response programs for police, fire departments, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other first responders dealing with domestic violence.

Bunch is an adviser to and trainer for the National Basketball Association. He has also provided training to the National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, and Major League Baseball. He was invited to help lead the #TimesUp Engaging Men efforts and is providing ongoing healthy manhood and sexual harassment prevention training throughout the entertainment industry.

He was a guest presenter for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. He is an international lecturer for the U.S. State Department and was appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as a committee member to UNiTE, an international network of male leaders working to end violence against women. Ted’s work has been featured in the UK, Israel, Suriname, South Africa, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil and Puerto Rico.

Bunch is the co-author of A Call to Men’s Live Respect Coaching Healthy & Respectful Manhood Curriculum, designed to prevent dating violence, sexual assault, and bullying in school and sports. He is sought after for his impactful and engaging sexual assault prevention programs for young men in high school and college and has trained extensively in colleges and universities. Bunch is a frequent guest on national television and radio programs like the TODAY Show and National Public Radio, and has served as a script consultant for the Emmy Award-winning television series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and for the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill.

About the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island

We’re About Equity!

Women’s Fund of Rhode Island (WFRI) invests in women and girls through research, advocacy, grant making and strategic partnerships designed to achieve gender equity through systemic change. Our work lays the foundation for a more equitable Rhode Island and has made our state a national leader in public policies that are good for women and families.

Our vision is a community, nation and world that is free of gender bias and where social justice exists for all. We are committed to creating a space where people are valued regardless of sex, age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, national origin, or religious affiliation. We are committed to practicing intersectional feminism that acknowledges the complex relationships between systems of oppression and moving forward together towards a morally just and equitable society for everyone.

Our values include:

• Access- Women and girls must have equal access to all opportunities, whether social, cultural, economic, educational, or political
• Collaboration- Meaningful and long-lasting change comes from the combined efforts of diverse organizations and individuals
• Equity- All people deserve fairness, impartiality, justice, and respect
• Inclusion- The strength and sustainability of our community depends on its diversity
• Transparency- WFRI is open, honest, direct, and accountable in its actions and communications

In 2021, in collaboration with our Board, staff, former and current Women’s Policy Institute fellows and volunteers, WFRI created an antiracism statement and organizational expectations to improve our practices and ensure we also address racial equity through a gender lens. The statement and strategies can be accessed here.

Our Story

The Ms. Foundation for Women was the first national women’s fund, launched in the 1970’s. Today, hundreds of women’s funds operate throughout the United States and in countries around the world. Their shared purpose is to improve the lives of women and girls. What do they accomplish? A lot, including:

• Adding millions of dollars each year to the pool of grant money available for the needs of women and girls.
• Pushing for political change, using fresh, local and important data on the status of women and girls on key indicators such as health, economic stability, leadership and other measures.
• Developing innovative solutions to address serious social needs.
• Building a community of shared purpose.
• Celebrating women by inspiring positive, hopeful views of the future while creating and safeguarding the well-being and potential of women and girls.

In 2001, the Rhode Island Foundation, together with founder Simone Joyaux, established a fund specifically for women and girls in Rhode Island. In 2005, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island became an independent charitable organization and has been working to create a more equitable state ever since.