“The things that we do measure—that we can say concretely we know we are impacting—
are increases in income, increases in savings, and increases in credit score…those are
three of the trifectas of financial stability and economic mobility.” – Danielle Piskadlo,
Executive Director, Women’s Money Matters
Created in honor of longtime Lawyers Clearinghouse board member Josephine McNeil, the
McNeil Community Impact Award celebrates those in our community who are, like
Josephine, committed to serving others, changing lives, and fighting for a better future. We
are proud to recognize Josephine’s decades of advocacy through this award, and grateful
for the 27 years she spent on our board.
We’re excited to highlight Women’s Money Matters, the recipient of our 2025 Josephine
McNeil Community Impact Award!
Lawyers Clearinghouse staff chose to honor Women’s Money Matters in recognition of their
work to empower women and girls living on low-incomes to improve their financial health
to create a more secure future for their families and communities.
Women’s Money Matters—formerly Budget Buddies until 2022—was co-founded by Anita
Saville and Kathy Brough in 2009 after they noticed a financial literacy gap among women
who were trying to leave shelters and move forward in their lives. As the Great Recession
progressed, it also became clear to Anita and Kathy that many of the women struggled to
manage their finances.
To help address these financial difficulties, WMM connects women and girls as young as
eight years old with volunteers who act as coaches, providing support and guidance
throughout the program. Participants then go through a series of weekly financial health
workshops that take place over a period of three months.
The organization sees considerable growth in the financial health of program participants,
with an average increase of 26% in income, 152% in savings, and 42-points in credit
scores.
Executive Director Danielle Piskadlo says WMM has grown a great deal over the years.
When she first started her role as executive director, the organization assisted almost 100
women a year on a budget of $500,000. This year, WMM is on track to reach 881 women
and girls through its programming, with a budget of nearly $2 million.
Recently, WMM has gone beyond its core programming, forming partnerships with other
organizations and offering expanded services that contribute to financial wellness, like
access to transportation, technology, and direct financial assistance.
We look forward to celebrating the work of Women’s Money Matters at our upcoming 37th
Annual Meeting, where we’ll also recognize Nolan Leadership Honoree Michelle Volpe,
President of The Property and Casualty Initiative, and Pro Bono Excellence Awardees Dain
Torpy, Phillips & Angley, and Pierce Atwood.
