Celebrating 10 Years of Backstage Pass By: Laura Glenn A weekend of grand festivities, as we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of both this signature event and Women for FSU. Engaging Alumni with Philanthropy By: Julie Cheney Meet the new president and CEO of the FSU Alumni Association. The 2019 Inspire Award for FSU Women of Distinction By: Laura Glenn On March 28, three soaring walls of glass at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts set the stage for the 2019 Inspire Awards. The History of Women for FSU By: Abby Folsome What started as an assembly of women has transformed into an organization known today as Women for Florida State University. Your W4FSU Membership By: Katie McCormick, Membership Committee Chair Your support helps sustain the activities of the W4FSU and reinforces our collective commitment to this organization and Florida State University. LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Summer marks a new year for W4FSU. Before turning our attention to the future, let me reflect briefly on some of W4FSU’s successes. Throughout the year, we celebrated our diamond anniversary with fanfare. Many of you attended the 2019 Backstage Pass to the Very Best of Florida State, enjoying performances from the Music Theatre program, touring the beautiful new Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship and sewing silk infinity scarves visually embodying FSU’s “war chant.” W4FSU asked attendees to support FSU’s Great Give, and you rose to the occasion, investing $5,000 in matching funds—helping us leap over our $10,000 goal to enhance the Women’s Leadership Institute. Several of you attended the fifth-annual Inspire Awards recognizing four alumnae whose hard work and determination are an inspiration to us all. As W4FSU enters our second year offering memberships, I invite you to renew yours. If you have yet to take that step, we invite you to contact any member and ask them why they joined. Women like you did so much more behind the scenes than I could describe in this newsletter. This organization would not be what it is without the ongoing dedication of such resourceful and wise individuals. The sun is setting on my term as chair, and it has been an honor to watch W4FSU grow and continue to be mission-focused. Tena Pate, your incoming chair, brings to the role wisdom, experience and a deep commitment to core values. It will be a privilege to serve with her at the helm. Cheers to the next 10 years! Fondly, Cassandra Rayne Gross Chair, Women for FSU