Women United
Behind every great woman are the women who have her back.
Women United is a diverse, vibrant community of visionaries and change makers bound together by a powerful sense of belonging — to one another, to our community and to our mission of transforming the lives of women living in Oxford County.
Together, we leverage our time, talents and funds to empower women in our community to build strong, independent lives. UNITED, we are stronger. Together, we can create a world full of opportunity for all women.
Our current Women United Co-Chairs are Cassandra Benard, OC Realty Team with Revel Woodstock, and Melissa MacLean, IG Wealth Management.
Melissa MacLean
“I am involved with the United Way and Women United because I believe in the power of collective impact. By bringing together passionate individuals and resources, we can create lasting change in our communities, particularly in empowering women and supporting families. It’s an opportunity to drive meaningful initiatives that align with my commitment to making a difference where it matters most!”
Cassandra Benard
“Being a part of Women United has provided me with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing our community, and the role I can play to create meaningful change. It has been incredibly rewarding to collaborate with like-minded volunteers and then work together to uplift women in our community and see firsthand the impact of United Way’s work. United Way’s adaptability to meaningfully support different initiatives and needs in our community is their greatest asset, and I am proud to volunteer my resources to such a worthy organization.”
We are very excited for what is upcoming, and want to thank Cassandra, Melissa, and all of our Women United Members for sharing their passion and commitment to community with us as we work together to build hope for the future.
Join Women United today with your Leadership Gift of $100 per month
Women United Events
Women United to Help Support Youth This Summer
In June 2025, we continued our mission to support youth food insecurity in Oxford County.
A guided tour of the Fusion Youth Centre showcased how Women United is making a difference in the lives of youth in Ingersoll. We then rolled up our sleeves to bake a healthy snack to be shared with youth attending Fusion’s summer programs.
This is a wonderful opportunity to ensure local children have a healthy option this summer.
We are so grateful to Cargill for sponsoring this event.
Mix, Mingle and Make a Difference 2024
In November 2024, we mixed, mingled and united, made a difference!
What a great opportunity to see the impact of your support! For $10, members of our community joined us to connect with some of our funded partners, to learn more about their work and the impact we are having through their connection with United Way. We highlighted some of our other initiatives and special events that keep teams involved, engaged and giving back all year-round. We were joined by our staff team, volunteers and partners to help answer questions and show our community how you are making a difference firsthand.
Lights snacks were sponsored by Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese and door prizes were awarded courtesy of our Women United Co-Chairs.
Women United to Feed Kids 2024
In June 2024, we gathered at Thames River Melons to discuss the importance of healthy eating and how we can united to help families in our community affected by rising food costs.
During this event, we toured the farm, heard a presentation from Oxford’s Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP), a funded partner of United Way that supports 13, 609 students across Oxford schools. This program plays a vital role in ensuring children have access to the nutrition needed for their development and education during the school day.
Together, we assembled snack kits to be distributed to students throughout the summer when they don’t have access to the snack program at their school.
This was a wonderful opportunity to learn more and to see your generous donations at work in our community.
We extend a huge thank you to Cassandra Benard, OC Realty with Revel, Thames River Melons and to Scott’s No Frills for their generous support.