Women’s History Month invites us to pause and reflect on the remarkable female figures who have played pivotal roles in shaping Memphis’s philanthropic landscape. One such luminary is Joy Brown Wiener, a trailblazer who made history in 1974 as the first woman to join the Community Foundation's Board of Governors.
Wiener fearlessly embraced leadership roles in various areas, from her illustrious, 40-year tenure as concertmaster of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra to her advocacy for arts education.
Under Wiener's guidance, the Community Foundation embarked on a trajectory of impactful community grantmaking, a legacy that continues to resonate today. The Foundation's inaugural competitive discretionary grant to what is now SRVS in 1974 marked the beginning of a commitment to support vital community initiatives.
[We acknowledge Wiener’s significant influence on shaping the Community Foundation's history and our community investment strategy.] Still benefiting from her cornerstone service, we embrace a future where women continue to lead our community through philanthropy.
Visit cfgm.org/wkno to learn more about Joy Brown Wiener.