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2025 GWI Annual Trailblazer Gala

Olympic Gold Medalist and sports trailblazer Donna de Varona headlined Girls With Impact’s 5th Annual Trailblazers Gala, inspiring an audience of nearly 300 and helping the organization raise $450,000 to expand its mission of preparing young women for leadership and success in business.

Held at L’escale in Greenwich, the event marked a major step in GWI’s “Campaign to 50,000” initiative, a five-year effort to scale from serving 18,000 young women since 2018 to 50,000 nationwide, accelerating progress and helping to reduce the 50-year time frame until women have equal presence in the business world (McKinsey).

“Tonight, we made a big leap by changing the lives of young women and creating more opportunities for women to lead and influence our world,” said GWI CEO Jennifer Openshaw. “With women still 50 years away from equal representation in business, we’re moving faster to close the gap.”

More Photos here

Event poster for Kickoff Women's History Month, 5th Annual Girls With Impact Trailblazers & Future Innovators Fundraising Gala, featuring a conversation with honoree Donna de Varona, scheduled for February 27, 2025 at 6 PM at L'escalade on Greenwich Harbor. The poster has a pink background with bokeh effects, event details, and a photo of Donna de Varona smiling in a light blue top, with colorful artwork behind her.

Four women standing together and smiling at an event, dressed in formal attire, in a room with patterned wallpaper and warm lighting.

In a fireside chat with GWI graduate Jayla Thomas, de Varona shared the defining moments that shaped her career—including the influence of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics. After a personal tragedy, Shriver turned her energy toward service, proving that true strength comes from using influence to create opportunities for others.

De Varona emphasized that same spirit of action in her own work and the mission of GWI. “I won’t rest until women have the same opportunities to achieve their full potential—whether on the field, in the pool, or in the boardroom. Girls With Impact is giving young women the training, confidence, and skills to take their rightful place as leaders in business and beyond.”