MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Christine Bragale
Interviewed by Ann Vaughn and Lori Finch
Ann Vaughn and I had so much fun interviewing Christine Bragale, a founding member and extraordinary supporter of Impact100 DC, about why she joined Impact100 DC and why she is so passionate about sponsoring the membership and engagement of younger women in our organization.
On the collective giving model:
Christine: I love the power of collective philanthropy. When you join Impact100, your $1,000 effectively becomes an investment of $100,000. It’s a way to make a significant and lasting contribution. And this kind of support is needed now more than ever, given that the pandemic has ravaged our communities and impacted the well-being of thousands of people.
On choosing to join Impact100 DC:
Christine: I really liked the intentional decision to build a diverse membership from all walks of life and every corner of the region, from the ground up. I was born and raised in D.C. and love my hometown. Through Impact DC I have an opportunity to expand my circle of acquaintances and experience within this community. And, it is personally enriching and fulfilling to support nonprofit organizations that best understand unmet needs and how to address them. Impact100 DC’s focus on prioritizing programs that address systemic racism and inequity is critical.
On sponsoring the membership of young women who are not currently in a financial position to participate:
Christine: It is important that we cultivate the next generation of philanthropists. With crowdfunding and other platforms, giving has become very specific. Participation in Impact100 provides an opportunity for a rich education with regard to broad community needs and the tremendous work being done by nonprofits to address them. Many young women I know are craving the opportunity to be part of a network like ours, to connect to their community, particularly given the isolation of this past year. I’m really honored to be able to help them get a start in what I anticipate will be sustained involvement in Impact DC. And by the way, historically men have done the larger share of the philanthropic giving in this country; let’s change that dynamic for good!
Bio: Christine Nyirjesy Bragale is the head of global communications at FHI 360, an international nonprofit working to improve the health and well-being of people in the United States and around the world. She is passionate about connecting people to the information they need and telling authentic stories that inspire them to take action that creates a better world. In addition to decades of leadership in nonprofit public relations, Christine is a veteran international journalist and former member of the White House press corps.
