On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Rise Up Together welcomed our community to The Progress in San Francisco for our annual Evening of Impact – a powerful gathering grounded in a simple, radical truth: joy is power.
Together, and thanks to the incredible generosity of this community, we raised over $306,000 to advance gender justice and support Rise Up Leaders driving change around the world.
At a time when rights are being rolled back and hard-won progress is under threat, choosing joy, as our Co-founder and Executive Director Denise Dunning shared, is not about ignoring injustice. It is about refusing to give up in the face of it – and finding the strength, courage, and persistence to keep showing up, together.
Throughout the evening, that energy was palpable. Supporters, partners, and Rise Up Leaders gathered in community – to connect, recharge, and recommit to advancing gender justice for women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people around the world. In a time that can feel heavy, the room was filled with energy, purpose, and a shared belief in a future where everyone can thrive.
We were honored to hear from Rise Up Leader Olivia Favela-Gary, Executive Director of the California Nurse-Midwives Foundation, whose work is transforming access to maternal health care in underserved communities across California.
Through both data and deeply personal storytelling, Olivia illuminated the urgent realities facing families today – and what it takes to rebuild systems of care with dignity, equity, and compassion at the center.
She shared the story of a pregnant woman forced to travel hours to find care – a reality now facing families across California as maternity services disappear. And she spoke to the deeper truth behind the crisis: that the problem is not individual choices, but the systems surrounding care.
Her work, supported by Rise Up Together, is advancing solutions that expand access to midwifery care and bring together advocates, policymakers, and health systems to ensure that all women and babies can thrive, regardless of income or zip code.
The evening was also a celebration of what is possible when local leaders are equipped to drive change. Today, Rise Up Together’s global network of more than 800 leaders has helped advance over 218 laws and policies, improving the lives of more than 172 million people worldwide – a testament to the power of locally led solutions and sustained investment in community-rooted leadership.
But as Denise reminded us, this moment demands more. The progress we celebrate is real – and so are the challenges ahead. What sustains this work, and what carried us through the evening, is joy: not as a distraction, but as a force. A force that fuels resistance, strengthens community, and makes it possible to keep going, even when the path forward is uncertain.
To everyone who joined us – and to those who continue to stand with Rise Up Leaders around the world – thank you. Your presence, your partnership, and your belief in the power of women’s leadership make this work possible.
