Love the Work

Her Success Story

This week Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guests, Michele Drieblatt & Kiran Handa Gaudioso. The two return to the nonprofit series, and talk about United Way of Northern New Jersey, Gifts for the Season, and the many benefits brought locally by this organization. In this episode, we discuss:

• How Michele & Kiran got involved with United Way, and what their United Way does for their community

• What differs in the way United Way New Jersey does things

• What the ALICE program does, and how it helps families

• How they create systemic change for women in business

• What their long-term recovery work looks like for families in crisis

• How to help with Gifts for the Season, or become a volunteer

• What long-lasting connections do to bring people who continue to show up

• What they love about the work they do, and how they were brought into the nonprofit sector

Kiran  Handa  Gaudioso was named Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Northern New Jersey and president of United For ALICE effective March 2020. She had served as Chief Operating Officer  since 2017, following four years as the organization’s  Senior Vice President of Community Impact and Community Relations. She has overseen strategic planning for how the organization fulfills its mission of improving life for ALICE and those in poverty at the local, state, and national level including, United for ALICE. This research-based initiative with United Ways in 28 states provides a comprehensive study of households that earn above the poverty level, but less than a basic cost of living.    Gaudioso oversees an annual budget of $9.2M and a staff team of 50. During the pandemic, she led the establishment of the ALICE Recovery Fund and the creation of an innovative childcare pilot, United in Care. She was asked by Governor Murphy to co-chair the Third Sector Advisory Council to work with public sector leaders across the state to develop relief, recovery, and re-imagination strategies to support ALICE. Prior to joining United Way, Kiran served as interim CEO and vice president of Program Operations at New Jersey After 3, the public-private partnership that worked to provide safe, quality after-school and expanded learning time programs for 15,000 public school students in New Jersey. During her nine years with New Jersey After 3, Kiran created and managed a professional development system for 6,000 after-school program directors, site managers, and staff. She also oversaw the organization’s annual grant application process involving more than100 after-school programs.   Kiran developed programmatic and operational management expertise while serving as director of Mentoring, Volunteerism & Enrichment Programs at Sponsor For Educational Opportunity. There, she led the development of a mentoring program designed to help New York City teens reach their academic, personal, and career potential.  Early in her career, as a policy adviser under former Governor James Florio in the New Jersey Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, Kiran was instrumental in establishing AmeriCorps in New Jersey.  Kiran received her B.A. in political science and policy studies from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. She received a fellowship to attend The Eagleton Institute of Public Politics at Rutgers University, earning her M.A. in political science. Michele Dreiblatt is the Senior Director, Women’s Philanthropy & Donor Engagement at United Way of Northern New Jersey. She is responsible for engaging new and long-time donors and through Women United of Northern New Jersey. Through fundraising, advocacy, networking and volunteering, Michele brings a powerhouse group of women from diverse backgrounds together to serve as champions of change for ALICE workers and improve the lives of thousands of individuals who live paycheck to paycheck and are essential to the fabric of our society. Since 2015, Michele has collaborated with hundreds of women to raise over $1.4million dollars to build a community where everyone can afford to save for an emergency, access health care, and give their children a high-quality early education. Michele also serves as the staff lead on the Women United Global Leadership Council, which serves over 55,000 members globally.

Prior to joining United Way, Michele served as the Director of the New Jersey Jewish Film Festival for the JCC MetroWest, and as Cultural Arts Director for the JCC of Central New Jersey. During her combined six years in these roles, Michele elevated audience experiences with premiere films, speakers, music, cooking programs, and art exhibits while increasing attendance and exceeding fundraising goals. Early in her career, Michele held corporate positions as senior health and communications manager at Kraft General Foods, and as a public relations executive at top firms, including Daniel J. Edelman, representing Fortune 500 companies, providing creative direction for integrated marketing and communications programs,managing client relations, and working with chefs, restaurateurs, and food industry professionals to secure brand visibility for her clients. Michele graduated Syracuse University with a dual degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the College for Human Development, has earned several recognition awards in her career, and pursues professional and personal development program on an ongoing basis. She describes herself as high energy, self-motivated, passionate about philanthropy, and deeply grateful for her family, friends, United Way of Northern New Jersey family and Women United ‘sisters.’ Website: https://www.unitedwaynnj.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedwaynnj/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayNNJ X: https://twitter.com/UnitedWayNNJ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitedwaynnj/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/UnitedWayNNJ