By Laura Farmer
The Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) for Kennedy Krieger Institute isn’t just a fundraising arm or a volunteer program—it’s a vibrant community of women united by a shared mission: to improve the lives of the patients and students, and their families, served by Kennedy Krieger through advocacy, fundraising and volunteerism. As WIN marks its 15th anniversary this year, its leaders reflect on the organization’s successes and look ahead to how the group will continue to impact Kennedy Krieger in the future.
“Each of our fundraising events has a purpose. We’re not just raising money—we’re meeting real needs,” says Katie Love, senior associate director of philanthropy at Kennedy Krieger and WIN’s staff liaison. From funding an accessible playground to installing book-vending machines in patient waiting areas, WIN ensures that every dollar raised and every hour volunteered makes a tangible difference.
WIN members are very hands-on. They play with children in the Institute’s therapy room on WIN Wednesdays, prepare welcome bags for new patients and their families, and organize school supply drives—all while balancing careers, families and other responsibilities.
“The women in WIN are juggling so much—careers, kids, everything—but they still show up because this mission matters,” Love says. “It’s amazing to see how small things—like a welcome bag for new patients—can bring comfort during hard times.”
Cynthia Cavanaugh, one of the group’s co-presidents, felt an immediate connection when she first toured the Institute more than a decade ago. “When I visited Kennedy Krieger, it grabbed my heart,” she recalls. “You can’t go through that tour and not be changed in some way—it’s that moving.”
Volunteering has enriched Cavanaugh’s life in unexpected ways. “You think you're doing something for someone else, but it fills you up. It’s life-giving. Being part of WIN has given me a front-row seat to see what can happen when people come together to support families through incredibly difficult times,” she says.
That support comes to life through WIN’s signature events like Hats & Horses, a Kentucky Derby-inspired fundraiser co-founded by Aimee Fulchino, WIN’s other co-president. What began as a way to raise money and awareness has grown into a beloved tradition, raising over $385,000 in 2024 to support Kennedy Krieger’s mission. In fact, the event’s remarkable success was the impetus to go even bigger this year with the Champions of Hope Gala, which took place on May 9. Cavanaugh and Fulchino also co-chaired this event, along with Patty Brown, Kennedy Krieger’s vice president of payor strategy. The gala welcomed more than 550 guests and raised an impressive $1.4 million.
You think you're doing something for someone else, but it fills you up. It’s life-giving.” – Cynthia Cavanaugh
Fulchino’s introduction to WIN came in 2012, when a client at her barre studio invited her to a WIN meeting. She remembers hearing a mother speak about her child’s journey through illness and recovery at Kennedy Krieger. “As a mother of three, I was deeply moved,” Fulchino says. “That night, I knew I had to be involved.”
What Fulchino discovered was more than a cause—it was a community. “WIN is now almost 100 women strong. We range in age from 30 to 70 and come from all different backgrounds. I’ve learned so much from these women,” she says. “We can get so caught up in our own lives. WIN helps put everything into perspective.”
Whether planning events, volunteering on campus or advocating in their communities, WIN members are united by empathy and action. “We want our programs to feel like a hug to the families—just a break from the worry, even if just for a little while,” Cavanaugh explains.
As WIN continues to grow, so does its impact. Its leaders extend a “WIN Welcome” to other women who want to get involved.
“If you’re a woman who wants to make a real, tangible difference—and connect with others doing the same—there’s a place for you in WIN,” Love says. “You can help change lives in the most beautiful ways.”
Visit KennedyKrieger.org/WIN to learn more.