18 years of service! A conversation with Kathleen C. Miller, a founding board member

Kathleen C. Miller, a founding board member

Kathleen C. Miller is a Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor and has been on the WWIN Board of Directors since the very beginning in 1992.  Over the past 18 years Kathleen has seen the organization grow from an idea to what it is today – a place where women in need are empowered, achieve wellness, and are given the opportunity and the hope of a brighter future for themselves, their families, and our community.  In a recent interview Kathleen talked about the journey she has traveled with WWIN.

WWIN:  What caused you to become involved with WWIN in 1992?

KM:   WWIN was the manifestation of Julia Pritt’s idea.  I had heard of Julia’s professional work [as one of the founders of Attachmate] and I was in private practice, marriage and family counseling.   Julia was looking for board members for WWIN including people who had experience in the proposed grant making areas WWIN was looking to initiate, including counseling.  We met and talked about WWIN and she told me her compelling story  and asked me to join her.  I felt that it fit with my beliefs of a private organization (not governmentally funded) where women had to take responsibility to seek out the help to pursue their well being.  Julia liked the fact that I was “new” and she felt sure that I would “never leave the board”.  And to this day I remember my desire and strong feeling that I wanted to become a part of this organization – to improve the lives of low income women through financial assistance for health care and education.

WWIN:  Is there something that sticks out in your memory when you think about Julia and how far the organization has come these past 18 years?

KM:  I have a collage of memories including my admiration that even though she was extremely shy she was willing to stand up figuratively and literally on behalf of WWIN.  Especially at the annual spring benefit luncheon events… to stand up and be recognized… in her tall noble regal stature… that there was a person behind WWIN!  Julia always made us feel we were an integral part of the organization…to feel a part of the vision…. the dream… the legacy that has unfolded… providing grants to more than 4800 women since 1992.

WWIN:  Julia passed away last spring; what is one of your hopes for WWIN as it enters a new era and continues the work Julia so passionately dedicated her life to?

KM:  That there is a fund created in Julia’s name to help WWIN continue to grow and reach out to more women in need – perhaps a “friends of Julia” group will come forward  to create more resources… to join in the spirit of what WWIN is doing.  And just as Julia came to me, that we with her legacy would offer women the opportunity to grab hold of that belief as well… to sustain the vision of Julia Love Pritt!

WWIN:  We’ve let people know about the important connection between you and WWIN; is there something else about you that you’d like to share with the WWIN community?

KM:  I have been in private practice since 1976 and I love the great outdoors.  I have climbed Mt. Rainier three times and participated in four marathon golf events.  I was the captain of the University of Puget Sound ski team while in college and am still an avid downhill skier.  In fact, I go to Chile every year with my father to ski its beautiful mountains.