Dana Boldizsar, Manager of Fund Development and Women United for United Way Southern Nevada

Women United

The Heart and Hope of United Way Southern Nevada

By Joan S. Peck / Photography courtesy of Women United

When it rains in Las Vegas, most of us hesitate to get into the car and drive through the valley, but I did so the other day and am so grateful I had. I was pleased to meet the dynamic Dana Boldizsar, Manager of Fund Development and Women United for United Way Southern Nevada (UWSN).

The silver-haired beauty is tall and held her body like the ballerina she was as a child, and she greeted me with a broad smile and sparkly eyes. Yet, what drew my attention was the gentle powerhouse energy emanating from her. She is a woman who gets things done, and does she ever!

Our good fortune is that Dana is here in Las Vegas, working for UWSN. Curious to know, I asked, “Why Las Vegas?”

“After caring for my mother-in-law for 18 years and her death at 99, my husband, Joseph, and I felt it was time for a change away from the mosquitoes, bugs, and mold of Florida. My sister, whom I am close to, lives here. We arrived in Vegas from Orlando four years ago during the pandemic.”

How are they enjoying Vegas? “No matter where you are in town, you can be downtown in 20 minutes or head up to Mt. Charleston to enjoy a quick adventure.

After leaving the land of Disney, my husband and I enjoy the nightlife of entrainment, theater, history, and an array of incredible options for your choice of gourmet food! We love the grown-up lifestyle in Viva Las Vegas!”

Considering Dana’s background, it may not be surprising that she chose to become part of a nonprofit. Her former high management positions and skills have always extended beyond the job to help others, particularly women, get ahead.

“Finding women with no voice and helping them discover theirs and their power to do what is necessary to get ahead. Working for six years at Best Buy as general manager, I traveled the country a lot and coached 15 such women, with nine becoming store managers in their location.”

See what I mean?

Unable to attend college financially, Dana jumped into the workforce, leading her in 1989 to become the Regional Manager for Zales Jewelers for 16 years, covering Orlando, Tampa, and Atlanta. Moving to the Atlanta area, she was the regional manager for Luxottica Retail before she was wooed to become the general manager of Best Buy in Winter Garden, Florida.

With her many needed skills and plenty of experience, Dana is a perfect fit for the role of fund development for United Way Southern Nevada. When meeting a prospective donor, she asks, “Do you know where your money goes?”

Discovering all that UWSN does and is financially responsible for it is impressive. In 2023, United Way of Southern Nevada invested $14 million in private and public funding to 80 organizations in the valley. “Their generosity has touched many causes and efforts to strengthen and improve our community for those needing help. We hope to do the same this year,” Dana says.

Project Reach is a utility assistance program designed to help adults 62 and older who meet income guidelines and are experiencing economic hardship.

UWSN’s Community Impact Program Portfolio is mind-blowing when you learn they oversee and manage more than $14 million in community funds to advance Student Success, Workforce Development, and Community Support.

• Student Success is a set of state-funded and donor-funded programs that advance pathways toward student success from Pre-K through K-12 years into higher education and early career.
• Workforce Development is a set of donor-funded programs that advance pathways to adult education and workforce participation for people facing additional barriers to employment.
• Community Support is a set of federally-funded, state-funded, corporate-funded, and donor-funded programs that advance pathways out of crisis and toward a better quality of life for people living in low-income households and communities.

All of which brings hope to those needing assistance.

What would Dana like to change/add in the future for UWSN? “The expansion of programs that directly impact Southern Nevadans and increased advocacy efforts that result in funding to help improve the lives of community members, ensuring we are in the community meeting individuals unaware of how United Way can impact a city like ours.”

WOMEN UNITED

Dana manages Women United, a group of women who meet once a month to make a difference. It’s interesting to note that in 2007, Women United was called the Women’s Leadership Council, with its mission uniting women to make a difference.

In 2024, its mission was further developed to engage and develop our members to be leaders in creating impactful change in our community through education, health, and financial stability.

Asked if she had any input to the change, Dana responded, “As a giving member of Women United, I wanted to ensure we stayed very current with our mental state by showing well-being and self-agency to ourselves and others.”

Women United members are dedicated to supporting emerging female leaders in Southern Nevada and empowering girls from a young age. As a member, you are part of a donor society committed to one of five different giving levels: $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, $5,000, and $10,000 annually.

What are the benefits of becoming a $1,000 donor and above?

• Gain a network of women to support you and make a meaningful impact in your community.
• Enjoy UWSN, Lunch & Learns, and Women United Speaker Series
• Invitation to join the Women United Leadership Event, Scholarship, Suit Drive, and Funding Committee.
• Utilize UWSN as a resource for information for community focus or questions.
• Invitations to volunteer and attend social events.

Women United has invested $3.5 million and committed more than 8,200 volunteer hours to improve lives in Southern Nevada.

Two key focus areas in the community are the Suit Drive that is held every fall and 15 nonprofits share sustainable clothing donated for women to be able to get back to work, face a day in court regarding a custody battle for their children, or face a predator who has created fear in her and her children’s lives—giving a woman a sense of confidence and pride to move gracefully into her next chapter with hope in her heart.

This event/fundraiser also helps fund four young women to receive a four-year scholarship called the Women United Emerging Leadership Award for Women. So far, we have had eight graduates, many of whom have become educators, nurses, financial advisors, and biological science leaders in our community. Many of our graduates are first-generation graduates in their families.

So, what was next up for Women United? A fun fashion show at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The theme for this luncheon was Women on the Move, which honored “the incredible women that infuse hope, generosity, and bold vision into the Las Vegas community.” It was a day of fashion, inspiration, and empowerment. The fashion show allows us to continue funding projects in our community.

What would Dana like to change/add for Women United? “Empowerment programs that will help provide women with skills, resources, and support networks to thrive, such as mentorship, leadership development, and financial literacy. Increased membership to amplify WU’s mission and impact. More membership dollars will allow the group to do more good in the community. Increased community outreach to help more women thrive personally and professionally.”

Finding pleasure and satisfaction within her job, Dana also has a life outside her work. Where is Dana’s happy place? “Growing up in Colorado for 22 years gave me an outdoor spirit. I’m happy within nature, where I can appreciate our planet Earth! Gardening gives me a calm moment throughout the seasons, and I keep a journal of how the seasons change each year. Yoga and physical movement allow the cracks and pops to feel better and age gracefully. Dancing in the living room to an old country song or enjoying a movie is nice to step away from routine. I’m celebrating 35 years of marriage to the love of my life, Joseph Boldizsar—another happy place.”

Asked how Dana would like to be remembered, “Having a caring heart and lots of love to share. A soul that gave you positive light and energy to be stronger than you were yesterday.”

By all that Dana has done and continues to do with her work at United Way of Southern Nevada and Women United, I believe she is remembered already. Add to that, the Women United values – equality, belonging, well-being, community, integrity, and self-agency. If we all lived following these values, we could all sing, “What a wonderful world!”