Tiny, checkered flags used as decorations for the Feb. 28 event titled An Evening With Danica Patrick symbolized the evening’s theme in more than one way

In racing, the black and white flags fly for the first person to cross the finish line — a winner reaching their big goal.

The evening was an official kickoff for BearsWIN and GrizzliesWIN (Women’s Impact Network), an initiative well on its way to meeting goals of its own.

Trailblazing speaker told the audience: Tap into your special gifts to be your best

Danica Patrick, a barrier-breaking professional race-car driver, helped kick off the women-led event.

Patrick set records during her racing career and is now finding success as a serial entrepreneur who never stops pushing herself to reach new heights.

University staff, students and community members from Springfield, West Plains and surrounding communities gathered for the VIP event and Patrick’s keynote Q and A.

She emphasized the importance of having dreams, setting goals and pushing boundaries, and talked about why anyone — especially women — should strive to be their personal best.

“If being with other women gives you the motivation to reach a new level for yourself, great,” Patrick said.

“But I think it’s more about tapping into some of your special gifts like your intuition, your gut instincts, your creativity, the ability to work with people and to communicate.”

BearsWIN is helping Missouri State students in three main target areas

BearsWIN brings awareness and funding to some of the most pressing needs of Missouri State students.

The network has 22 committee members led by three co-chairs: Amy Counts ’94, Marla Elliot ’89 and Jennifer Fitzmaurice ’96.

“The people we’ve brought in to be part of this committee all have such different talents. They highlight that we can kick off an initiative that’s focused on women, empowers women and urges women to come along on this journey collectively together,” Fitzmaurice said.

The network is focused on supporting three target areas for students:

Elliot said her personal connection to the initiative is through a family member who struggled with depression as a college student and was unable to graduate as a result.

“She told me it would have changed everything for her had these services existed when she was in school.”

The new network has already made progress on its fundraising goals

The initial fundraising goal of BearsWIN is to raise $500,000 by 2026.

Before the public kickoff event, the network had already reached about 27% of that goal.

BearsWIN and GrizzliesWIN encourages anyone interested in joining the initiative, regardless of gender, to offer their time, talent or treasure.

“It doesn’t matter what level of contribution or whether it’s a little bit or a lot,” Counts said. “It really is to incorporate all women or all men that want to give at whatever level works for them.”