A century ago, a small group of businesswomen met in Charlotte to launch what would become Business and Professional Women of North Carolina. Then, as now, the group’s mission was to support working women and to advocate for their success.

For current members of the Triangle chapter of BPW, scholarships for women pursuing higher education are key to that support.

On Saturday, May 11, the group will host a Mother’s Day Market at the Mayton Inn in downtown Cary from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A variety of women-owned businesses will sell art, jewelry, fashion and food. Proceeds from the event will help bolster the scholarship fund.

“We are looking forward to the Mother’s Day Market,” said Karly Hankin of Peachy Keen, one of the market’s vendors. “It’s worthwhile to support BPW’s scholarship fund, because we are helping local women, who otherwise couldn’t afford it, get an education. Peachy Keen is always happy to support local nonprofits.”

Other vendors include Headbands of Hope, Escentuelle Perfume, Initial Décor, Naturally Bare Soap, JuicePlus and many more.

The nonprofit Business and Professional Women of the Triangle Foundation was established in 2018 to manage and grow the scholarship fund.

“Women want to be around other women, and to learn from other women, to network, and also we want to promote other women. We want to be the cheerleaders for other women,” said Donna Daniels, co-president of BPW-Triangle.

At monthly meetings, BPW connects professional women to inform and empower each other through educational programs, mentorship and relationship building. Recent speakers include Activate Good founder Amber Smith, Director of N.C. State’s Hugh Shelton Leadership Center Barbara Mulkey, and political figures Janet Crowell, Debra Ross and Tamara Barringer.

“This group pulled me in and really helped me meet some wonderful women — amazing, talented women that I would never have had the opportunity to meet,” said Daniels, who works at SAS. “It’s really opened doors for me.”