Women face daunting health and socioeconomic problems across the globe.  Thanks to efforts of the Gates Foundation and The Giving Pledge, awareness of these issues is on the rise.  But it also hits close to home right here in the U.S.

Just 23 of the Fortune 500 companies have female CEO’s, and it doesn’t get much better with the next 500, just 23 there as well, for a total of 46 out of the top 1,000 U.S. companies being run by women.  This bleeds all the way up from the bottom, with 1/3 of women in the U.S. living in poverty, according to the recently released Shriver Report.  This is here at home in the U.S., a country that is a global leader and influencer.  Like you, Warren, I am a portfolio manager.  I have done well with my company, but I cannot do what you can do: shed light on this issue from the very top.   Please introduce a $1 Billion NCAA Bracket contest for the Women’s Tournament.  It wouldn’t be March Madness without everyone being included.

Thank you,

Kathryn Schwartz

Pawleys Capital Management

Sources: Catalyst, The Shriver Report – A Woman’s Nation Pushes Back from the Brink.

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