Inspiring Change
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South Jersey is full of talented and driven leading ladies making a profound impact in their communities and beyond. For our annual Super Women spotlight, we spoke with an impressive group of selfless individuals representing a variety of backgrounds and specialties. They are each independently impactful; in conjunction with one another, however, they provide an even stronger humanitarian influence that ensures every member of the community receives both assistance and visibility.
Their actionable compassion is always vital, especially during times when empathy and care make all the difference to improve the world as a whole. Setting an example as role models, as well as galvanizing their unique missions, these ten Super Women pave the way with genuine passion and hard work.
Colleen Bianco Bezich – Woman of the Year
Bianco Bezich’s commitment to community service began in high school when she created a tutoring program to serve young refugees living in Camden and Burlington counties. While in law school, she continued volunteering with organizations serving immigrants, and since then has supported organizations providing trauma-informed after-school programs and those combatting food insecurity—such as LUCY Outreach and Cathedral Kitchen.
Bianco Bezich’s commitment to community service began in high school when she created a tutoring program to serve young refugees living in Camden and Burlington counties. While in law school, she continued volunteering with organizations serving immigrants, and since then has supported organizations providing trauma-informed after-school programs and those combatting food insecurity—such as LUCY Outreach and Cathedral Kitchen.
Since her son’s birth in 2015, Bianco Bezich has been a fierce maternal health advocate, collaborating with Sen. Cory Booker at the federal level and First Lady Tammy Murphy in New Jersey.
She became the second woman elected to the Borough of Haddonfield’s Board of Commissioners in 2019, becoming mayor in 2021. While in office, she partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities and Jewish Family and Children’s Services, and called attention to the issues of domestic violence, addiction and suicide prevention with her annual health and wellness initiatives. Bianco Bezich was the first mayor in Haddonfield’s history to host events celebrating autism awareness, Diwali, Juneteenth and the LGBTQIA+ community, solidifying her commitment to fostering both equity and inclusion.
Bianco Bezich works as vice president of external affairs for Bancroft, a regional nonprofit provider of specialized services for individuals with autism, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and those in need of neurological rehabilitation. She was recently awarded the Camden County Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Medal.
Sarah Fawcett-Lee
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Fawcett-Lee plays a key role at Virtua Health as chief philanthropy officer. In her position, she raises vital funds for services that would not otherwise be possible—and that transform lives across our region. Since Fawcett-Lee joined Virtua in 2019, the not-for-profit health provider’s generous philanthropic partners have given nearly $60 million to propel Virtua’s mission forward. That extraordinary level of support demonstrates Fawcett-Lee’s ability to link people with programs that deeply inspire them. She describes her passion as a drive “to identify giving opportunities that are truly rewarding to people, so they can meaningfully influence an outcome they care about.”
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Fawcett-Lee plays a key role at Virtua Health as chief philanthropy officer. In her position, she raises vital funds for services that would not otherwise be possible—and that transform lives across our region. Since Fawcett-Lee joined Virtua in 2019, the not-for-profit health provider’s generous philanthropic partners have given nearly $60 million to propel Virtua’s mission forward. That extraordinary level of support demonstrates Fawcett-Lee’s ability to link people with programs that deeply inspire them. She describes her passion as a drive “to identify giving opportunities that are truly rewarding to people, so they can meaningfully influence an outcome they care about.”
Fawcett-Lee is a certified fundraising executive and a fellow of the Association for Healthcare
Philanthropy, where she invites donors to join Virtua Health partnerships such as its mobile community health programs. Indeed, these programs bring care directly into neighborhoods where it’s most needed. Examples include Virtua’s renowned Mobile Grocery Store, pediatric health screening units, and state-of-the-art health and cancer screening mobile unit.
A professional fundraiser for her entire career, she has spent more than two decades in health care philanthropy. Fawcett-Lee and her husband Jason Lee give generously to Virtua, as well as several other charities that are close to their hearts.
Dr. Marguerite K. Hall
Dr. Hall is a servant leader, educator and advocate whose life’s work centers on empowering women and strengthening communities through education, equity and economic empowerment.
Dr. Hall is a servant leader, educator and advocate whose life’s work centers on empowering women and strengthening communities through education, equity and economic empowerment.
As president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Southern New Jersey Chapter, Dr. Hall has led transformative programs addressing health disparities, financial literacy, leadership development and education for Black women and girls. Her administration produced a powerful maternal-mortality documentary raising awareness of health care inequities, expanded the chapter’s Journey to STEAM mentoring program for middle school girls, and created new partnerships with corporations and community organizations to sustain both scholarships and outreach initiatives.
Through her consulting firm, Dr. Hall provides clients with financial literacy education and personalized strategies in life, health, Medicare, long-term care and retirement planning. Her goal is to equip families and small business owners with tools to make informed, confident financial decisions.
As a Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach, Trainer and Speaker, and founder of the Restored and Rising women’s faith-based platform, Dr. Hall inspires others to find their voice, walk in purpose, and build lives of confidence rooted in faith and intentional growth. Dr. Hall’s life and work reflect her enduring commitment to cultivating leaders, advocating for equity, and empowering others to live restored and rise with purpose.
Valerie Kennedy Buickerood
Buickerood extended her commitment to community beyond retirement after a career in the nonprofit sector. In 2007, she joined the staff of the Alice Paul Center for Gender Justice where she served in various capacities—from administrative and fundraising roles to executive director of the women and girls’ empowerment organization. During this period, Buickerood immersed herself in learning effective nonprofit management and took her knowledge to organizations in Mercer and Camden counties.
Buickerood extended her commitment to community beyond retirement after a career in the nonprofit sector. In 2007, she joined the staff of the Alice Paul Center for Gender Justice where she served in various capacities—from administrative and fundraising roles to executive director of the women and girls’ empowerment organization. During this period, Buickerood immersed herself in learning effective nonprofit management and took her knowledge to organizations in Mercer and Camden counties.
During Buickerood’s time as director of development at Hopeworks Camden, it received the first grant by Impact100 South Jersey, then a new chapter of a global women’s collective giving organization. Buickerood decided to join the organization shortly after, and has been a member for seven years.
Since retiring in 2021, Buickerood invests her time and talents in helping Impact100 South Jersey expand its membership and giving to nonprofits in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Cumberland counties. She has served on several committees and co-chaired the Nonprofit Outreach Committee and further promotes the organization as a member of its leadership council. What’s more, Buickerood has been involved in several local nonprofits like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties, the Farmers Against Hunger program of the New Jersey Agricultural Society, the Pinelands Preservation Association and the Cherry Hill Free Clinic.
Gale Muhammad
Muhammad is the founder and president of Women Who Never Give Up, Inc. (WWNG-UP), a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering currently and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones through education and activism. The tragic death of her second husband Tariq during his incarceration serves as the driving force behind both Muhammad’s and the organization’s relentless pursuit of justice and reform.
Muhammad is the founder and president of Women Who Never Give Up, Inc. (WWNG-UP), a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering currently and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones through education and activism. The tragic death of her second husband Tariq during his incarceration serves as the driving force behind both Muhammad’s and the organization’s relentless pursuit of justice and reform.
WWNG-UP’s first partner was the late William H. Buckman, who is one of Muhammad’s greatest mentors and collaborators. In her 30-plus years of organizing, she has collaborated with organizations including NJISJ, NJ ACLU, NJ DPA, FAMM, Latino Action Alliance, Volunteers of America, NJAC and Integrity House. Since 2005, WWNG-UP has been a leading force in legal empowerment, participatory defense, and inside/outside organizing with incarcerated people.
Beyond her leadership role in WWNG-UP, Muhammad is known nationally as a devoted, passionate activist for criminal justice and prison reform who is driven by the wisdom, experiences and guidance of currently and formerly incarcerated people alike. Muhammad believes that prison reform happens through not only legislative measures but also community-based approaches that support family members and other loved ones whose lives are disrupted by the challenges of incarceration.
Bernadette Shanahan
As CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County, Shanahan leads a passionate team of staff, volunteers and board members who care deeply about the children and families they serve. Her work focuses on building strong relationships with the board to strengthen governance and strategy, and with volunteers to ensure their time and talents are meaningfully connected to the mission. Shanahan takes pride in creating a culture where everyone feels their contribution matters—whether they’re leading a committee, mentoring a child or organizing a community event.
As CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County, Shanahan leads a passionate team of staff, volunteers and board members who care deeply about the children and families they serve. Her work focuses on building strong relationships with the board to strengthen governance and strategy, and with volunteers to ensure their time and talents are meaningfully connected to the mission. Shanahan takes pride in creating a culture where everyone feels their contribution matters—whether they’re leading a committee, mentoring a child or organizing a community event.
Shanahan also serves as vice president for the Boys & Girls Clubs of New Jersey, working closely with colleagues across the state to share resources, align initiatives and build collective capacity. This collaboration helps ensure that local clubs—and the people who support them—have the tools and networks they need to succeed.
She additionally serves on the board of Raise the Bar, which provides services and advocacy for children with disabilities. This experience has deepened her understanding of how inclusive, coordinated leadership can remove barriers and open doors for families.
What inspires Shanahan most is seeing how teamwork, leadership and generosity intersect. She believes when people come together with purpose, the impact reaches beyond one organization and builds stronger, more compassionate communities.
Laura Wall
Wall joined Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of South-Central New Jersey in 2019, bringing three decades’ experience leading nonprofit organizations including Coalition Against Hunger and Interfaith Housing Alliance in our region, and Aurora Rehabilitation Services in Harrisburg. CASA’s mission is to advocate for youth in the foster-care system and to connect them to essential resources for their health, protection, growth and happiness.
Wall joined Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of South-Central New Jersey in 2019, bringing three decades’ experience leading nonprofit organizations including Coalition Against Hunger and Interfaith Housing Alliance in our region, and Aurora Rehabilitation Services in Harrisburg. CASA’s mission is to advocate for youth in the foster-care system and to connect them to essential resources for their health, protection, growth and happiness.
She was the founding director of The Kids’ Center, serving at-risk children in Illinois. Her community involvement has included serving as a member of The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission’s Task Force on Civil Tension, The North Penn Community Health Foundation board, Montgomery County Homelessness Prevention Committee and as chair of the North Penn CEO Roundtable. She currently serves as a board member of Belonging To Each Other, an organization working to end homelessness. She studied philosophy at MacMurray College and holds a master’s certificate in nonprofit executive leadership from the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work.
She developed and taught a course on community engagement at Drexel University, and is a past recipient of the Yaffe-Robert Johnson Smith Civil Rights Award for her work promoting interfaith understanding, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award. An avid animal lover, Wall has also volunteered her time with local animal rescue efforts.
Tracey Sharpe
Sharpe serves as the executive director of Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey, an organization she has been involved with for a decade. She first began her career in Washington, D.C. in direct service as an AmeriCorps member before making her way back to South Jersey to become a career counselor for Camden youth.
Sharpe serves as the executive director of Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey, an organization she has been involved with for a decade. She first began her career in Washington, D.C. in direct service as an AmeriCorps member before making her way back to South Jersey to become a career counselor for Camden youth.
She is the founder of her fundraising firm Sharpe Consulting, LLC in 2010 and since then the nonprofit has specialized in grant writing, strategic planning, board development and major giving. The organization’s client list includes The Urban League of Philadelphia, St. John of God, Spark, Rowan University among many others. Five years ago, Sharpe was asked to join the Ronald McDonald House team full-time and since then has served as major giving officer and interim executive director before assuming her current role.
Sharpe is a firm believer in service to others above all else and has spent her professional career cultivating funding and program opportunities within the housing, workforce development, youth services, education and health care fields. In her leadership role with Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey, she takes tremendous pride knowing that she is serving families from all over the world in their quest to gain access health care for their children.
Rachel Panagiotopoulos
As the founder and CEO of Let’s Create Together, Panagiotopoulos leads one of the most visionary global nonprofit initiatives designed to empower communities through compassion, education and sustainable development. With operations currently active in Ghana and Kenya, and expansion underway into other African nations, her leadership has redefined what it means to merge creativity, strategic foresight and humanity in global philanthropy
As the founder and CEO of Let’s Create Together, Panagiotopoulos leads one of the most visionary global nonprofit initiatives designed to empower communities through compassion, education and sustainable development. With operations currently active in Ghana and Kenya, and expansion underway into other African nations, her leadership has redefined what it means to merge creativity, strategic foresight and humanity in global philanthropy
The Let’s Create Together foundation was established to create tangible solutions to systemic barriers faced by underprivileged populations—especially in areas of health care, education and women’s empowerment. Under Panagiotopoulos’ direction, the foundation has transformed into an international movement dedicated to uplifting lives through partnership, innovation, and purpose-driven projects.
Panagiotopoulos holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Rutgers University, and a master’s degree from Full Sail University, where she graduated with a 3.8 GPA. Her academic achievements mirror her discipline and commitment to excellence—qualities she has transferred into every initiative she leads. Her global perspective and business acumen allow her to approach philanthropy with strategy, structure and measurable outcomes. Through Panagiotopoulos’ leadership, Let’s Create Together continues to expand its impact across borders, guided by a single principle: When we create together, we build a world where everyone belongs.
Toni Pergolin
A transformational leader of Bancroft, Pergolin is the ninth president (including founder Margaret Bancroft) in the organization’s 142-year history. She began her tenure in 2004 as CFO before being named president and CEO in 2006, steering Bancroft from almost certain bankruptcy to a viable and sustainable lifeline for those with disabilities—a turnaround chronicled in her book “Too Important to Fail: Leadership Lessons for Nonprofits.”
A transformational leader of Bancroft, Pergolin is the ninth president (including founder Margaret Bancroft) in the organization’s 142-year history. She began her tenure in 2004 as CFO before being named president and CEO in 2006, steering Bancroft from almost certain bankruptcy to a viable and sustainable lifeline for those with disabilities—a turnaround chronicled in her book “Too Important to Fail: Leadership Lessons for Nonprofits.”
In 2017, Pergolin had her “vision realized” with the opening of Bancroft’s flagship state-of-the-art Raymond and Joanne Welsh Campus. Housing The Bancroft School, the renowned Lindens Program and residential services, it is a destination of hope for children nationwide and a place of possibilities for the autism and special needs community.
Under Pergolin, Bancroft’s size has tripled and its access expanded to support a growing number of diagnoses: Bancroft has created new service avenues, including The Bancroft School Mountainside, an expanded Preschool & Early Education program, diagnosis services and residential support for those with brain injuries. Bancroft has supported thousands of people, and employed thousands more since Pergolin took the helm.
While Pergolin will retire in June 2026, her unique approach to balancing business acumen with inspiring compassion will be her lasting legacy, impacting the lives of people with disabilities for generations.
Author: Carly Murray
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