Five Weil partners - Justina Chen, Jenna McBain, Jacqueline Oveissi, Amanda Rotkel and Emily Willey - were named “Rising Stars” at this year’s 18th Annual “Power of Women to Make a Difference” Awards Luncheon, hosted by United Way of New York City (UWNYC) and its Women United professional women’s network.

The awards luncheon, which took place on March 12th at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, convened over 400 influential leaders from across New York City’s public, private and nonprofit sectors to recognize the accomplishments of extraordinary women leaders. This signature event raises $1 million annually. This year, on the 10th anniversary of ReadNYC, UWNYC’s decade-long literacy program in Mott Haven in the Bronx (now Read & Write + Code), the luncheon raised critical funding to fuel the future of UWNYC’s Education Equity work.

At the luncheon each year, UWNYC celebrates a cohort of “Rising Stars” - emerging women leaders who are contributing to their communities, their teams and their industries, and are being recognized for their impact. 

The five Weil partners honored as “Rising Stars” at this year’s luncheon, who work in Weil’s Private Equity, Banking & Finance and Executive Compensation & Benefits practices, all advise the Firm’s Private Equity clients.

Weil has been a significant supporter of UWNYC for decades. Ann Vermes, Weil’s Chief of Strategic Initiatives, currently serves as a Board member of UWNYC and is a long-time member of the luncheon’s Host Committee. “We salute United Way of New York City and Women United for their leadership in promoting educational access for our City’s children and families, and congratulate our five impressive women partners who are being recognized today for their important contributions. Weil is honored to play our part in addressing these urgent needs in our community by supporting UWNYC’s crucial Education Equity work.”

Watch Weil’s UWNYC Rising Stars discuss the United Way’s work, their women role models, literacy and learning, and their favorite childhood books.