The Belle Isle Women’s Committee is dedicated to the restoration of Detroit’s jewel – Belle Isle. We are committed to raising funds to support designated projects on Belle Isle. Modeled after women’s committees in New York, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Chicago, the BIWC is planning to duplicate their success in restoring their urban parks. Famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed both New York’s Central Park and Detroit’s Belle Isle, and the BIWC is making a long-term commitment to bring Detroit’s jewel back to its original glory.

Board of Directors Officers Founder and President Sarah Earley Vice Presidents Melonie Colaianne – Masco Foundation Dawn Rassel – Weir Manuel Realtors Dorie Shwedel – JVS Treasurer Melanie Odom – Impact Solutions Secretary Marcy Hayes – C&B Scene Inc.

Board Members Courtney Conover – Community Volunteer Shery Cotton – Health Plan of Michigan Karen Cullen – Ilitch Holdings, Inc. Deborah Dingell – D2 Strategies Bernadette Doré – The Beaumont Foundation Valerie Ellis – Community Volunteer Eleanore Gabrys – Community Volunteer Joan Gehrke – PVS Chemicals Joyce Hayes-Giles – DTE Energy Vivian Pickard – General Motors Chrystal Roberts – HAP Maureen Stapleton – Community Enterprises LLC Mary Tindall – Henry Ford Health Systems Lorna Thomas, M.D., P.C.

Sunset Point Project
Sunset Point is the site of the Belle Isle Women's Committee's first renovation efforts on Belle Isle. The organization has raised more than $1,000,000 from four extremely successful luncheons and $270,000 from our Grand Prixmiere parties - held on the eve of the Belle Isle Grand Prix.

BIWC has invested over $800,000 on improvements for the western most tip of the city's surban island park. Nearly complete, by the end of fall, Sunset Point will have new sidewalks and landscaping, trees and lighting and a nearly a half million dollar comfort station for the public to enjoy.

As we look forward to our 5th annual luncheon, BIWC is in the process of selecting our next project.