Women for Riley
Women for Riley is a group of dedicated women supporting Riley Children’s Health through three core pillars: Grants, Volunteering, and Prom.
We raise awareness of Riley’s programs and provide direct support by volunteering weekly in the hospital. Our commitment is strengthened through community events, service, and our signature annual Prom, which brings joy to young patients and their families. Women for Riley is also proud to be part of the Noble Society. Named after Mark Noble, Riley Hospital’s first patient, the Noble Society honors individuals and organizations that have made transformational investments in Riley of $1 million or more.
Indiana Famous: 2025 Riley Cancer Center Prom
In May 2025, Women for Riley rolled out the red carpet for the true stars of Indiana—Riley kids and their families. This year’s Prom, themed “Indiana Famous,” celebrated the courage, strength, and sparkle of every patient while honoring the loved ones who stand by their side. It was a night designed for the whole family to feel joy, connection, and a bit of well-deserved magic.
Guests experienced an immersive celebration filled with themed rooms, interactive games, local celebrity appearances, delicious food, dancing, swag, and more. A standout feature was the return of the Glam Lounge, where both patients and family members were pampered with professional hair, makeup, and nail services—helping every guest feel confident, radiant, and ready for their big night.
To ensure all families felt the Prom magic, Women for Riley delivered 125 special gift boxes to children receiving treatment at Riley Children’s Health downtown and IU Health North campuses, filled with interactive and themed items to spread joy and celebration beyond the event space.
Want to help us make Riley kids and their families feel like the stars they are?
Email sponsorship@womenforriley.com to learn how your business can get involved.
Volunteering to help Riley kids and team members
Women for Riley members can also become trained Riley volunteers and participate in different activities each month at the hospital.
Volunteers support patients and families by assisting with the Kiwanis Parent Comfort Cart throughout the year. With nearly 200 volunteer hours logged among 25 volunteers, Women for Riley members were able to make a direct and personal impact within the hospital this past year.
As pandemic safety measures allow, Women for Riley volunteer opportunities in the hospital are expected to expand.
Making an impact through grants
Women for Riley members support a compelling grants program that advances its mission and impacts individual patients, their families and the hospital as a whole.
Grants submitted by Riley personnel are reviewed in February when the grants committee members vote to approve grants in amounts up to $10,000.
To date, Women for Riley has awarded more than $1.8 million in grants.
The 2023-2024 grants that were approved include:
- Improving Patient Safety Using Ben Guard
- Arterial Punctures in Neonates Using Transillumination
- Automatic Blood Pressure Systems for Transplant Patients
- From Pre-op to PICU: Creating calming environments for pediatric patients at IU North
- Helping to Clear the Way in patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
- End of Life Support for Patients, Families and Staff through a Creative Arts Therapies Approach
- Riley Grief Services (formerly Hope in Healing/Riley Bereavement)
- Acute Care NPD Education
- Safe Travel for Infants and Children
- Foster Care Bridge Clinic Book Nook
- Psychological Debriefing for Maternity Team
- Women of Riley Trauma Closet
- The Cleft and Craniofacial Special Needs Fund
Interested in joining?
New member classes are formed once a year and prospective member events are held throughout the year.
If you would like more information regarding membership, email joinus@womenforriley.com and designate Membership in the subject line.
Meet the Women for Riley Leadership
Megan Mioduski
President
Kristin Baranack
President-Elect & Membership Chair
Natalie Skillman
Secretary
Amanda Love
Treasurer
Laurie Schneider
Alumni Relations Chair
Andrea Kleymeyer
Alumni Relations Co-Chair
Christina Radford
Digital Content Chair
Leah Luke
Digital Content Co-Chair
Kelly Norton
Sponsorship Chair
Melanie McDevitt
Sponsorship Co-Chair
Sarah Hopen
Prom Chair
Rachael Pfenninger
Prom Co-Chair
Shelbi Grow
Prom Co-Chair
Steph Sparrow
Prom Chair
Irem Rashidfarokhi
Social Events Chair
Natalie Gertiser
Social Events Co-Chair
Maggie Picker
Volunteering Chair
Whitney Coles
Grants Chair
Amanda Goedde
Grants Co-Chair
Oksana Bussell
Membership Co-Chair
Amanda Donahue
Secretary Co-Chair
Donna Fischer
Liaison
Past Presidents:
- 2008-09 - Wendy Kaufman
- 2009-10 - Tracy Miller
- 2010-11 - Tracy Hugenard & Julie Eskenazi
- 2011-12 - Julie Eskenazi
- 2012-13 - Jill Burnett
- 2013-14 - Lee Neff
- 2014-15 - Julia McCallum & Heather McLaughlin
- 2015-16 - Barbara McLaughlin
- 2016-17 - Dara Wade
- 2017-18 - Kristy Murphy
- 2018-19 - Lindsay Thornton
- 2019-20 - Kasee Carlstedt
- 2020-21 - Amy Kraner
- 2021-22 - Alison Zink
- 2022-23 - Laurie Schneider
- 2023-24 - Andrea Kleymeyer
- 2024-25 - Dana Foreman
Interested in joining Women for Riley?
To learn more about joining Women for Riley, please submit an interest form and tell us a little about yourself.