One of the first “gigs” that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed up for was a paid speaking service, where they would obviously be paid keynote speakers for hire at various conferences, summits and conferences. The pandemic kind of ruined that, but before the pandemic, the British media was beside itself with glee/drama – just the idea of Harry being paid to, like, travel to Kansas and talk to a convention of dentists, I guess. Anyway, if Harry and Meghan have been making paid speeches constantly, we haven’t heard of it (and I think we would have). I assume that Meghan got this new gig from the paid-speaking service though: she’ll travel to Indiana after Thanksgiving to make a speech a women’s group:
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and wife of Prince Harry, will be the featured guest at a Women’s Fund of Central Indiana event Nov. 29 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
“The Power of Women: An Evening with Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex” will include an interview conducted by Rabbi Sandy Sasso, the first woman rabbi ordained by the Reconstructionist Judiasm movement. She previously led Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis.
Tables of 10 are available through womensfund.org for $5,000, half of which is tax deductible. A Women’s Fund news release notes proceeds from the event, running from 5-8:30 p.m., will support its mission “to create equitable and sustainable change for all women and girls no matter of their race, place or identity.”
Women’s Fund of Central Indiana is a special interest fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation. Previous guests at Women’s Fund events include Michelle Obama and Soledad O’Brien.
“Women’s Fund is proud to welcome Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, to Indianapolis – a mother, feminist, and champion of human rights,” a Women’s Fund spokesperson said. “She is a lifelong advocate for women and girls, a constant thread she weaves through humanitarian and business ventures.”
As you can imagine, the usual suspects are trying to make Meghan sound like an out-of-touch elitists bilking the Indiana billionaires for the pleasure of her company. When really, Meghan likely agreed to do a speaking engagement because this aligns perfectly with the issues she cares about. The $5000 per table is part of the fundraising scheme for this non-profit, the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana. And I suspect that Meghan probably isn’t even getting paid that much.
A new speaking engagement for Duchess Meghan, who will be in Indiana on Nov 29 for @womensfundindy's #PowerOfWomen. Ticket sales will help their continued efforts in creating "equitable and sustainable change for all women and girls no matter of their race, place or identity." pic.twitter.com/aG3P1sHGjG
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) October 24, 2022
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Misan Harriman/the Sussexes.
-
- Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM – Meghan Markle speaks at the One Young World 2022 Manchester Summit in the UK. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 5 SEPTEMBER 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
-
- Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM – Meghan Markle speaks at the One Young World 2022 Manchester Summit in the UK. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 5 SEPTEMBER 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
-
- Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM – Meghan Markle speaks at the One Young World 2022 Manchester Summit in the UK. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 5 SEPTEMBER 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
-
- Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM – Meghan Markle speaks at the One Young World 2022 Manchester Summit in the UK. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 5 SEPTEMBER 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
The purpose of the event matters—this is a better look than being paid to speak to a group of bankers.
I agree that bankers wouldn’t be the right fit, but plenty of professional conventions do have a potential to inspire people who serve communities. I mentioned dentists below because that sounds like a typical dull convention but it’s an important job and why don’t they deserve to hear an inspiring speaker? Plus they can probably afford bigger speaker fees. I don’t see an issue with H & M speaking at professional conferences. It’s a job.
I don’t care if they speak to bankers as long as they get paid.
I’m sure there are bankers who are decent, charitable people as much so as the general population of other professions. And, if you only speak to those who already agree with your viewpoint, what have you accomplished? To make people think about something new, you have to speak to those outside your interest.
she is so consistent with her values through her actions. she tells everyone who she is and they still doubt her
I don’t “have” a charity, but if I had one, I’d be happy to have Meghan and Harry there. I just imagine the energy, connections and knowledge they would add.
If it were K&W, it would feel more like a photo op and I doubt it would bring much awareness, as their fans would probably just talk about fashion or M&H, not the cause.
They asked her because it aligns with their mission and because they need to entice donations from those with the means to purchase a table. That’s how these events work. You need people to
*want* to attend and she’s a huge draw (sorry RR). It’s also a job. Most of us try to choose jobs that align with our values (or at least aren’t in direct opposition to our values). Honestly even if it were a dentists convention, it’s honest work that has the potential for positive impact (the speaking. Obviously dental work has a direct positive impact 🦷🪥)
AGREED, Bettyrose.
I wonder if the Royal Rota will send someone to attend the event? Or will they just trash it without knowing anything about it as per usual?
Probably not but I’m sure they’ll be flying in from Boston to NY to attend the RFK Foundation Awards.
They’d have to figure out where Indiana is.
They probably think it’s a place i India.
😂
If those people on that Island understood the concept of a celebrity drawing a crowd to an event in the hopes of raising money for the charity, so many of the orgs they had as patrons wouldn’t have shut down. This is literally how charity fundraising works. Get someone who most people won’t ever have an opportunity to interact with that draws interest, get them to agree to appear at your event, and then raise money for your organization based off their name and association. Man, people who prop up people who claim ” service and duty” as their life’s work surely could stand to learn how it works.
So well said, Dee.
this is much better than the JP morgan paid speaking gig they did before. I can see how this really aligns with Meghan’s brand of women’s issues. it’s also a fundraiser event and it makes sense they’re charging ticket prices/table prices. I suspect they got enough criticism after the banker speaking event that they are choosing their speaking gigs more wisely now.
Considering that Charles and William have close ties with banks, any criticism of Harry and Meghan was malicious and disportionate.
Freddie Windsor works for JP Morgan too. I remember when Max Foster was like oh people won’t approve of Harry and Meghan working with banks and then they did a poll and revealed the results and people approved. It was hilarious. I think it was more that people don’t care. In America, I get the feeling there’s less pretense about needing to hustle sometimes.
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Afken, if by hustle you mean that Americans are on board with being paid for hard work–you betcha! This engagement sounds like a win win. The charity will get donations and Meghan will be involved in a charity that mirrors her past efforts for women. The people who attend will get an interesting evening, since there will be an interview of Meghan. So, I guess it’s a win win win!
I think everyone needs to re-examine who they do speaking engagements for. And I would have just as much criticism for Charles and William. This isn’t a charity event where they were raising money, they were being paid to be speakers for corporate event. This was one of their first speaking engagements outside of the “firm”. I think that’s also why it drew more attention…bc they said they wanted to branch off and start their own foundation and then and went to speak for bankers at a corporate event…sorry the optics are not the greatest for this speaking event.
And I think they re-evaluated and now choose their engagements better.
Oh my God. Some people are so pretentious. You know what, when you need to make money, you go where the money is. Sadly, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross will not pay millions or hundreds of thousands for speeches. Sorry, but that’s just the way the world works. Call me when the Sussexes are preaching “Take, take, take from the poors!” in their speeches, then we’ll talk, or when they are accepting suitcase filled with cash for no apparent work. If you deal with banks, then don’t cast aspersions on those who do as well.
$500/person seems reasonable considering the guest. These things tend to be thousands per person.
I was thinking the same thing. That’s very affordable by charity dinner standards. But it’s Gileadiana. I’m glad women still have access to their own bank accounts. I’m guessing she has a lower speaker fee for this type of organization that’s probably not super well funded.
“Gileadeana?” Not sure why you would assume that The Women’s Fund is not well funded, but you are incorrect. The Women’s Fund is a highly funded, highly respected philanthropy. As the article notes, The Women’s Fund brings in high profile speakers in recent years, including Michelle Obama who I got to see pre-COVID. That one was held at an arena, so tickets were slighly more reasonable, made up for in volume. I think I paid $125 for that.
I already have my ticket for this event, and cannot wait to see Meghan and hear what she has to say. She’s a perfect fit for this group, and the fact that Rabbi Sasso is interviewing her is icing on the cake.
@SarahLee you are going to have to give us a full report!!
Sarah Lee – You’re right I should have Googled it. I made the assumption because the the tables are relatively low priced for a charitable fundraising event, which I took to mean they don’t attract large donors. My bad. I certainly didn’t mean to suggest they aren’t a good cause. Many great causes and well respected endeavors are not well funded. I’m envious you’ll be seeing Duchess Meghan speak live. I’m waiting for my opportunity.
@SarahLee I’m pretty sure that @BettyRose’s Gileadeana comment was a reference to the conservative politics of the state and stringency of their abortion ban legislation.
That is SO COOL, SarahLee!
@SarahLee – Thank you!
Rabbi Sasso is a certified badass, she’s done so much for women in Indiana. I am going to look into getting tickets.
I’ve been to this Marriott! It’s really nice!
Love this picture of her in red.
I love this. The more the merrier.
Good for her. it sounds like a great event for her, and I’m jealous of those who are going.
Congrats to Meghan, she is in prestigious company looking at the former speakers at the event. On a superficial note, I really like this picture by Misan, Meghan looks so determined and in control.
Good for you, Duchess. You go, Queen!
The event will be a successful event for the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana. I hope Meghan does an event in Canada next year.
The difference between Meghan and most of the other royals, is that Meghan has something of substance to say based upon her work and history, and she is a good public speaker who can convey messages effectively. That is the type of person who SHOULD be hired as a speaker. That’s why a visit by Meghan is noteworthy, but Charles or William or any of the others — regardless of how many ribbons they pin on themselves — is not.
Indy resident here. Currently plotting how to get in and cheer on my girl!
New York resident here, currently trying to figure out if there’s any way I can swing a trip to Indiana!