In a powerful demonstration of support, the #WinWithBlackWomen network, led by organizer and strategist Jotaka Eaddy, hosted a Zoom call on Sunday that saw 44,000 Black women raise over $1.5 million for Kamala Harris’ newly launched presidential campaign.
The massive turnout overwhelmed the online meeting platform, causing it to crash, according to Bloomberg.
Jotaka Eaddy, the CEO and founder of Full Circle Strategies, a social-impact consulting firm, is often referred to as the “Olivia Pope of Silicon Valley” by Forbes.
Eaddy, a former fintech executive at LendUp and strategist at the NAACP, founded #WinWithBlackWomen in 2020.
The network brings together Black women leaders across various sectors, including business, tech, politics, and entertainment.
A Historic Fundraising Effort
The Zoom call, described as the ‘biggest fundraising day’ of 2024, featured notable speakers such as Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, and Rep. Maxine Waters of California, the first woman and African-American chair of the House Financial Services Committee.
Within three hours, donations surged past $1.5 million, as shared by #WinWithBlackWomen on Instagram.
The event’s attendance peaked at 44,000 participants, and the overwhelming number of attendees caused the Zoom meeting to crash as more people tried to join.
Eaddy expressed her gratitude on social media, thanking Zoom COO Aparna Bawa for facilitating the historic event.
A marketing manager on X (formerly Twitter) noted that Bawa’s intervention allowed the platform to accommodate tens of thousands of participants. Zoom representatives did not immediately respond to inquiries from Business Insider regarding Bawa’s role in the event.
Surge in Support Following Biden’s Endorsement
The wave of donations followed President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race and endorse Harris as the new Democratic candidate.
In the hours following the announcement, ActBlue reported that $46.7 million had been raised for Harris’ campaign, marking the largest fundraising day of the 2024 election cycle.
The Impact of #WinWithBlackWomen
Jotaka Eaddy’s #WinWithBlackWomen network has become a significant force in mobilizing support for Black women in leadership roles.
This latest fundraising effort underscores the collective power and influence of Black women in shaping the political landscape.
The event not only demonstrated the community’s unwavering support for Kamala Harris but also highlighted the importance of grassroots mobilization in modern political campaigns.
