Catherine M. Hedgeman, Esq.

A Capital Region young professionals' group wants to raise $100,000 for charity. The Stakeholders, as the group is called, says its "Young Philanthropists" effort will involve convincing at least 500 young professionals to donate $100 to the cause. It then will challenge area baby boomers to match the effort. Catherine Hedgeman, president and CEO of The Stakeholders, described early reaction to the fundraising effort as enthusiastic. Already, she said, the campaign has received pledges of support, leaving her confident the group can meet its $100,000 goal. [read full story from Albany Business Review and from the Times Union]

The resplendent Oprah Winfrey graces the cover of the November issue of "O, The Oprah Magazine." But inside, on page 256, an Albany woman smiles modestly, her head cocked to one side, as part of a story with the headline "Women Rule!"

She is Catherine "Kate" Hedgeman, and she was one of 80 women — selected from more than 3,000 applicants — who won three days of leadership training this summer in New York City. Winfrey's magazine and the White House Project, a national organization that promotes women as leaders, provided the training to reward and enrich women who had initiated innovative projects. The women are featured in Winfrey's magazine, which is on newsstands now.