At a time when some local nonprofits are struggling to keep their doors open, the Women’s Initiative of United Way (WI) is investing more than $150,000 in programs to make a difference in the lives of women and children in the community.

For the current funding year, July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, WI is awarding $165,944 to community programs and organizations.  This year, WI invested $132,944 in education and $33,000 toward domestic violence and survivor support.

“We are delighted and proud of our significant investment in the women and children of our community,” said Mary Sabin, WI chairwoman. “Women’s Initiative of United Way is creating a better life for our women and children.”

WI provides its members with knowledge and leadership skills, training women to be philanthropists. The members learn about local needs and how to strengthen children and families in the community. WI also works directly as an organization to help the community and advocates for issues concerning women. Recipients of funding and grants were chosen through an application process. WI focuses its donation in the areas of health, educational access and success, social and economic autonomy and safety and freedom from violence.

Lourdes College is one of the many recipients of WI investments in education. WI donated $10,000, so one female who demonstrates financial need will receive a scholarship each year.

“We have so many students with financial challenges in their lives,” said Mary Arquetter, vice president for institutional advancement at Lourdes College. “This financial assistance will help a student achieve a degree. Whether their degree is in nursing, social work or education, they are graduating ready to serve the community.”

Read for Literacy’s Experimental Literacy Program is another educational program supported by WI.  The literacy program received $3,800 per year for two years. The program supports literacy for developmentally delayed children and illiterate women.

Other programs for education supported by WI are University of Toledo Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women’s Project Succeed, which improves women’s lives through personal growth and career development; and Open Dorr Family Resource Center’s Girls’ Circle, a program that meets with fifth grade girls of Dorr Elementary to aid them in social development. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio received two years of funding for its Polly Fox Mentoring Program.

WI also made investments in domestic violence prevention by donating to Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo’s SMART Girls Program. SMART stands for skills mastery and resistance training. The program focuses on health, fitness, positive self image, healthy relationships and decision making skills for girls 8-17.

“This funding will provide the opportunity for us to run the SMART girls program in each of our four Toledo sites,” said Dave Wehrmeister, executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo. “We are very grateful to Women’s Initiative for considering and funding this program.”

Other investments in domestic violence prevention include The Friendly Centers Domestic Violence Survivor classes and Independent Advocates’ Young Women’s Leadership in Violence Prevention program.

In addition to providing funding for these programs and scholarships, WI members have the opportunity to volunteer for each program and become engaged personally in the success of the program.

“We are so grateful to Women’s Initiative for partnering with us,” Arquette said. “United Way and the Women’s Initiative are such a wonderful asset to the community.”

For more details, visit www.unitedwaytoledo.org.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Community, Philanthropy.
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