Press release via The Fund for Women and Girls
WEST CHESTER, PA (June 23, 2022) – The Fund for Women and Girls has awarded $239,680 in grants to 30 non-profit organizations serving the needs of women and girls throughout Chester County.
Nearly 70 community members, grantee partners, and Fund Board and committee members gathered at Loch Aerie Mansion on June 21st for The Fund’s 2022 Grants Celebration honoring the essential work of our grantee partners who work tirelessly to better the lives of women and girls in our communities.
Glenda Brion, Executive Director of Community Warehouse Project, shared stories of community members who felt whole again after receiving furniture for their new homes; Alma Vidal, Manager of Maternal and Child Health Consortium (MCHC)’s Healthy Start Program, spoke about a pregnant and struggling single mother who utilized MCHC’s services to leave her abusive partner and get back on her feet; and Kristin Proto, Executive Director of The Garage Community and Youth Center, shared the story of an immigrant girl from Guatemala who credited The Garage’s programs with helping her obtain a high school diploma and pursue her dream of becoming an immigration lawyer.
For the second year in a row, The Fund awarded two-year sustained funding to local nonprofit partners. Additional funding was awarded through ‘Moving Her Forward’ Impact Grants, a grantmaking program established to focus on swift responses to pressing needs in the community. This year’s Impact Grants were awarded to Community Warehouse Project which received $5,000 to support replacing furnishings for Hurricane Ida flood victims in Chester County; Chester County Food Bank which received $5,000 to support food scarcity for Hurricane Ida flood victims in Chester County; Domestic Violence Center of Chester County which received $8,750 to provide Spanish language services for survivors in response to intimate partner murders in Coatesville; and ChesPenn Health Services which received $8,750 to support bilingual family planning, prenatal care, and health education to uninsured or underinsured women and girls as a call to action on reproductive rights issues.
“Whether as a grantee, a volunteer or a supporter, being engaged in The Fund’s grantmaking experience takes courage. Once you are part of this journey with us and become aware of the needs in our community, you can no longer stand on the sidelines. It takes bravery, boldness and trust to move forward and be part of the solution,” said Kim Andrews, Executive Director of The Fund.
To date, The Fund has directed over $4 million to 86 non-profit organizations to strategically address persisting needs, including homelessness, domestic violence and women’s health. Through its inclusive and community-driven process, The Fund continues to lead and unite the community through philanthropy and advocacy to ensure that women and girls have resources and opportunities to thrive.
The Fund thanked its grantees and the dedicated community members who served on its Grants Allocation Committee this year – Wanda Bell, Keith Burress, Natalie Coughlin, Schantal Evans, Helen Hammerschmidt, Tina Jones, Kelly Jurs, Jennifer Levine, Leslie Lu, Jeannie McGinn, Kasturi Newman, Meghan Smith, Carrie Stare, Ashley Stitzer, Mary-Jo Tucker, Lauren Walizer, and Marrea Walker-Smith – for their dedication to improving the lives of local women and girls. See a full list of this year’s grantees here.
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The Fund for Women and Girls: Igniting Change in Chester County leads and unites the community through philanthropy and advocacy to ensure that women and girls have resources and opportunities to thrive. Over the past 26 years, The Fund has awarded over $4 million to 86 local non-profit organizations serving women and girls. Learn more at www.thefundcc.org.