Insufficient Income & Economic EmpowermentHonoring Female Veterans
On Veterans Day, we honor the service of men and women to our country. There are some special things to know about female veterans.
Caregiving Challenges and Solutions
Women's Fund has made a concerted effort to fund organizations focused on caregiving. We have made great strides in central Indiana, granting over $832,000 to address caregiving issues through organizations.
A Conversation Seven Years Ago Becomes a Beautiful Home for Pregnant Teens
Project Home Indy is opening a home for pregnant and parenting homeless teens, to meet a demand that is greater than what is available in central Indiana.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Little Red Door Cancer Agency
By Tanya S. Parrish, MPH, C.H.E.S. Breast cancer screening, prevention, and assistance services can be found at the Little Red Door. Screening and prevention saves lives.
Business Ownership Initiative - Another WF Success Story
With the help of the bold and transformative Women's Fund grant, Business Ownership Initiative has grown into a big, broad organization, offering one on one business counseling services, planning, and workshops to help people with any of their small business educational and support needs.
Women's Fund Awards $337,500 to Organizations Supporting Caregiving, Domestic Violence and Insufficient Income
(Indianapolis) Women’s Fund of Central Indiana recently awarded $337,500 to organizations giving opportunities, encouragement, knowledge and hope to women and girls in central Indiana. The grants, awarded to 13 organizations, target central Indiana’s organizations focused on caregiving, domestic violence and insufficient income.
Children Make Memories at Community Night
Community Night at The Children's Museum featured fun activities and a visit of Skeletown, The Children's Museum Guild Haunted House. 680 children and over 100 adults visited from 13 Marion County community centers. The event was full of fun and laughter and is a night the children will remember.
Southeast: More than a Community Center
Southeast Community Services is a community center providing supports for women and individuals in all places of their lives. I walked away from a site visit amazed.
Bank on Indy
How did you first learn about managing money? At some point, you probably learned something about the value of money and keeping it safe. Through economic literacy programs at local Girls Inc. chapters, for example, many central Indiana girls are developing money management skills at an early age.
Options and Opportunities
My grandmother graduated in 1949 with a Chemistry degree (pictured is the two of us in recent years). Her five hard-working daughters became a teacher, nurses, doctor, and a graphic designer/business owner. From a young age, my closest friends were education-focused, and they are now working in a variety of career fields. You might imagine one of the most important values to me is education, and I am fortunate this was modeled by many strong women in my life.
Are You Hungry?
This past Saturday our GO: Give Back participants gathered for their GO educational sessions and in age-appropriate and gender divided groups, we discussed Food: Enough to Spare? Enough to Share? It was a challenging topic for children to think about people in our country and community who don't have enough to eat. The children were open, receptive, and left the session with a greater appreciation for food, nutrition, and hunger.
Southside Community is Centered on Concord
Each time I visit a Women's Fund grantee, I walk away amazed—at the work being accomplished, the challenges faced in our community, and the creativity of staff members to make tight budgets go even further. My visit to Concord Community Center last Tuesday was no exception. I joined Women's Fund Advisory Board, Grants Committee, and OPTIONS Class 10 members to learn about this center's services to families on Indianapolis' Southside, services Women's Fund has supported since 1999, through grants totaling over $107,000. We had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with Niki Girls, director of Concord for about 25 years.
Women's Equality Day is Tomorrow
Equality Day is a simple reminder to both men and women not to take rights and opportunities for granted.
I Walked in the Shoes of a Struggling Woman – and Walked Away Relieved
Women's Fund hosted a program called "Take a Walk in Her Shoes" which allowed participants the opportunity to become a woman in our community faced with complications, obstacles and barriers, struggling to get by. Our job was to try and navigate the social services available to people trying to escape poverty.
Back to School...Or Not?
"Kids go back to school... or maybe not" talks about the challenges the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) system faces this time of year.
Transforming Lives and the Community Through Business Ownership
By: Kelli Reifel, OPTIONS Class 10 member As a member of OPTIONS Class 10, I recently had the opportunity to attend a site visit at Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana. BOI is one of the countless amazing organizations Women’s Fund supports. I was, once again, impressed to learn about how yet another organization supports women and children in Indiana.
34 North Gives Victims New Direction
34 North: the name sounded like a trendy restaurant or condo complex when I first heard it. It's actually the name of a new apartment complex on Meridian Street, a transitional housing facility for The Julian Center. This facility provides a safe and supportive housing community for domestic violence victims as they re-establish themselves and is an affordable housing option for community members.
Transforming Lives Through Training and Education
With the economic woes that have stricken our community and world, nonprofits are relied upon more heavily right now; those funded by Women's Fund in core funding areas of caregiving, domestic violence, and insufficient income are as relevant now as ever. Organizations such as Women's Fund grant recipient Training, Inc. provide services to those who do not have the support or resources and are hit even harder by the current economy.
UN Women Reflects Goals for Women Everywhere
I was intrigued to learn about the United Nation's vote on Friday to establish UN Women. The goals of this entity are to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. I'm truly excited about a new international platform to address issues impacting women, and I hope this effort is successful in accomplishing its goals.
Use What You've Got Prison Ministry Keeps Families Connected
Imagine you are a parent, miles away from your children and family members with no way to see them unless someone brings them to you. This is a reality for many in the justice system; the impact of this separation can be devastating to a family and, in particular, to developing bonds between parents and children. Use What You've Got Prison Ministry's mission is to provide transportation for prison visitation while promoting family wellness through education, supportive resources, and spiritual enhancement. They drove a total of 24,586 miles last year, shuttling family members to sixteen correctional facilities spread throughout the state.
Hawthorne Community Center is the heart of its neighborhood
Contributed by Julie Rowlas, Community Volunteer. A few days ago I shared the experience of visiting Hawthorne Community Center with some friends and new acquaintances I’ve met through my volunteer activities with Women’s Fund. It was a beautiful day and the center was bustling with activity as it was assuming its role to be the neighborhood children’s cornerstone for the summer.
Dress for Success Highlighted on National Makeover Day
Today is "National Makeover Day" on QVC, featuring Dress for Success and the stories of clients, including two local women, Clara and Lynette. Clara (pictured right) was featured this morning; Lynette will be featured tonight at 11 p.m.
Hawthorne Community Center: Westside Hub
Alison Schumacher, OPTIONS Alumnae member, shares her perspective on a recent site visit to Hawthorne Community Center, serving Indianapolis' westside residents.
Today is Equal Pay Day
I'm wearing red today to show that woman are still "in the red." It's a small thing, I know. But my hope is at the very least we can raise awareness about the issue. Rather than complain about the disparity in pay, let’s do something about it. Let’s better understand the issue and find ways to support equal pay.
Inequality on Equal Pay Day
Today is Equal Pay Day, a national observation of the day when women "catch up" to men's earnings the previous year, on average. Locally, women make even less than the average.
Dress for Success ... Imagine for a Moment (Part 2 of 2)
The second of a 2-part series sharing Jen Rawe's perspective on the OPTIONS Class 12 visit to Dress for Success Indianapolis. Jen is Co-Owner, EJ Media and Production, and OPTIONS Class 12 member.
Dress for Success... My Visit in Quotes (Part 1 of 2)
Part 1 of a 2-part series sharing Jen Rawe's perspective on the OPTIONS Class 12 visit to Dress for Success Indianapolis. Jen is Co-Owner, EJ Media and Production, and OPTIONS Class 12 member.
Special Program Forgives Student Loans
Elaine E. Bedel, CFP, shares her expertise to help women manage their money. In this post, find out about about a special program that forgives student loans.
Women and Girls in Central Indiana: Still on Shaky Ground
Still on Shaky Ground 2011 reveals, although progress has been made in areas of caregiving, domestic violence, and insufficient income, there is much progress yet to be made.
Day Nursery: A Childcare Leader
Did you know: In central Indiana there are only 24 licensed childcare spots for every 100 children under the age of six whose caregivers work outside the home? Women's Fund has awarded $830,000 to address caregiving challenges in central Indiana, funding organizations like Day Nursery Association of Greater Indianapolis.
Enriching the Economic Power of Women
Celebrate International Women's Day and learn more about the power of women!
Unemployment Impacts Women
Last week, the December statistics were released for unemployment. In Indiana, the rate has stayed steady at 9.6 percent, while nationally the rate is 10 percent. Unemployment in this time is directly impacting men more than ever, and women are more frequently the only income provider for their household.
Women Are on the Up and Up
What is in store for women in 2012? Many challenges are ahead. Will you join Women's Fund in making a difference?
New Year’s Resolutions for Women’s Fund?
Do nonprofits make resolutions? Does Women's Fund? One writer identifies four New Year's Resolutions all nonprofits should make in 2011. Find out what they are and how Women's Fund may relate to them.
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