Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Group grants $10,000 to regional study










A study of the status of women in Wisconsin is in the works thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Power of 10 Women of the New North group.
The collaborative project including support from Women’s Funds in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Appleton and Green Bay will look at basic demographics as well as statistics on child and maternal health, domestic violence, incarceration and even business and political participation.
“I am thrilled with the direction the Power of 10 Women of the New North and the decision the group made to fund a regional study on the status of women,” said Karlene Grabner, director of the Women’s Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.
“When we have facts, we can make better decisions on how to serve the women of Winnebago County and the region in a more targeted way.”
The Power of 10 is the 10th anniversary initiative of the Women’s Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Ten focus groups have been charged with identifying the issues and obstacles facing women of all ages in our community. The participants then discuss, debate and decide where their $10,000 would be best put to use.
The Women of the New North group is the ninth of 10 groups to donate $10,000 toward an initiative that will create social change for girls and women in Winnebago County.
The group began meeting in August. The decision to fund the study came quickly, as did the decision to work with the Women’s Council of Wisconsin to do the research.
“The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region is really excited to participate in this study with the Power of 10 group,” said Executive Director Becky Boulanger.
“Most people don’t know that Wisconsin is unique in the women’s funding movement in that we have a lot of women’s funds in Wisconsin. Most states have one statewide group. I appreciate that we have the opportunity to work together to learn more about issues impacting women and girls throughout Northeast Wisconsin.”
A late spring release date is being targeted. The study will be available online and in print through Women’s Funds in Appleton, Green Bay, Fond du Lac and Oshkosh.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Women’s Fund Power of 10 Single Moms group to award $10,000 grant

The Women’s Fund Single Moms focus group has selected Strong Moms of the Oshkosh Community YMCA to receive a $10,000 grant to support programming and outreach.

After identifying issues that single moms face on a daily basis, the group reviewed nonprofit organizations that could best support the needs of single moms.

Those main issues included:

  • Financial literacy
  • Child care support
  • Connecting with other single moms
  • Information on nonprofit organizations within the community

The group discovered the YMCA’s Strong Moms program addresses many of the needs they identified, in addition to other important educational opportunities like self-defense and computer safety.

The group also is requesting some of the funds be dedicated to the Love and Logic program through Strong Moms. The program teaches parents techniques to raise responsible kids and have fun doing it.

The Power of 10 has been an enlightening experience for everyone who has participated. A special thank you to our Single Moms group participants for their help in this process, what they brought to each other through their own personal experiences and ideas that will help improve the lives of women and girls in the community.

Submitted by Kelly Laux, Women’s Fund communications committee volunteer