June 2008

Vision: Providing resources that empower all women to reach their full potential.

Transforming Our Community: Girls Experiencing Engineering

The Girls Experiencing Engineering program is transforming the lives of young girls this summer. This program offers 64 high school girls and 60 middle school girls a hands-on education in the fields of engineering, science and technology. During the program, girls compete in engineering design contests, meet female engineers, and explore career opportunities. In the words of one participant, Melanie, “The program has matured me and helped me learn what I want to do in life. No engineer does the same job. People in my family have joint problems and scoliosis, so I am interested in learning more about orthopedics. I want to say I was part of something that makes their life easier.” This program was developed by our grantee partnerships, University of Memphis – Herff College of Engineering and co-sponsored by Medtronics.

Click here to read more about Melanie’s experience and plans for the future.

Simple Consumer Actions in Memphis Combat Poverty and Impact Women and Children Locally and Globally

The Women’s Funding Network and its member funds, including the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, have partnered with Good Deed. Two-thirds of Good Deed revenues will go to poverty reduction projects funded by these women’s funds in the US and across the globe, meaning you can be assured that your Good Deed will have a lasting impact on women in poverty and their families. The women’s funds will be investing the proceeds in programs that build women’s financial assets, job opportunities, skills and entrepreneurship. The other third of Good Deed revenues goes towards lasting climate change solutions.

Economic stability of women and families is critical to ensuring community vitality as well as the safety of our world. Economic empowerment for women is a sustainable solution to counter our US and global development challenges. Promote the impact of widespread, systematic change. Participate in simple consumer actions that combat poverty.

Join the Women’s Foundation in collecting and recycling 5,000 cell phones by World Poverty Day, October 17. Phones collected will be refurbished and some will be given to domestic violence victims, while the remaining will be resold to generate funding to aid programs that assist women and children in poverty. To participate in this campaign, visit the Women’s Foundation website for more details and to register as a partner.

The Women’s Foundation is pleased to announce our latest partners joining in the national effort to combat poverty: Kappa Delta Sorority, Valero Refinery, Hope Works, Independent Bank, and Harrah’s – Gold Strike Casinos and Resorts.

Legends Award

For the past 10 years, the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis has annually honored Memphis women for their achievements, courage, contributions and dedication. Beginning in 2009, the Women's Foundation will expand its vision to honor women not only in Memphis, but also on a national and international level. It is with great pride that the Women's Foundation introduces the Legends Award. It is the Foundation's opportunity to recognize women of significance as being Legendary in their own right for the impact they have made on social justice, community change, families, business, and education. The first recipients of the Legends Award will be presented at the 2009 Annual Tribute Luncheon.

To download a copy of the nomination form, click here.

Congratulations to DeNeuville Learning Center

The Women’s Foundation is honored extend a formal congratulations to the one of our grantees, DeNeuville Learning Center, for being awarded the Tennessee Literacy Coalition’s 2008 Award for Excellence in Adult Literacy Service. DeNeuville is a non-profit agency in Memphis with a GED program that serves women from diverse backgrounds and cultures that are living in poverty, are unemployed or underemployed, and have not completed high school. Staff and volunteers teach academic and computer skills in very small classroom settings, with one-on-one attention as needed.  

The DeNeuville Learning Center has been providing this much needed service to the Memphis community for 10 years now. The Women’s Foundation is honored to share in their success.