May 2009

Empowering Youth in Memphis!

"I touch the future. I teach." – Christa McAuliffe

WFGM’s Impact on the Lives of Women and Children

Women’s Foundation investors, volunteers, friends and partners share a dedicated vision – when a woman is economically secure, her family is economically secure. We execute that vision through our Core Grant Making, which awarded $524,000 to 30 community grantee agencies – $182,000 of that was awarded to youth programs. Additionally, WFGM allocated $81,000 to support the reduction of poverty through advocacy, making a total of $623,000 given in grants during 2008 - 2009. The impact from our supporters gives hope towards the self-sufficiency for more than 11,650 women and children. When our children are healthy and successful – our community is successful. During this economic climate, the families and youth that we support will have an exceptionally difficult summer. Our May e-news features stories of accomplishments, lists our grantees serving youth in Memphis and showcases their success.

Funny How I Returned to the
Women’s Foundation … !

by Jessica Reeves

Jessica Reeves

I interned with the Women’s Foundation in the summer of 2003 through the Memphis Challenge program. At that time, I was a rising senior at Dartmouth and was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. After my internship, I was sure I wanted to have a career that was meaningful to others. I saw what an impact WFGM was having in the lives of underprivileged women and children. I just recently finished up my first year at the Yale School of Management. The school is known for its strength in non-profit management and has a commitment to help improve all types of organizations. While taking a class on Financial Statements of Non-Profits, I was asked to evaluate the financial position of a non-profit of my choice. I immediately thought of WFGM and was amazed at how much the Women’s Foundation had grown in the last five years. In comparing the recent financial health of WFGM with other Women’s Foundations around the country, I found that WFGM leads the pack in grant-making ratios and program expense ratios, meaning the organization is efficiently using its contributions to make sure it has the biggest impact for the programs that it supports. The Women’s Foundation gives out over 60% of its contributions received in the forms of grants to other organizations, and 86% is invested in overall total programming. To put that number is perspective, the second highest organization had a grant-giving ratio of just over 40%. With these numbers, along with office efficiency and exceptional leadership at all levels, donors can all be confident that their contributions to WFGM are truly making a difference. Your gifts help create social change in Memphis.

11th Annual Tribute Luncheon and Symposium – Youth Leadership Event

Attendees participate in a leadership building activity.

For the 11th Annual Tribute Luncheon and Symposium, the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis introduced the Youth Leadership event. Students engaged in facilitated leadership-building activities where they identified opportunities and then learned how they could positively impact the Memphis community. Cathryn Stout, reporter and columnist for the Commercial Appeal, served as the mistress of ceremonies for the event.

“Working with the Women's Foundation was a very rewarding experience. Anyone can make an appearance for young girls at an event, but to have an impact on them is priceless."
– Amber Carter, Youth Leadership Facilitator, University of Memphis

“This motivating experience for future youth leaders made me realize that we can help each other become great leaders by persevering, listening and cooperating!"
– Kathy Rivas, Youth Leadership Facilitator, University of Memphis

“The very best part was knowing that together we can all inspire and encourage one another to overcome the world by storm, by becoming leaders in every aspect; to not only see the need for people with our compassion, but to actually put our sincerity to action."
-- Juzanne Howard, Youth Leadership Facilitator,University of Memphis

Read more about this landmark event and the essay contest winners.

Summer Youth Involvement and Employment Opportunities

alt.Youth is an exciting new program designed for at-risk youth. The program goes beyond training youth about business to provide them with the opportunity and resources needed to actually start and manage their own businesses. The program is run by alt.Consulting, a non-profit organization that provides business management consulting to minority-owned, women-owned and rural-based businesses.

Learn more about alt.Youth.

Boys and Girls Club

The purpose of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis (BGCGM) Job Ready Program is to enhance financial responsibility and work ethic among club members.

Read more about the Job Ready Program.

GEE participant

The Herff College of Engineering at the University of Memphis Girls Experiencing Engineering (GEE) program is designed to instill high school girls with the confidence, interest and awareness of the wide array of career opportunities within the science, technology and engineering fields. Currently, women make up only 11% of the country's engineers and only 20% of undergraduate engineering students.

The Herff College of Engineering also offers the Girls in Manufacturing summer program sponsored by the Carrier Corporation, Cargill, Inc. and Cummins, Inc. In a fun atmosphere, students learn about engineering, science and technology and develop skills that can lead to success in careers where women are underrepresented.

For more information on both of these programs, click here.

Girls Incorporated of Memphis hosts summer camps that are fun, safe and positive! Youth training and employment are provided during the summer months at five summer camp locations.

Discover more about these opportunities.

UMNC participant

United Methodist Neighborhood Centers of Memphis, Inc. has several summer programs for youth, including assisting youth in finding summer employment, sending inner-city kids to summer camp and helping refugee youth with necessary life skills to break the cycle of poverty.

Read more about UMNC’s youth programs.

Celebrating the Success of the 11th Annual Tribute Luncheon and Symposium

Luncheon attendees

Power of Purse Auction models from the Lisa Lax Agency

Thank you to our board members, community partners, civic and government leaders, supporters and friends for making the 11th Annual Tribute Luncheon and Symposium a success. Together we are responsible for ensuring our communities are better places in which to live and fulfilling the mission of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis. We are grateful for your participation and the generosity of the many individuals, foundations, organizations and corporations that make our work possible.

Guest Reflections on the Event

“This event draws hundreds of people – we’re talking a massive sea of tables as far as the eye could see at the convention center. When you take out your checkbooks, please consider giving to the Women’s Foundation, even if it’s a small amount. What they do is so vital to the future of Memphis! Helping one woman causes a ripple effect in the community, as it also helps her children and helps break the cycle of poverty."
– Jenny Sharpe, Archer Malmo

“It was an honor and a joy to say a word and set a prayerful mood for this year’s fantastic luncheon. You are a blessing to Memphis, and I am here to help in any way I can."
– Rabbi Micah Greenstein, Temple Israel

“The luncheon was just wonderful. I was so proud to be a part of such an amazing organization and amongst such a powerful group of women. Thank you so much for including me in this inspiring day; it was truly a wonderful day. Congratulations on a wonderful event."
– Barrie Wurzburg, Wexner Companies

“You hit a home run with this luncheon! Not only was Kathleen Kennedy Townsend an inspired speaker, the Legends Honorees were an awesome group. I’m just so proud of you and all WFGM has made happen in this city! You also are an inspiration to countless women and girls."
– Jeanne Gray Carr, Team Trek

“I loved meeting the great women of Memphis and am joyfully spreading the word on the work they are doing. What imagination! They know the importance of using art to tell the inspiring stories and then with hard work, courage and determination, they make Memphis a great place for women to flourish and to define success on their own terms."
–Keynote Speaker Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland

Memphis H.O.P.E. (Health, Opportunity, Pride and Empowerment)

Summer 2009 – Technology and the Community Youth Employment Program (TCYEP)

Memphis HOPE is currently making plans for its third TCYEP summer youth program, which includes some exciting new changes. This summer, TCYEP will be expanded to serve 60 kids from the Memphis HOPE program. In addition, Principal Alisha Kiner from Booker T. Washington High School has generously offered free space in the school to hold the program, and TCYEP has partnered with Break Away Technology to develop an expanded curriculum that will focus on computer technology, life skills, employment readiness and a new a “green education" component. A technology certification component is also in the works. Thanks to the John Dustin/Buckman Trust Fund and W.K. Kellogg Foundation for their support of this program.

Learn more about the Memphis HOPE project.

PHILANTHROPY
Now is the Time to Give

Say YES! Hyde Family Foundations will match new and increased gifts dollar for dollar up to $50,000 through June 30, 2009. Give today and double your investment! Our Annual Fund Campaign goal is $1,225,000 – we can get there with everyone taking a moment, making a gift, and seeing the impact that comes from our collective giving.

Thank you and the Hyde Family Foundations for your generosity.

For more information about the Women’s Foundation’s Hyde Family Foundations 2009 Challenge Grant and how it works to double your donation, click here.

Women’s Economic Security Collaborative

In our efforts to build an advocacy platform, the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis is collaborating with Chicago Foundation for Women, The Women’s Foundation of California and Washington Area Women’s Foundation with financial support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Ford Foundation. The overall goals of this collaborative are too:

1. Increase awareness among policy makers, opinion leaders and the public at –large on local and national levels about the impact of public policy on women’s economic security.
2. Create, strengthen, and protect policies and practices that support the ability of women and their children to achieve economic security.
3. Demonstrate the value of women’s funds to the conversation about poverty alleviation.

Click here to read more information about WESC.

Illinois Budget Through Women’s Eyes

Report asks how women and girls will fare in 2010

Chicago Foundation for Women believes that government budgets are moral documents that demonstrate the state's priorities. Since women and girls are disproportionately reliant on public services, examining budgets through a gender lens allows us to learn how the state is supporting or shortchanging the residents who need it most. Voices for Illinois Children was commissioned to analyze Illinois Governor Quinn's proposed FY2010 budget to provide more transparency regarding programs related to the wellbeing of women and girls.

Why? Women and girls, especially in women-headed families, should be at the center of the budget-making process because they are more likely to be left behind when programs that help low-income families are cut or leveled off, despite increasing demand.

Read the entire article, as well as the full report, at www.cfw.org/Illinois2010.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2009 Sisterhood Showcase – Memphis Cook Convention Center, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7

Legends Award Art Exhibition – Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, 6225 Humphreys Blvd., 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 11

Women’s Foundation Board of Directors Annual Meeting – Junior Achievement, 307 Madison Ave., 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 18

On Cable Tonight – Tune into the live broadcast of the Women’s Foundation’s On Cable Tonight on channel 17, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 23

Call for Volunteers!
We are getting closer to our Annual Fund Campaign Goal of $1,225,000. We need your help at our WFGM Phon-a-thons to get there. Please contact Brenna Ragghianti at brennaragghianti@wfgm.org to volunteer.
WFGM Phon-a-thon – Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women,
5:00 p.m. Monday, June 15
WFGM Phon-a-thon – Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women,
5:00 p.m. Monday, June 22