It's hard to believe another fiscal year has come to an end!
We raised a record-breaking $2.5 million+ from individuals, corporations and foundations.
Thank you to the 600+ new members who decided to Join the Vision and helped us to meet the $100,000 Hyde Family Foundation Challenge Grant. Each donor gift linked to our overall success.
Your contributions totaled $350,000 towards the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan to reduce poverty by five percent over five years in zip code 38126, where 62 percent of adults and 76 percent of children live at or below the poverty line.
Each day we work with community partners to put your investments to work helping families advance to economic security.
On behalf of all of us at WFGM, we thank you for Joining the Vision and we welcome everyone who has not already done so, to become a member! Watch your mailbox for membership benefits in August and check out the new members section of www.wfgm.org for more details.
Thank you for everything you have done to put another successful year at WFGM in the books. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Annual Meeting.
My best,
Ruby Bright, Executive Director and CAO
|
RSVP today for the 2016 Women's Foundation Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis to share the success of our last fiscal year with our donors and community partners. This year's meeting will focus on the success of our
Vision 2020 Strategic Plan
so far.
RSVP
today to learn about how you helped with
Moving the Vision Forward.
The annual meeting will be Thursday, August 11, 2016 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. at the
Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis in the Center Ballroom. The address is 3700 Central Ave., Memphis, TN, 38111. Please RSVP by Monday, August 8 with Alberta Hope at 901-578-9346 or [email protected].
|
|
Welcome 2016 Power of the Purse Co-Chairs!
We are happy to announce our 2016 Power of the Purse Co-Chairs:
Power of the Purse Co-Chairs
We look forward to another exciting and successful event at the University Club of Memphis! This year's Power of the Purse will be Thursday, October 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. To sponsor or donate an auction item, contact Lindsey Stanfill, Development Manager at WFGM, at 901-969-2406 or
[email protected]
.
|
Legends Award Art Exhibit on tour
The Legends Award Art Exhibit is on tour and has made its first stop at the Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women. The collection will be on display at the hospital July 25-September 2 before moving to the Temple Israel and other various organizations. The 2016 pieces honor Legends Award recipients Linn Sitler, Beverly Robertson and Honey Scheidt. Based on the established partnership as the Legends Award presenting sponsor, the Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women invited the Women's Foundation to collaborate on the founding of the Hall of Legends to establish a permanent home for the collection. In 2014, the Hall of Legends opened just off the main lobby of the hospital.
WFGM has honored 61 women so far.
Legends Award Artists and Writers create works of art and prose that personify the Legends Award Honorees' accomplishments and contributions to this community. The collections of art and prose tour throughout Memphis, hosted by several companies and organizations. To learn more or to host the Legends Art, contact Patria Johnson, Grants and Programs Manager at WFGM, at [email protected] or 901-969-2405.
|
WFGM IN THE NEWS
|
|
 |
|
Dr. Beverly Cross
|
|
The following week, on Sunday, July 17 there was a guest column published in The Commercial Appeal by Dr. Beverly Cross, Moss Chair of Excellence in Urban Education at the College of Education at University of Memphis and co-chair of the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis. The article, "Will Memphis ever reach its full potential?" highlighted the importance of WFGM's attendance at the United State of Women Summit, and what that means for the city of Memphis.
The Women's Foundation also garnered national attention with
Inside Philanthropy.
Inside the Growing Funder Push to Accelerate Social Change for Young Women of Color focuses on Prosperity Together, a nonpartisan coalition of public women's foundations dedicated to improving the economic security of low-income women and their families in America. The group announced the expansion of the Young Women's Initiative (YWI). The initiative began in New York and will expand to seven other women's funds around the country. It focuses on investing and catalyzing resources to improve equity and prosperity for young women. Through cross-sector partnerships with governmental agencies, philanthropists, nonprofits, and corporations ,YWI is designed to amplify their voices. In Memphis, YWI kicks off in September with listening sessions engaging girls 15 to 21 years of age. WFGM will partner with local organizations to define solutions that impact gender, racial and economic justice.
|
- Strengthen parenting
- Support early childhood development
- Decrease economic stress and food insecurity
- Reduce the rates of domestic violence and alcohol dependence
- Limit school changes among children
- Reduce child poverty by 21 percent
Theses goals align with the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan, specifically to support families in zip code 38126 in securing resources to meet their basic needs, preparing children ages 0-5 for kindergarten and developing positive outcomes in youth that include competence, confidence, connection and character.
Read more
about the life-changing effects of stable housing.
Research discusses equal pay in Tennessee
 According to new data by the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR), at the current rate, women will not receive equal pay until 2057 in Tennessee and equal pay would cut poverty among working women in Tennessee by 44 percent. The Status of Women in the States by IWPR provides data on women's progress in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States overall.
The data can be used to raise awareness, improve policies, and promote women's equality.
More information on Tennessee can be found at:
|
|
COLLABORATION
Ace Awareness Foundation funds parenting helpline
 The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Awareness Foundation strives to create a Greater-Memphis community-and catalyze a movement for a state-that understands negative outcomes in the formative years of a child's life can lead to violence, school failure, many chronic diseases and, ultimately, an unprepared workforce. Shelby County parents may now access the Parent Support Warm Line, a real time, go-to reference phone line providing professional help and support with difficult or unclear parenting situations. The Warm Line (844-UPP-WARM or 844-877-9276) will be operational Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST. The service, funded by the ACE Foundation, is offered free of charge and is administered by Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Read more.
Comcast announces Internet Essentials
Comcast and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) ConnectHome initiative announced an expansion of
Internet Essentials
eligibility to public housing and HUD-assisted residents living in Comcast's service area. This means that an estimated total of up to 2 million HUD-assisted homes, including Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Multifamily programs, will now have access to high-speed Internet for $9.95 + tax a month, a discounted computer for less than $150, and free digital literacy classes.
Memphis UrbanArt Commission Executive Director awarded scholarship
|
|
|
Lauren Kennedy
|
The Kresge Foundation awarded Memphis UrbanArt Commission Executive Director Lauren Kennedy a scholarship to attend the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators III in Salzburg, Austria. The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis nominated
Lauren, who served s a 2016 Legend Award Artist Selection Committee member.
Lauren is one of five local professionals to receive the YCI Forum scholarship.
The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that works to expand opportunities in America's cities through grant making and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and community development.
Read more.
|
|
Memphis Housing Authority announces new Executive Director
|
|
|
|
Marcia Lewis
|
|
Marcia Lewis is the new Executive Director of the Memphis Housing Authority. Previously, Marcia was HUD Director with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development where she implemented public housing programs in West and Middle Tennessee. Marcia has over 23 years of experience in the public housing industry, is a certified public housing manager, and is certified in housing choice voucher program implementation, asset management, and fair housing.
Read more.
|
GRANTS AND PROGRAMS
Urban Strategies & Memphis HOPE's TCYEP
The Urban Strategies (US) Memphis HOPE's Technology and Community Youth Employment Program (TCYEP) Summer Education Intensive funded in party by WFGM was held June 13 - July 22 and delivered by WFGM grantee partner, Knowledge Quest.
The Design Lab Summer Intensive was a six-week, non-fee based, co-ed summer day camp that brought together 30 high-school students from Foote Homes and the surrounding South Memphis neighborhoods. The program engaged students in problem solving for a real-world challenge through the design thinking methodology. Students earned a weekly stipend and learned how to manage finances. At the end of the program, participants gave a final presentation demonstrating the solutions they crafted.
Souththeast Transportation Workforce Center, University of Memphis
The SETWC Transportation Academy for high school students is designed to showcase the diversity of career opportunities in transportation, with particular emphasis on the robust
transportation and logistics industry in Memphis. This year, the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis was a sponsor for the Academy, hosted at the University of Memphis, Herff College of Engineering. The program includes both an intensive summer institute and academic-year workshops to keep students engaged with program faculty and industry leaders throughout an entire calendar year. The goal of the Academy is to increase the number of young women intentionally choosing transportation, a non-traditional field, as their career path.
|
|
| |
|
|
SAVE THE DATES
Community Fundraising Event
Saturday, September 24
11 a.m.-7 p.m.
139 E.H. Crump Blvd
Memphis, TN 38106
Kendra Give Back Party
Enjoy Sips, Sweets, and Jewels
Saturday, October 15
12:00-3:00 p.m.
Kendra Scott at Saddle Creek South
7515 Poplar Ave, Ste. 105
Germantown, TN 38138
Phone Orders Will be Accepted:
901-672-6999
20% of proceeds benefit WFGM
Power of the Purse
Thursday, October 27
6:30-8:30 p.m.
University Club of Memphis
1346 Central Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
|
WFGM ON THE MOVE
WFGM has successfully relocated offices in One Commerce Square from suite 2380 on the 23rd floor to suite 2280 on the 22nd floor. Our new address is:
Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis
One Commerce Square
40 S. Main Street, Ste. 2280
Memphis, TN 38103
We appreciate your patience as we update all of our material to reflect the change in address.
|
|
WHEREtoGIVEmidsouth
WFGM is a proud partner of
WHEREtoGIVEmidsouth,
directory of nonprofit organizations
in the greater Memphis area.
Discover organizations working on issues important to you.
Find information about their mission,
staff and board, major programs, and finances, and donate to
support their work.
|
|
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
Kroger is committed to helping
communities grow and prosper.
Year after year, local schools, churches
and other nonprofit organizations earn millions of dollars through Kroger Community Rewards®.
WFGM supporters can earn rewards for our organization every time you swipe your Kroger Plus Card!
Log on to Kroger Community Rewards
and create or renew an account
if you have not already done so already.
|
|
HOW TO GET INVOLVED - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Join us as a volunteer with Vision 2020.
We have several areas of focus within
this strategic plan, including:
Early Childhood Education
Job Readiness
Financial Literacy
Volunteers are also needed for:
Administrative Support
Clerical Work
Communications & Marketing
Data Entry
To volunteer, complete the online form
or call 901.578.9346
.
|
WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU!
Each month we receive information
about incredible women doing
incredible things.
If you have a story about a
phenomenal woman who is impacting the community, transforming women's lives and the face of poverty and supporting the work of the
Women's Foundation,
we want to
hear from you.
Please make suggestions or submit information regarding potential
e-news stories to
WFGM
or call 901-578-9346.
|
ABOUT WFGM
Established in 1995, WFGM is one of the fastest growing women's foundations in the country that is dedicated to securing and granting funds to programs that enable women and their families to become economically stable.
We are considered to be on the leading edge of economic and community development focused on moving families living at or below the poverty level above the lines toward economic security. Building on what we have learned over the past 20 years, we collaborate with stakeholders from across the city to coordinate strategies to reduce poverty in Memphis. Our vision is for Memphis to become a city of choice, where poverty decreases as educational attainment, wages, business partnerships and inclusion increase.
|
|
