Women's Fund Virtual Luncheon
September 9, 2021
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Celebrating Women's Resiliency
Join us Thursday, September 9!
We are excited to bring you and your guests an engaging, impactful and inspiring 21st annual Women’s Fund Luncheon, as we virtually come together in celebration while keeping everyone safe. These last 15 months have shown just how resilient women can be. And it has also shown us how much work we need to do for gender equality.
This year’s Women's Fund Luncheon will be another dynamic and inspiring event. We hope you will join us wherever you are most comfortable for an exciting and empowering afternoon.
Some guests may want to socialize and GatHER for HER with a group friends, neighbors or coworkers at their homes, on patios, in conference rooms or at local establishments to view the program together. Others may prefer the convenience of watching from their desk or other comfy spot while physically distanced. It's up to you! No matter how you participate, the collective power we have as a community to create change for women and girls is something you won't want to miss!
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Featured Speaker - Dr. Scharmaine Lawson |
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We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Scharmaine Lawson will join us as our featured speaker. She is a nationally recognized, award-winning nurse practitioner, business owner, speaker, author and mother.
Dr. Lawson has been featured on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, the Harry Connick Jr. Show, ABC News, and Modern Hero for her significant contributions to her hometown of New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Early on, Scharmaine knew she was a survivor. Having never met her father who passed away while incarcerated, she was raised by her 80-year-old grandmother. Determined to get out of the projects where she and her grandmother lived, she spent much of her high school and college years passionate about her studies, laying the foundation for a better life for both of them. After she graduated from college and passed the nursing boards on her first attempt, she said, “I realized I possessed great strength and power, and a force was brewing in me that would serve me well during my life.”
That strength and power has continued to help her triumph through many of life’s challenges including domestic violence, homelessness, miscarriage, cancer, the death of her husband and raising two children as a single mom. Her resiliency to keep achieving, innovating and creating is why she is among the top 1% of the nursing profession and a highly sought after keynote speaker.
Dr. Lawson is currently busy turning her groundbreaking Nola The Nurse® book series into animated cartoons. Lawson was motivated to create this series after she was unable to find children's stories for her young daughter that featured minorities in health care jobs and other STEM-related fields.
We look forward to welcoming Dr. Lawson virtually to the 2021 Women’s Fund Luncheon! We know you will be inspired by her message of strength, hope and resilience.
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REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!
Individual ticket sales/donations and Gather for HER Parties will open on July 9.
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Starting Point 2.0 and EmpowHER
Celebrate Success
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Congratulations to the new cohort of Starting Point 2.0 and EmpowHER graduates in Appleton and Waupaca! A total of 17 women completed the spring semester.
To date, 86 young women have graduated from the program with 64% taking steps to continue their education by either enrolling in a degree or certificate program, taking a class at FVTC or working on their GED.
Additionally, this two-generation approach has impacted 52 children who participated in early childhood education and an additional 26 school aged children who have seen their mom succeed and pursue her dreams.
The Women's Fund is proud to partner with FVTC and B.A.B.E.S. to help women move beyond their current circumstances and attain a brighter, more economically secure future for themselves and their families. Investing in Her leads to a thriving community for all!
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STARTING POINT 2.0 GRADUATE REFLECTS ON LESSONS LEARNED
by Lindsey Fox, Women’s Fund volunteer
Four years ago, Alex Mischler, a single mother to a 14-month-old son and 9-year-old daughter, captured the hearts of many at the Women’s Fund.
Alex was embarking on a new journey in Starting Point 2.0, a partnership program between the Women’s Fund, B.A.B.E.S. Child Abuse Prevention Program, and Fox Valley Technical College, aimed at increasing the life-long economic security of women and their families.
Since she began Starting Point 2.0, Alex has accepted a full-time position at FVTC and graduated with an associate’s degree in administrative professional. She has plans to begin pursuing a bachelor’s degree this fall.
Being a part of Starting Point 2.0 has changed Alex’s mindset. “I am now grounded in my worth as an individual, mother, woman of color, and human being. I am no longer a statistic of stereotype and data. I am a statistical anomaly,” she said.
Through her professional, academic and personal experience, Alex has uncovered a deep passion for equity and inclusion work, and is using her voice and opportunities to advocate for individuals and families of color in her community.
“Starting Point 2.0 was the first time I received equitable support that focused on my individual need. It was the only time I felt the color of my skin was not a barrier to my goals,” she said. “There is still much social change needed at the local level, especially for the underrepresented. My plan is to keep making change that impacts women, young parents, and all groups needing equity.”
With her children now 4 and 12, Alex’s vision for her family’s future is brighter than ever. She continues to embrace the ideals and lifestyle she found through Starting Point 2.0, and to teach her children what they look like does not determine how far they can reach.
Alex’s advice for women who may be looking for their own Starting Point is simple: “Ask yourself, is your life everything you hoped for in this moment? If you cannot happily answer yes, then you have more to lose by not putting yourself first.”
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Small Grants Help During COVID |
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Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services uses first “Need is Now” grant from Women’s Fund to buy security hardware and prevent assaults.
By Maureen Wallenfang, Women’s Fund Volunteer
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A woman assaulted by her drug-addicted son needed window locks, door alarms and door jammers to prevent a second assault.
Another adult was able to sleep at night after newly installed door alarms thwarted home access by a brother threatening harm.
Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, a nonprofit agency that operates an emergency shelter and provides outreach services, gives security hardware to domestic abuse victims for free. It will be able to buy and stock more urgently needed supplies after receiving the first $500 grant from the new “Need is Now Fund” from the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region.
During the pandemic, Christine Ann’s 24-hour hotline fielded more reports of domestic abuse incidents and an increase in the severity of incidents. The agency wanted to be prepared with security hardware when victims leave their abusers, the most difficult and dangerous time.
It’s a perfect example of urgent expenses the new “Need is Now Fund” was designed to meet.
“This fund was created to address those needs where a small dollar amount will have great impact,” said Julie Keller, executive director of the Women’s Fund.
“We know that given the last year, nonprofits have experience varied and unanticipated needs. They may not be big needs, but they are critical to serve clients or deliver on their mission. If they are not in their budget, these needs often go unmet,” she said.
The new fund provides up to $500 to eligible nonprofits serving women and girls in the greater Fox Valley, especially if those needs escalated under the pandemic.
The World Health Organization says the COVID-19 pandemic created a global increase in domestic abuse, which it calls a “shadow pandemic.”
In Wisconsin, where one in three women will experience some form of domestic abuse over a lifetime, the needs also escalated during the pandemic.
Victims report more instances of physical assault, sexual assault, stalking or being threatened by a gun or weapon, said Emily James, Christine Ann’s Grant & Stewardship specialist.
“People are spending more time with their abusers because they’re spending more time at home and they’ve lost jobs,” James said.
“The abuse has a cumulative effect and escalates over time because of the stress related to the pandemic,” she said.
The need to keep security hardware on hand is critical, she said.
“This grant funds a major re-stock so we don’t run out anytime soon,” James said. “This would supply us for the next three to six months.”
To date, the “Need is Now Fund” has awarded $5,000 to the following organizations:
- Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services
- Exceptional Equestrians
- Sweet Adelines International-Fox Valley Chorus
- Sexual Assault Crisis Center
- Life Tools Foundation
- Neighbor to Neighbor(Manawa United Methodist Church)
- Youth Go
- Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs
- Community Clothes Closet
More about “Need is Now Fund” grants:
- The Women’s Fund started the “Need is Now Fund” in January with $10,000. An anonymous Women’s Fund donor matched it with an additional $10,000.
- Grants up to $500 will be awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations that demonstrate an urgent need in their missions to help women and girls with safety, health, education, economic security or leadership.
- Applications are currently being accepted.
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Visit the Women's Fund website to learn more.
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