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January 16, 2019
President’s Message
Ellen Wiss

Welcome to 2019!

WGA is off to a great start in the new year. The Grants Decision Team has begun the process of looking at a new cycle of grants to Break the Cycle of Female Poverty. In the next few issues of e-news we will talk about some of the problems and obstacles women face in our community.

Last month Frank Castillo, CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida, met with a group of us at TCF. The conversation touched on the issues of food insecurity faced by women who live near or below the poverty level. Many months these women, often single heads of household, run short of money and are faced with some very difficult choices: do they feed their families, pay the rent, buy necessary medicines, or pay utilities? They have to decide what they will do without.

We are all faced with making choices at different times of our lives, but few of us consistently face these kinds of challenges. We need your help to fund grants to help women and their children who will otherwise be caught in the trap of generational poverty.

Please join our effort. Introduce a friend to WGA, renew your own membership, and help make a difference in the lives of many!

All the best in 2019,

Mary

Your Philanthropy at Work
Do you Want to Help Fund More Grants to Break the Cycle of Female Poverty?

In the current cycle, the Grants Decision Team reviewed 41 initial applications (Letters of Interest) as compared to 29 in 2018, the first year of our focus on Breaking the Cycle of Female Poverty. The requests totaled $3.125 Million. The decision team narrowed the list to 22 agencies (for grants totaling more than $1.838 Million). Each agency is asked to submit a full proposal. Making this cut from 41 LOIs to 22 was hard; reducing it further to develop the “Short List” for a site visit and the final decision will be even more difficult.

Last year the grant pool was $543,000 with $70,000 produced directly in response to the Delores Barr Weaver Match Challenge. This year you could help to increase the grant funds available by making an additional donation. For example, at wganefl.org/donate, select “Women’s Giving Alliance Pooled Grantmaking Fund”. Or donate directly to WGA from your IRA’s required minimum distribution; donate appreciated stock; donate in memory of a loved one; ask guests to donate to WGA in lieu of a hostess gift. With your help, WGA continues to make a difference in the lives of women and girls.

Members Advocate in Tallahassee

WGA will make its annual trip to Tallahassee on January 22, with an optional overnight on January 21. In the past, we've successfully advocated against human trafficking and for ending child marriage. This year, our focus is affordable housing.

The lack of affordable housing in Northeast Florida has lasting economic consequences for individuals, their families and the broader community. WGA will advocate for the passage of SB70, which restricts the legislature from taking funds dedicated for affordable housing in the Sadowski Trust Fund and adding those funds to general revenue. Since our issue has budget implications, WGA will head to our state capitol before the Governor's budget is finalized and when we can have maximum exposure on our issue. This issue has broad community support including from staff at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida since it aligns with our grantmaking focus, Changing Homelessness and several grantees.

All WGA members are welcome to go, and will be paired with experienced members. This is a wonderful opportunity to see your state legislature at work and to further WGA friendships.

(Members wishing to stay overnight on Monday, January 21 may make reservations at Home2 Suites by Hilton Tallahassee State Capitol, 210 S Magnolia Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301, 850-402-8900).

If you want to join us, but not stay overnight, you are welcome to drive over to Tallahassee the morning of January 22 and we will all meet before legislative visits. We will help to coordinate carpools on both January 21 and January 22.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Pam Field (pamfield@pobox.com) or Kristi Brandon (Kristi.b.brandon@gmail.com).

Register
Survey to Come Next Month

Between 2012 and 2016, the Women’s Giving Alliance awarded 23 two-year grants to 17 nonprofits totaling nearly $2 million to improve mental health services for women and girls in Northeast Florida.  With the last of these grants now completed, a Final Impact Report for the Mental Health Strategic Focus is in development and will include an overview of the grants’ impact on the grantees, the Northeast Florida community, the WGA, and you, the member. A very brief member survey will be available via the February e-News—please watch for it!

Upcoming Events

Y’all come...
Downtown Connector
Tuesday, January 29, 5:30 p.m.
The River Club
1 Independent Drive, 35th floor, Jacksonville 32203

As you may know, all Connector meetings are open to all WGA members, but we are planning something new and fun for the Downtown Connector on Tuesday, January 29. We are bringing together the 40 & Under/4Sight social event with the “Downtown Overlay Connector” to promote broader conversations and networking among WGA women of all ages and backgrounds.

This is also a wonderful opportunity to invite friends of any age to learn more about WGA and the work we do impacting women and girls in our communities. Join us, bring a friend and celebrate WGA’s new year. But please click here to register you and your guests so we can plan accordingly.

 

Nassau Connector Event: “Philanthropy 101”
Tuesday, February 5, 1-3:00 p.m.
Story and Song Bookstore
1430 Park Ave., Fernandina Beach 32034

Over the years, this has been one of the most popular programs of Women’s Giving Alliance. For those of you who have not yet had the opportunity to take this mini-course—and even for those of you who have—here’s a chance to explore your history with philanthropy and clarify the values that inform your giving. The Community Foundation’s Joanne Cohen, JD, VP of Philanthropic Services, will lead us to a deeper understanding of how to be strategic in our giving, with a chance for meaningful discussion along the way. No charge. Consider bringing a friend to introduce her to WGA. REGISTER

 

LiterARTure
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 12-1:00 p.m.
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Auditorium
829 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville 32204

LiterARTure explores how the influences of the arts are deeply woven into our country’s rich history, allowing us to nurture the indispensable American tradition of civil discourse, a legacy established by our country’s founders. Join Cindy Edelman and Stacey Goldring for a session on This Land is Your Land. The session is “seeking to reveal the grit and beauty of American values and capture quintessential American experiences during some of the toughest times in our history through photography, painting and literature.” Bring your lunch. REGISTER by Feb. 13.

 

United Way Poverty Simulation
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 8:30–11:00 a.m.
Florida State College at Jacksonville Nassau Center
76346 William Burgess Blvd., Yulee 32097

The poverty simulation experience is designed to help participants begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month. It is a simulation, not a game. The object is to sensitize participants to the realities faced by those living in poverty. It includes an introduction and briefing, the actual simulation exercise, and a debriefing period in which participants and volunteer staffers share their feelings and experiences and talk about what they have learned about the lives of people in poverty. REGISTER by Feb. 19.

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