Dear Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge Supporter,
The year 2020 has been a challenging one for The Women’s Fund! The cancellation of all our events, forced us to find new opportunities to raise the necessary funds to support our annual grants program. Even with all the changes we are so grateful to our donors, sponsors, members, and community partners for your continued support. Your support of the No-Show Power of the Purse luncheon, the 100 Men campaign, and our Membership program made it possible for the WFBR to have funds available for grants.
The mission of the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is to provide support to women and girls in the High Country who are suffering financial difficulties, homelessness, domestic abuse, health deficits and other hardships in their lives. While we fulfill this mandate in several ways, the primary focus is on providing grants in the range of $1,500 to $15,000 to non-profit organizations. This month, the Grants Committee is reviewing over 20 applications that have been submitted for the 2021 grant cycle.
To be eligible to apply for a grant, organizations must meet these qualifications:
- serves women and girls in Ashe, Avery, or Watauga Counties
- has a 501(c)(3) or similar designation from the federal government
- meets a local need related to one or more of the following focus areas:
- Education
- Human Services
- Health and Wellness
- Empowerment
The Grants Committee is dedicated to giving each applicant serious consideration and review. Every program we review helps women and girls in our area, and it is a very difficult decision when we have to turn down an organization that applies. We have limited dollars to give away this year, but remain committed to supporting non-profits in the High Country.
We will be forever grateful to the many wonderful friends who supported us throughout the quarantining of 2020. We look forward to announcing the new 2021 grantees in mid-November.
Lisa Simon
Grants Committee Chair
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2020 100 Men Bourbon, BBQ & Blues
Despite not being able to hold the 2020 100 Men event, the men still supported us with over $5,000 in donations. Your financial contribution impacts our grant program tremendously and your involvement truly makes a difference in the lives of women and girls living in the High Country. We hope to see you in September 2021.
To make a 100 Men donation click on the link below:
http://www.womensfundoftheblueridge.org/100men-2/
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Grantee Spotlight
The Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge was able to provide over $170,000 in grants to 21 organizations in 2019. We are going to spotlight organizations in each newsletter so supporters like you can see how your money is making a difference in our area.
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Partnership of Ashe, formerly known as Ashe County Partnership for Children, is a small non-profit located in Jefferson, North Carolina and has been serving individuals and families since 1995. They have three programs, Early Care and Education, Family Foundations, and A Safe Home for Everyone. The Partnership of Ashe’s mission is to help provide opportunities for success.
A Safe Home for Everyone is the domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and intervention program that began in 1999. This program serves, on average, between 180 and 200 clients each year with 90% being women and girls. The services offered through A Safe Home for Everyone include court advocacy, hospital accompaniment, resource and referral, financial assistance, support group, 24-hour crisis line and emergency housing.
Through funding from the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, A Safe Home for Everyone offers a Supportive Arts Therapy group for clients. The support group is a valuable tool for clients to help promote resiliency and healing from the trauma caused by the violence they have experienced. Many of the women express feelings of fear, loneliness, and depression. In addition, some have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The monthly support group is led by a licensed counselor who helps clients learn to identify their triggers and process their physical and emotional responses to those triggers, as well as, find a way to express themselves through their art. Clients who attend the support group, strengthen their support systems and can gain tools they can use to help them move forward in their healing process.
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Watauga Habitat for Humanity partners with low-to-moderate income families and helps them build and buy their own home. Part of a global, nonprofit housing organization, Watauga Habitat for Humanity works to eliminate barriers to a better, healthier, and more financially stable life by offering future homeowners a safe and affordable place to call home. Homebuyers partner with Habitat, helping build their own homes alongside volunteers. Habitat offers zero interest mortgages to the homeowners. Since 1987, Watauga Habitat for Humanity has built 29 homes and supported families facing challenges. Now in these exceedingly difficult times, along with committed community partnerships, Watauga Habitat stands ready to offer a hand-up to families needing safe and affordable homes.
In 2019, Watauga Habitat was thrilled to partner with single-mom Kristina Fickling. She and her children moved into their new home in April 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge help fund a portion of this home, built in our eco-friendly GreenWood Habitat Neighborhood. Kristina is enormously proud of her home! She spent the first weekend of fall, staining her front porch, enjoying the wildflowers she planted, and planning a Halloween COVID-safe party with other moms in the neighborhood. Kristina’s home is the perfect size for her young son, Vincent, and teenage-daughter, Skylynn. 8-year-old Vincent loves playing in the children’s park with the other neighborhood kids. Skylynn loves the privacy of having her own room and being able to quietly study and do her homework. Building and buying her own home has been a dream come true for Kristina! Thank you, Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge!
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Membership 2020
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER!
Be a part of a passionate community of women with diverse perspectives. We believe our collective spirit thrives when we hear all voices. When we join together, combine our resources and work as a team, we can accomplish what none of us can do on our own.
When you become a member in 2020, you are supporting our grants program as 100% of funds raised through the WFBR membership program goes to our granting program. Membership is an important part of our success in making a difference in the lives of women and girls in the High Country.
Thank you to all of those who have joined already! Please consider joining as a member this year. Membership levels are as follows:
Legacy $2,400/yr. - $200/mo.
Visionary $1,200/yr. - $100/mo.
Champion $600/yr. - $50/mo.
Change Maker $300/yr. - $25/mo.
Friend of the Fund $120/yr.
Join us at our website:
http://www.womensfundoftheblueridge.org/membership/
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Basic Totes Wish List
WFBR distributes Basic Totes that are filled with necessary toiletries and/or cleaning supplies to various non-profits throughout the High Country to pass on to women and girls who are in transition. In support of this effort, the following items are requested:
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Feminine Products
- Razors and shaving cream
- Hair brushes, combs, and elastics
- Shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash
- Hand soap
- Deodorant
- House cleaning supplies (all purpose wipes, pine sol, laundry detergent)
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The Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge has earned the 2019 Platinum GuideStar Seal of Transparency
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