Dallas Women’s Foundation Grants More Than $3.1 Million in 2014 Fiscal Year
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) August 05, 2014 -- Dallas Women’s Foundation, the world’s largest regional women’s fund, announced it awarded more than $3.1 million in grants during its 2014 fiscal year ending June 30. As part of its Economic Security Initiative, a nine-year commitment to strengthen 16,000 female-headed households, the Foundation has announced grants specifically geared towards women’s economic security. This initiative is complemented by the recently released report “Economic Issues for Women in Texas” produced by the Foundation’s research and advocacy arm, Texas Women’s Foundation. Dallas Women’s Foundation continues its ongoing community grant cycles that focus on women’s health and safety, education and leadership, and traditional economic security programs.
“In the Dallas metro area, 30 percent of all households are female-headed, yet they represent 53 percent of households living in poverty,” explained Roslyn Dawson Thompson, president and CEO of Dallas Women’s Foundation. “The disproportionate numbers of women on the low end of the economic spectrum in our region and state have led us to make a commitment to long-term investment in economic security of women. Our grantees are helping women through job training, entrepreneurship, financial coaching and other supports that enable women to build and sustain economic security for themselves and their families.”
Martha McCarty Wells has extended significant support to the Foundation’s Economic Security Initiative, with a gift of $150,000 for grants to organizations helping women 55+ become economically secure. “I recognize how fortunate I am to be financially stable at this point in my life, and this realization has made me even more sympathetic to senior women who live on the brink, who face financial challenges and who live in poverty,” said Wells. “I am grateful that Dallas Women’s Foundation identifies and responds to the needs of this vulnerable population of women in our region. I am proud to support their work to help women 55 and older gain greater economic security.”
Dallas Women’s Foundation’s Economic Security Initiative has drawn other supporters, including: Cecilia and Garrett Boone, Nancy Ann Hunt and Cecilia and Tim Norwood.
During the past two years, the Economic Security Initiative grants were focused on two age groups: women 18 through 34 and 55 and over.
Grants targeting women age 18 through 34:
• Consumer Credit Counseling of Greater Dallas (CCCS) ($120,000 grant per year, for three years, pending yearly board review) – The funds will support the C2:SAFE partnership between CCCS and the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) to provide financial education, coaching and counseling to low-to-moderate income women ages 18 to 34 in order to help them build the skills and knowledge needed to stay in school, graduate and repay debts.
• YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas (YWCA) ($100,000 grant per year, for three years, pending yearly board review) – The funds will support the Women’s Enterprise Center to address the lack of programs and resources available to low-income women who want to successfully design, launch and establish their own businesses.
Grants targeting women over 55 years old:
• Catholic Charities of Dallas Inc. ($30,00 grant, second year of three year funding, pending yearly board review) – The grant from Dallas Women’s Foundation will be used to begin a microenterprise program for refugee women called “Getting Back on Our Feet: Microbusiness Opportunities for Women Age 55+.” The program is designed to help unemployed older women start their own in-home child care businesses, licensed by the State of Texas, that provide culturally and linguistically appropriate child care services for refugee parents who work outside the home.
• Jewish Family Service ($30,00 grant, second year of three year funding, pending yearly board review) – To address the needs of older, unemployed women, Jewish Family Service established career and employment services for women over 50. With funding from Dallas Women’s Foundation, the program will continue to commit a part‐time Employment Counselor and expand the program's scope by adding financial literacy services.
• Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas (The Senior Source) ($30,00 grant, second year of three year funding, pending yearly board review) – Older adults have many needs, one of the greatest is for additional income. The grant will fund the Senior Employment Program, which assists adults ages 50+ in securing employment by providing them with the skills and confidence necessary to seek employment in today’s job market.
The Foundation’s community grant cycles take place each fall and spring. The grants selection process includes a financial review, site visits by trained volunteers and board approval. For more information on Dallas Women’s Foundation’s grant program and a full list of grantees in fiscal year 2014, visit http://www.dallaswomensfdn.org.
About Dallas Women’s Foundation
Dallas Women’s Foundation is the largest regional women’s fund in the world. It is a trusted leader in advancing positive social and economic change for women and girls. The Foundation was built on the belief that when you invest in a woman, there is a ripple effect that benefits her family, her community and her world. Dallas Women’s Foundation has researched, funded and demonstrated the ripple effect since 1985 in North Texas, granting more than $23 million to help create opportunities and solve issues for women and girls. With the support of its donors, the Foundation unlocks resources to improve education and quality of life, give voice to issues affecting women and girls, and cultivate women leaders for the future. For more information, visit http://www.DallasWomensFdn.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Google+.
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Meredith McKee, Minerva Consulting, 972-238-7798, [email protected]
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