Women’s Fund Awards Largest Grant Amounts in Fund History

TYLER — The Women’s Fund hosted a wine and cheese reception at Main Street Gallery in Tyler on Tuesday to announce an unprecedented $141,330 in funding to support four community-based organizations. This funding brings the five-year total amount of grants given by The Women’s Fund to $542,169. Recipients of The Women’s Fund grants this year include the Christian Women’s Job Corps, Literacy Council of Tyler and Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. And in a new initiative, The Children’s Advocacy Center will also receive funding toward its proposed project request as part of a matching grant agreement.

The Women’s Fund grant to the Christian Women’s Job Corps will allow the organization to purchase 30 computers with updated software and technical support, as well as purchase six computer tables and chairs. The grant will also help relocate a wall and overhead projector. The Literacy Council of Tyler plans to use the grant to start a Career Pathways Program to help women through the Certified Nurse Aide Program while taking GED classes. The grant will also help provide training in computer skills and interviewing techniques.

Young Audiences of Northeast Texas was awarded a grant to work with at-risk 6th through 8th grade girls using “Dance for Life” to explore some of their personal and academic challenges with the goal of improving school performance and attendance, self-esteem, motivation and confidence. And the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County will use its matching grant funds to enrich its Evidence-Based Therapy Program, which reduces the trauma experienced by child victims of sexual and/or severe physical abuse. Project activities include crisis intervention, professional individual therapy and psychoeducational support groups.

“The Women’s Fund has been on a trajectory to continuously increase support to the women and children of Smith County, and to increase the philanthropic investment in women and families. I am gratified that entering our sixth year, we were able to give the largest annual grant award in The Women’s Fund history,” stated Betsy Hahn, Coordinator of The Women’s Fund. The Women’s Fund is open to all women in East Texas. For more information on joining, visit the website at http://www.womensfundsc.org or contact Betsy Brush Hahn at 903-343-4411.