A Fund for Women continued its 25th-anniversary celebration by awarding more than $100,000 in grants to six area nonprofits that support the economic empowerment of women and girls on Thursday at Old National Bank in downtown Madison.
A Fund for Women was founded in 1993 with gifts of $1,000 from 100 original donors who raised $100,000 to start an endowment fund, which is invested and grows over time. Today the fund, managed by Madison Community Foundation, is valued at over $3 million and awards approximately $100,000 in grants annually.
One of this year’s grants went to support Omega School’s Dane County Young Mothers Outreach Project. The Omega School’s programs provide training and support to help Dane County residents get their GED or HSED credentials. Young mothers, especially those who live outside the city of Madison, face additional barriers to pursuing their GED or HSED credentials.
Madison Community Foundation
(Photo by Shalicia Johnson)
“We want to reach out to and meet young mothers where they live – in all parts of Dane County,” says Omega School’s Executive Director Oscar Mireles in a statement. “This grant will help us do that, and also to provide the transportation and support they need to continue their learning in whatever setting works best for them and their families.”
The 2019 grant recipients include:
Centro Hispano of Dane County – In support of the Caminos Finance Career Pathway Program, which offers education and training to members of the Latino community, particularly women, to get them on the pathway to a career in the finance industry.
Latino Academy of Workforce Development – The Latina Workforce Advancement Project will provide training, education and support to help Latinas move into meaningful, sustainable careers that provide economic security for themselves and their families.
Madison Reading Project – Empowering and Encouraging Girls to Explore Non-Traditional Careers Through Delightful Literacy Adventures will provide books about nontraditional and non-stereotypical “girls” careers. The program also will engage them through storytelling and fun activities on the Big Red Reading Bus.
Omega School – Dane County Young Mothers Outreach Project will provide holistic services, including transportation and childcare, to support the education and career development of Dane County women who are pregnant and parenting and want to pursue a GED or HSED.
UW Odyssey Project – Onward Odyssey: Class of 2020 provides support to students who have completed the core Odyssey program, helping them develop an academic and career roadmap, pursue college enrollment, and provide job training and mentorship.
YWCA Madison – The YWeb Career Academy is a job training boot camp that helps women and people of color gain the skills they need to become web developers and designers. The program provides participants with a pathway out of poverty by helping them find family-supporting jobs.
