STORIES FROM OUR DONORS
"The Women's Fund was created in 1994 in response to the feminization of poverty. At that time, women and children made up 75 percent of America's poor and only about 7 percent of granted dollars went toward funding programs that served women and girls.
Today the picture remains much the same.
However, here in the Fox Valley, part of the equation has changed. The Women's Fund endowment has grown to over one million dollars and about fifty thousand dollars will flow out of it every year to help strengthen and enrich the lives of women and girls in our region.
The Women's Fund has become what many of us believed it could be:
… a resource, an advocate,
… an investor, a partner,
… an innovator and a mentor.
Our community has become a stronger place because the voice and potential of women and girls is being recognized.
I believed in the Women's Fund in 1995. With a gift of $10,000 in 2001, I created one of the first named fund held within the Women's Fund endowment.
Others soon followed.
Today I still believe in the Women's Fund.
Today I still give to the Women's Fund Endowment.
I believe that by working together, we can make a difference in the lives of women and girls in the Fox Valley Region.
I believe the Women's Fund can be a part of building a stronger community for everyone."
"I’m the mother of four children – two girls and two boys – and I also practiced law for 10 years before staying home with my children full-time. In my roles as a working woman, a working mom and now a stay at home mom, I have been blessed by countless people providing me with the love, support and encouragement to make the most of my life and be the best person I can be. However, not every girl or women has that type of support and I have seen all the hurdles there sometimes are for girls and women in our community and world.
That is why I got involved in the Women’s Fund. I want to give back to girls and women who need that extra support; who need those people to encourage and believe in them; who need a helping hand. I was fortunate, but some women and girls are not … that's why I give to the Women’s Fund."
"I love the fact that the word philanthropy comes from the Greek word meaning “loving people.” The Little Women’s Funds have taught each of our daughters what it is like to be a philanthropist. They are learning that a philanthropist is someone who provides goodwill to their fellow man or woman. With the help of the Little Women’s Funds our girls are finding ways to donate their time and their money to things that tug at their heart strings… things that they believe make a difference in this world."
Laura Guy, Founding Donor who established First-Ever Little Women’s Funds for her daughters in 2003.
"I believe in investing in women and girls to meet their needs and create opportunities. I choose to do this through the Women’s Fund because the grants are targeted at the priorities of our community today while the endowment ensures the Women’s Fund will continue to meet changing needs and creating opportunities for years to come."
