Our Future
Strategic Planning for the Women's Fund |
"Power Up and Deliver for Women and Girls in SE Mass 2008-2011"
A message from Wendy Bauer, Women's Fund Advisory Council and Executive Committee Chair |
This is the title of the blueprint for the Women's Fund's next stage of growth and development.  Putting this ambitious strategic plan into action signals a transformational time for our Fund. We are using the SMART GROWTH strategic planning model developed expressly for women's funds by the Women's Funding Network (WFN).
Our refined mission, which now includes a powerful vision and values statement appears below. These definitions grew out of a strategic process focused on how we can best create positive social change for women and girls in Southeastern MA. We have reviewed the plan with a number of stakeholders in the community and have had a great response including several helpful suggestions.
One of the key initiatives under way is to have more diverse representation of our region in our working groups, activities, and grantees. Another is to more formally assess and publicly report our grant-making efforts and to evaluate their success and fit with our social change impact goals. We are also shaping our "resource" efforts to encourage women's giving in time, treasure and talent so we will not only raise money but promote greater understanding of how giving through the Fund can make a difference. In the fall, we will have a final copy of the plan for public distribution. If you would like to review the existing draft, please email Jeannette Doyle at jdoyle@cfsema.org and she will get you a copy. We would welcome your thoughts and reactions. We need your support "to power up and deliver for women and girls in southeastern Massachusetts."
Our Vision
Our vision is to transform the lives of women and girls by advancing equity and mobilizing the power and passion of all women of Southeastern Massachusetts.
Our Mission
Our mission is to fund programs that promote the educational and economic advancement of women and girls in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Our Values
The Women's Fund values:
Collaboration
Diversity
Bold leadership
Social justice
We strive to inspire and nurture these values in our donors, volunteers, grantees and the community as a whole.
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Fund-Raising
Second Annual Tiara Classic 5K Road Race |
A Volunteer's Perspective
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The day began with a sunny 42 degrees under clear skies. Perfect! As I headed east at 7 a.m. on route 195 to the Mattapoisett Oxford Creamery,  I reflected on the massive preparation needed to get this undertaking off the ground. This race had been the brainchild of runner Lara Stone, who shares Leigh Standley's philosophy of "I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world." The race served as the catalyst to raise awareness of and funds for women and girls in Southeastern Massachusetts. In the first-ever event the previous year, STONE collaborated with The Women's Fund of Southeastern Massachusetts to put together a impressive event with more than 300 participants in the Kids Fun Run and the 5K. This raised approximately $18,000 for women's programs . . READ MORE about this year's event
by Barbara Oberkoetter
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Fund-Raising
Duffers - Not! |
First Men's Golf Outing
Friday, May 30, 2008
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Despite the drizzle, our very first "men's golf outing" on May 30 was a great success. Four teams of four (including some women) played through the chill and damp. Spirits were high, the clubhouse warm and winners pleased with their prizes. The event was a result of the hard work and generosity of Peter DeWalt and Bay Club members, Priscilla and Alan Ditchfield.
 After playing, the teams returned to hear Executive Director Kate Fentress give a brief presentation about the Women's Fund. Although many players were new to the Fund's work, it did not stop them from making a generous contribution. The outing was a financial success, netting $18,000 after expenses, which will be used to build the endowment, fund projects and underwrite operations - a big step forward in sustainability!
Our belief is that the circle of men supporting the Women's Fund will grow over time because most men understand that strong women raise strong families. Strong families create healthy communities of people contributing, participating, and doing their part to make this region a better place for all. Plus, mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends will respect their sons, fathers, brothers and friends for caring.
If you know of any men who would like to help us grow a "Men's Committee", contact Kate Fentress @ kfentress@cfsema.org or Chrissie Bascom, cbascom@comcast.net, chair of the Development Committee. Who knows, maybe we will have a regional tournament some day . . . |
Volunteering
Spotlight on a Volunteer |
Surrounded by glitter, sequins, feathers, paints, paper, glue, the student is concentrating on finishing an intricate imitation of a quinceañera cake, all part of an after-school art project at New Bedford's Keith Middle School overseen by Paula Benedetti, the school's drop-out prevention specialist. The assignment is to choose a shoe and decorate it to represent each girl's self and her culture. This is an after-school mentoring program that the Women's Fund of Southeastern Massachusetts supports. Some of the Women's Fund members go the extra step and lend their time as well. "The girls showed unbelievable talent. They were so proud of what they had achieved," remarks volunteer Christel Phipps, who joined the Women's Fund a couple of years ago, when it found itself in need of an event planner. She also decided she wanted to be a mentor. "You see a smile, and you get so much out of it for yourself." Her opinion on the role of mentors is that a constant presence and helping hand may make a difference one day, and show that someone outside the family cares. . . . READ MORE |
| Strength in Numbers - Activism Works |
Report on the "Mind the Gap - Women, Wages and Work" Conference
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On June 9th, Executive Director Kate Fentress along with Women's Fund volunteers  Christel Phipps, Barbara Oberkoetter and Mary Ann Hayes attended a conference sponsored by the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at UMass Boston. The conference provided participants valuable information about what is going on in the state of Massachusetts, as well as practical strategies to succeed at everything from speaking to your boss about how much you are worth to retirement planning. As many of us are well aware, how much we make in comparison to our co-workers is usually not common knowledge. . . READ MORE
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Upcoming Events
Annual Breakfast and Networking |
By Kate Fentress, Executive Director
It already feels like summer to me but I know it will fly by, so why not tell you now about some of what we are planning for fall and winter. First, networking events are alive and well at the Women's Fund. Just because we haven't done anything lately doesn't mean we don't have big plans!
On October 30th, we are again partnering with the Chancellor to host our 3rd Annual Leadership Breakfast at Woodland Commons on the Dartmouth campus. Because of our exciting new strategic plan, with a clear focus on the intersection of education and economic empowerment, we have invited the new Superintendent of the New Bedford Public Schools, Dr. Portia Bonner, to be part of a panel discussion on this topic. Along with Dr. Bonner, two other distinguished invitees representing labor and workforce training will participate. I am sure this will generate a powerful discussion about these acute regional challenges, including creative solutions - pencil it in!
In early 2009 we are planning an evening event, which will include a presentation by Kathy LeMay, who doesn't mince words when it comes to encouraging women to get active with their time, talent and treasure in support of what we believe. Like all of our networking evenings, this will include wonderful wines and appetizers in a comfortable relaxed setting. More about both of these events will follow in late summer.
Enjoy these long summer days, but don't forget the wise words of Marian Wright Edelman: "It's time for greatness -- not for greed. It's a time for idealism -- not ideology. It is a time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate action."
Be great! |
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| Join Us/Help Us |
Support
us by sending this e-newsletter to friends and colleagues and urging
them to subscribe. Make a donation to build a permanent endowment in
support of women and girls in this area.
Contributions: On-line giving is now in place on our website making it easier to contribute. The link describes the various choices available to direct your gift. To view these choices, click here.
Clothing Donations
Consider donating your gently used clothing to Career Gear. For more information, click here.
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The Women's Fund
a fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts
63 Union Street, New Bedford 02740 www.cfsema.org/womensfund T: 508.717.0283 F: 508.996.8254
e-mail
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The Women's Fund