Submitted by United Way of Thurston County
Women United, an affinity group of the United Way of Thurston County, has awarded nine local organizations $82,579 in grants for projects promoting financial stability and self-sufficiency for women and girls in Thurston County.
“Women United seeks to lead the charge in our community and to inspire change for women and girls in Thurston County,” noted Martha Wagner Engle, Women United Chair. “With these grants we know that together we can create lasting change to lift up entire communities.”
The awards come on the heels of the eighth annual Power of the Purse dinner and auction held by Women United on April 28 at Indian Summer Golf and Country Club. The event was attended by 230 guests, mostly women, who raised over $90,000. The featured speaker was Maria Blet, chair of the Women United Global Leadership Council (WUGLC).
“Having Ms. Blet with us for this event was monumental. Hearing her speak about her experiences with Women United across the U.S. and around the globe drove home that what we are doing here in Thurston County is amplified through the work of over 70,000 women leaders,” said Debora Albright, vice-chair of Women United. “Women United inspires generations of women leaders to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.”
Brenda Williams, a Women United member and board member of the WUGLC, generously gifted $10,000 to match 10 women who stepped up and joined Women United at the sustaining membership level.
“Women United is a powerful force for good in our community. I knew I had to be a part of it,” said Melissa Stone, who joined at Power of the Purse. “It is abundantly clear that this is a group of women leaders who contribute their personal passions, best ideas and unique strengths to the mission of building communities.”
LIST OF GRANT AWARDS
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington – GIRL POWER! Providing Opportunities for Workforce Readiness
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County – SMART Girls
- CIELO – Transforming Lives, Stitch by Stitch
- Expanding Your Horizons – Thurston County STEM Conference for Middle School Girls
- Family Support Center of South Sound – Family Housing and Economic Stability Project
- Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services – Direct Representation Initiative
- TOGETHER! – Black Hills High School Girls Outreach Club
- Washington Center for Women in Business – Scholarship Program
- YWCA of Olympia – Women’s Economic Empowerment Program and the Social Empowerment & Economic Advancement Network
As an integral part of United Way of Thurston County, Women United of Thurston County is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of women and girls in our community by promoting self-sufficiency and financial stability through philanthropy and community service. We are a diverse, vibrant community, bound together by a powerful sense of belonging- to each other, our mission, and the community we call home. More information, visit United Way of Thurston County’s website..
