 JA Rising Women is the WGC’s multi-year grant supporting a 13 week after-school entrepreneurship program for girls grades 9-12, in partnership with Junior Achievement of Central Maryland. This is our fourth year of funding JA Rising Women, having invested $100,000 to date.
“Since joining JA Rising Women, I have learned skills that will help me thrive in college or in the working world. Being a part of the creation of a company allowed me to experience every aspect of a business, where I uncovered a passion for the business field.” – Paula Shin, River Hill High JA Rising Women meets after school and connects students from across the county with business mentors who help participants develop a product or service, raise capital, deploy marketing and collect profits. Previous Rising Women cohorts, ranging from 12 to 22 girls per semester, developed products including scented pillowcases, recipe books and school spirit wear. “JA Rising Women is exactly the kind of on-the-ground opportunity for young women that we love to support,” said Alison Canning, chair of The Women’s Giving Circle. “It gives girls a chance to roll up their sleeves and learn through experience, empowering them to take the lead and find fulfillment in their future endeavors.” Mentors are an important key to the program’s success, serving as guides to the students as they make decisions that impact the course of their companies. Throughout the months that the program takes place, the students design and execute their own business plans to turn a profit and gain experience in decision making and collaboration, as evidenced by this wonderful article in the Business Monthly. “We’ve watched girls grow from students to entrepreneurs in the JA Rising Women program,” said Jennifer Bodensiek, president and CEO for Junior Achievement of Central Maryland. “Our Rising Women learn the importance of creativity, collaboration and hard work and carry those skills into the future.” Since 2015, JA Rising Women has launched 5 new student-run companies, generated profits over $2,400 and donated proceeds to local community efforts including KIVA, Howard County Food Bank, Special Olympics, and the Linus Project. This is a recent testament to the JA Rising Women program that we are proud to fund: “As a physician, I understand the importance of learning skills though an apprentice-type program. The residency training program is how we learn and transition from young physicians with raw skills into actual practicing physicians. I see the JA rising women program as a beginning apprentice program for young women with the raw skills needed to be developed into successful business women. During this program, I watched my daughter grow through the practical application of business skills needed to become a confident business woman. She learned these skills by the actual practice of starting and running a business with other young women in the program. They learned and applied various skills, including how to deal with difficult situations with colleagues, learning how to write professional emails, learning how to dress in appropriate business attire, and learning how to communicate with other professional business leaders. She enjoyed the program immensely and I loved the fact that the parents are not involved in any way except for transportation and support. The JA Rising Women is an incredible program. Thank you for offering and maintaining this opportunity. It more than delivers on its purpose as it creates the foundation that will support the development of successful business women through the years.” – Ife Omitowoju, MD, JA Rising Women Participant Parent The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is a community of women philanthropists who strategically raise money and pool funds to help women and girls in Howard County. The Women’s Giving Circle works to increase giving by women and build a permanent endowment fund supporting services that help women and girls develop life skills and personal authority. The Women’s Giving Circle fund is an endowed fund at the Community Foundation of Howard County. (womensgivingcircle.hocomojo.org) Junior Achievement of Central Maryland is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement of Central Maryland provides hands-on programs that show more than 46,000 K-12 students each year the realities of how careers, money and business ownership work. (www.jamaryland.org) Photos courtesy of JA of Central Maryland, at the JA Rising Company of the Year 2017 event.
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 Dear WGC Donor and Friends,
We’ve had a busy month! As we celebrate National Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we’ve had the opportunity to gather at last week’s wonderful WGC Happy Hour, and fund and host over 600 girls yesterday at Girl Power! 2018 in partnership with JHU Applied Physics Lab and the Maryland Space Roundtable. And, we are partnering again with Maryland Leadership Workshop to provide the Journey Camp for Girls this summer. I am pleased to announce that we are also partnering with our donors to provide scholarships to Journey in memory of beloved former WGC Board Member, Cindy Hankin. Cindy was a staunch supporter of the Journey Camp for Girls. A former teacher, Cindy was beloved by her family, friends, students, and community and served as mentor, and long-time advocate for women and girls. Cindy brought a bright and wonderful spirit to the world, enriching it for all who knew her. The Women’s Giving Circle is honored to provide our Journey Scholarships in Memory of Cindy Hankin to qualifying Journey Camp applicants. Funded by Cindy’s family and friends, and WGC donors, these scholarships are provided in Cindy’s memory in perpetuity. We value these partnerships – with our donors, our community partners, and our grantees. They are key to the WGC’s mission of building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County. Speaking of permanent legacy, check out the information below regarding a new opportunity to give to the WGC – the Endow Maryland Tax Credit. CLICK HERE TO READ THIS MONTH’S WGC ENEWSLETTER! Thanks very much for your partnership and support! Sincerely, Alison Canning, WGC Chair  The JHU Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) hosted Girl Power! 2018, a STEM expo for middle and high school girls yesterday, March 11, with support from the Maryland Space Business Roundtable and the WGC.
The event featured hands-on activities, cool demonstrations, and take-home materials for girls to encourage an interest in STEM careers. Over 600 girls had the opportunity to talk to professional women in STEM careers such as aerospace, computer science, electrical engineering, geology, information technology, and space mission engineering. “Girl Power inspires girls to see what is possible in STEM careers and to start to envision a STEM future for themselves.” – Colleen D’Agrosa, WGC Executive Committee WGC is proud to have funded this amazing program for the 12th year. “We are proud to have supported this wonderful program for years! It falls right inline with the WGC’s vision, mission and core values focusing on women and girls. If you haven’t had a chance to go, I hope you will next year!” – Dee Athey, WGC Grants Committee Chair  Wow – what a night!
We so enjoyed spending time with each of you who attended the WGC Happy Hour at Seasons 52 on March 6. It was a great night of learning and laughter with old and new friends and donors. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to learn more about the Women’s Giving Circle, our grantmaking, our programs and events, and opportunities to get involved. If you like what you heard, we invite you to invest in the WGC today – you can DONATE HERE. We also welcome your participation on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, and we hope to see you soon at an upcoming event. Thanks very much for your support. Together we are having on impact on women and girls in our county, our home. Sincerely, Alison Canning, WGC Chair Barb Van Winkle, Vice Chair  Happy National Women’s History Month!
In 1987 the US Congress designated March as National Women’s History Month. This creates a special opportunity in our schools, our workplaces, and our communities to recognize and celebrate the often-overlooked achievements of American women. Each year there is a special Theme and women whose lives exemplify that theme are selected as National Honorees – this year is: NEVERTHELESS SHE PERSISTED: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women #NeverthelessShePersisted  International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights,” says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem. We agree. And, it’s the foundation of the philanthropic work we’ve been doing the last 15 years. Together, we have worked to:
“I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.” – Dr. Maya Angelou International Women’s Day is about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action. And, we are so pleased to be doing our part. Will you join us? It’s easy – here’s 5 ways you can make a difference on this day celebrating the achievements of women across the globe, and right here at home:
Thank you for doing what you can to support women and girls in Howard County on this International Women’s Day 2018! Sincerely, Alison Canning, WGC Chair Barb Van Winkle, WGC Vice Chair “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”  Many thanks to all donors who gave to the WGC in 2017 – it’s a long list! We can’t thank you enough:
AFP Interiors, Aime Self, Alexander F. Ross, Alison Canning, Alison Cuomo, Allyson Lestner, Anita Anderson, Anjula Batra, Ann M. Bromery, April F. Pardoe, Arlene Sheff, Barb Van Winkle, Barbara J. Wright, Barbara K. Lawson, Barbara Kaplan, Barbara M. Peart, Barbara Worthington, Bernice Kish, Beth Harbinson, Beth K. Leaman, Bita Dayhoff, Boi Carpenter-Mellady, Brenda Martineau, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Carlethea Johnson, Carolan Stansky, Carole S. Greenhaus, Carole MacPhee, Caroline Sherman, Carolyn Bourg, Caryn Lasser, Charles E. Day, Cheryl D. Nitz, Cheryl Griffin, Christine Christoph, Christine Meket, Claire D. Sinclair – In Memory of Cindy Hankin, Community Foundation of Howard County, Courtney Watson, Courtney Workman and Aaron Tark, Cristine Zvonkovich Fargo, Cynthia M. Lifson, Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny, LLC, Dee Athey, Diana M. Bailey, Dorothy B. Plantz, Dorothy Doub, Dorothy V. Harris, Dr. and Dr. Lee Roy Bronner, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Day, Dr. Cheryl Leonardi, Dr. Diane Matuszak, Dr. Dianne M. Connelly, Dr. Irene C. Griff, Dr. Mary Ellen Duncan, Drs. Ed and Anita Dworkin, Eileen Dewey, Eileen Horowitz, Elaine Bernstein, Elaine Buderer, Eleanor A. Hunt, Ellen Flynn Giles, Erin M. Cassell, Express I DO, Farida Guzdar, Francine B. Sheppard, Gayle Gerdes, Glennor Shirley, Gretta Ferrell, Helen B. Mitchell, Ilana Bittner, Inge R. Hyder, Jackie Eng, Jackie Melonas, Janet W. Peedin, Jennifer Bodensiek, Jennifer S. W, Jessamine Duvall, Jessica Kerry, Jill S. Christianson, Jillianne Crescenzi, Judith Clancy, Julie Forman, Karen Ferguson, Karen Saunderson, Karen Titus, Kelli A. Passalacqua, Kim Agnor, Kristen E. Allen, Kyle Drummond, Kyri Jacobs, Lauren Graybeal, Lawson Fund, Lee Draminski, Linda Odum, Lisa H. Hussman, Lisa Jose Fales, Lisa Smith, Lorraine M. Jones – In Memory of Cindy Hankin, Lorraine Seelaus, Lynn Coleman, Lynne Schaefer, Marcy Leonard, Marianne Moyer – In Honor of Barbara Lawson, Marny and Don Needle, Mary Beth Sola, Mary Gardella, Mary McGraw, Marylea Moore, Maureen Harris, Maurice Simpkins, Maxine Clark, Jean Moon, Meg Moon, Melissa Hooper, Melissa Rosenberg, Mickey Gomez, Migsie Richlin, Miracle Eleven Inc., Morgan Stanley c/o Alison Canning, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nussbaum, Mr. and Mrs. B Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. Craig A. Moyer, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Trennepohl, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Stein, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Goins, Mr. and Mrs. Russell McCally, Mr. and Mrs. Theo Rodgers, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent DiPietro, Nancy Adams Personnel, Paula Skedsvold, Peggy W. Alexander, Phillip Dennis, Phyllis Greenbaum, Pixel Workshop Incorporated, Priti Patel, Rajani Tadimalla Ralph L. Gumpert, Robert and Bach Jeffrey – In Support of JA Rising Women, Robin Goble, Robyn Page, Rosa Snouffer, Sheila Leaf, Shirley M. Chase, Stacie Hunt, Stephen P. and Nuala Duffy, Sue Buswell, Sue Emerson, Tracey Schutty, Trevor Gray, Valda Jungblut, Valerie Montague, Vanessa A. DiFlumeri, Vito Dragone, Wendy Lesko, Wendy Slaughter, Wendy Slaughter Real Estate Group, Whittney Carmer, William Smith, Wise Wealth Management LLC On Behalf of Christine Meket, Yoko J. Horner, Yolanda Bruno Many thanks to the following donors who have given to the WGC so far in 2018: Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Diana M. Bailey, Jackie Eng, Maureen Harris, Mr. and Mrs. James D. Mann, Pearline Atkinson-Stewart, United Way of Central Maryland on Behalf of Lynn Coleman |
"Women’s philanthropy shapes the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving." - Barb Van Winkle, Immediate Past Chair
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