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Look Forward to Grants In Action Events
Although the pandemic is still making it difficult to gather in person with confidence, our Grants In Action programs are still happening. This year, we’re bringing most of the events to you via videos on the Women’s Fund website, and that means we can ALL tune in and learn the impact of our transformational grants in a safe way! Here’s the lineup for the next several months.
SPOTLIGHT on Changing Lives: Library-on-the-Go Van
This filmed guided tour, narrated by Molly Wetta, library services manager, and van librarians, showcases the Library-on-the-Go Van, made possible by a $100,000 Women’s Fund grant in 2020. See how much the library helps people in underserved neighborhoods. Watch it on the Women’s Fund website now!
SPOTLIGHT on Changing Lives: The Cecilia Fund
This short documentary highlights how our $50,000 grant is providing funds to cover critical medical and dental procedures for patients who have no other way to access or pay for needed care. Anticipated premiere on the Women’s Fund website is November 19.
In-person Site Visits to the STEAM Lab
Our 2020 grant of $65,000 is helping establish a state-of-the-art STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) program at El Camino School in Goleta. The pandemic has meant that some of the grants we made in 2020 are just now coming to fruition, and we are excited to see how they have come together. You’ll be guided by the STEAM teacher and principal. Two small in-person tours/presentations will be presented back-to-back after school on Monday, December 6th. Watch your email for an invitation.
SPOTLIGHT on Changing Lives: El Camino School STEAM Lab
For members who can’t attend the in-person event, you can enjoy a short documentary focused on the STEAM Lab programs in action that will premiere on our website in December or early January.
- Contributed by Linda Stafford Brown, Educational Events
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Please join the Volunteer Engagement Committee at a small, informal gathering on Wednesday, November 10 to learn more about what it’s like to volunteer with the Women’s Fund. You’ll enjoy wine, other beverages and tasty appetizers in the Santa Barbara Club’s large garden.
You all have been creating some amazing membership treats for the Women’s Fund this year. For instance, the number of new members has already surpassed last year’s total, the number of new Groups is mushrooming, and members have been stepping up to become new Group Captains at a much faster pace. You’ve also been donating earlier this year and that has been an especially exciting treat for our Research and Finance Committee volunteers!
One of the Women’s Fund’s newest groups has chosen the name PROGRESSIVE POD because it highlights the group’s goal of making progress within a pod. The group has a special focus on practicing diversity and inclusion, thanks to Captain Anne Schowe’s progressive vision. The POD is excited to learn about philanthropy from an experienced organization, such as the Women’s Fund, that is making a significant positive impact on our community. This group of young, professional women have a combined 100 years of passion for education and women’s health, so they have much to offer. They welcome diverse points of view and expertise, and we welcome them!
Construction is everywhere in Santa Barbara these days, and the Women’s Fund is no exception. And typical of many construction projects, we’ve encountered a slight delay. So, while work is continuing, we don’t expect to launch the new site until January, 2022. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months!
Did you know that we have terrific sponsors in the Santa Barbara business community? These sponsors contribute at different levels ($5,000 for Changing Lives and $2,500 for Empowering Women) to help defray expenses for our educational programs and operations. That means that more of our membership contributions go straight to the grants pool, helping fund large grants that change lives in our communities. So please join us in saying thanks for supporting our mission!
