When I think of the experiences in my life that have made the person I am, there are many that come to mind, but one that stands out is my Girl Scout experience. I was a Brownie, Junior Girl Scout and a Cadette (there were no Daisy’s in 1973). I now realize how lucky I was to have amazing mentors as my troop leaders. In fourth grade, Yvonne Shaheen dutifully guided us through all the badges we worked on as a troop. She and Barbra Mundt took time to help all of us with our projects and take us to new places. We all went to Camp Dellwood, part of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, on Indianapolis' west side. I don’t remember too much about it except it rained. I am not much of a camper, but we cooked on a fire and all and all had fun!
Girl Scouts, Women's Fund grant recipient, is much more than selling cookies - although I sold a ton of them. It taught me life skills. I baked my first cake because of Girl Scouts, went bowling, and sewed up a very cute halter top that I wish I could still fit into. I believe Scouting made me a leader. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience today engages girls to discover, connect, and take action.
We are all busy in our lives but ask yourself: who mentored you? Do you mentor anyone? I challenge you to take the time to give back to today's young women. They might look back one day - as I do - and say "thank you" for the life lessons you gave them. Thanks Yvonne and Girl Scouts!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Back to School...or Not?
It is back to school season... yellow busses abound on our streets and school supplies line the aisles of our favorite stores. This time is one of excitement for many children and parents, and one of dismay for others. Most parents have to adjust work schedules to manage pickup and dropoff for their children, determine new caregiving options, and the like.
"Kids go back to school... or maybe not" talks about the challenges the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) system faces this time of year. Having worked with families and schools in IPS in the past, I know attendance can be an issue. I was surprised to see the actual number of children not present in the first days and weeks of school. IPS School 60 had around 100 children absent the first day, and according to this article, almost 9,000 children expected to attend school were not present on the first day.
Several questions linger in my mind: What happens to those children who are not in school on the first day - are they safe and well-cared for? What about children like 7-year-old Anya, who want to go to school, but are not able to attend due to a barrier related to income? What is the impact on our entire community of nearly 9,000 children missing one day, one week, or more of school?
I am proud Women's Fund provides funding to address issues around caregiving and insufficient income. I hope that the families who struggle with back-to-school time know their options. One great resource is our grantee, Indianapolis Day Nursery; they keep a list of childcare resources. Check back on Thursday for a post by Jennifer, who will continue our discussion about childcare.
"Kids go back to school... or maybe not" talks about the challenges the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) system faces this time of year. Having worked with families and schools in IPS in the past, I know attendance can be an issue. I was surprised to see the actual number of children not present in the first days and weeks of school. IPS School 60 had around 100 children absent the first day, and according to this article, almost 9,000 children expected to attend school were not present on the first day.
Several questions linger in my mind: What happens to those children who are not in school on the first day - are they safe and well-cared for? What about children like 7-year-old Anya, who want to go to school, but are not able to attend due to a barrier related to income? What is the impact on our entire community of nearly 9,000 children missing one day, one week, or more of school?
I am proud Women's Fund provides funding to address issues around caregiving and insufficient income. I hope that the families who struggle with back-to-school time know their options. One great resource is our grantee, Indianapolis Day Nursery; they keep a list of childcare resources. Check back on Thursday for a post by Jennifer, who will continue our discussion about childcare.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Women's Fund Endowment Campaign
Welcome to my very first blogging experience. This is a big step for someone who does not facebook or twitter! I make this exception because Women's Fund is an organization that is important to me and, I believe, essential for the central Indiana community. If you look over some of the previous posts, you can read about a few of the services provided by agencies that focus on meeting the needs of women and girls. Women's Fund exists to support agencies that provide these front-line services. It does so by distributing grants to effective and innovative agencies that will transform lives. However, it is important to me that the impact is not a short-term one. The transformation of a single woman or girl is amazing, but it takes more to build a community and sustain that success. Women's Fund maintains a permanent endowment. A well-funded endowment allows Women's Fund to research and communicate the needs of women and girls in this community. A well-funded endowment supports the needs of the agencies to continue their crucial services. A well-funded endowment creates opportunities for sustained success in changing the lives of our friends and neighbors. A well-funded endowment builds communities that help women and men, girls and boys, live lives of dignity.
I believe in this mission and I have seen the impact Women’s Fund already has had on this community. When Women’s Fund determined to do more for central Indiana so that agencies with qualified needs were not left without adequate funding, I was grateful to be able to contribute to and participate in its endowment campaign. Women’s Fund is in the final few months of a crucial campaign to grow its endowment an additional $10 million. This will allow Women’s Fund to significantly increase its impact on the community, with a goal of distributing $1 million dollars a year.
I believe in this mission and I have seen the impact Women’s Fund already has had on this community. When Women’s Fund determined to do more for central Indiana so that agencies with qualified needs were not left without adequate funding, I was grateful to be able to contribute to and participate in its endowment campaign. Women’s Fund is in the final few months of a crucial campaign to grow its endowment an additional $10 million. This will allow Women’s Fund to significantly increase its impact on the community, with a goal of distributing $1 million dollars a year.
Contributing toward the transformation of lives and building a better community through an organization that so carefully monitors and distributes my philanthropic dollars means that I can make an immediate and lasting impact through one endowment fund that will support this community well beyond my lifetime. Reach me through Women's Fund. I would be glad to tell you more about making a donation that impacts lives for more than a lifetime.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Planning for Impact
What do all of the following entities have in common?
What does this have to do with Women's Fund and with you? Everything! Women's Fund places an emphasis on careful planning. For example, our Advisory Board leadership is planned years in advance and we recently adopted a strategic plan. We also make grantmaking decisions informed in part by our research, such as Still on Shaky Ground 2006.
You know that planning helps you get places on time and remember important tasks. What about your personal philanthropy? If you are like many people, you probably have not thought carefully about your philanthropy goals. What are your values? What issues do you want to impact? It is never too early or late in life to become more strategic with your personal giving.
Personally, since joining the Women's Fund and CICF team about a year ago, I have become a more thoughtful philanthropist and have grown in my efforts to impact areas I care about. Over time, we will share on this blog how Women's Fund helps many current and future donors with their philanthropy planning, through programs such as GO: Give Back and OPTIONS.
- Indianapolis Colts
- Indianapolis Woman magazine
- Indianapolis Airport Air Traffic Control
What does this have to do with Women's Fund and with you? Everything! Women's Fund places an emphasis on careful planning. For example, our Advisory Board leadership is planned years in advance and we recently adopted a strategic plan. We also make grantmaking decisions informed in part by our research, such as Still on Shaky Ground 2006.
You know that planning helps you get places on time and remember important tasks. What about your personal philanthropy? If you are like many people, you probably have not thought carefully about your philanthropy goals. What are your values? What issues do you want to impact? It is never too early or late in life to become more strategic with your personal giving.
Personally, since joining the Women's Fund and CICF team about a year ago, I have become a more thoughtful philanthropist and have grown in my efforts to impact areas I care about. Over time, we will share on this blog how Women's Fund helps many current and future donors with their philanthropy planning, through programs such as GO: Give Back and OPTIONS.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
A Delightful Experience
As an alumnus of OPTIONS Class Eight, I had the opportunity to attend a Girls Inc. “Do’s and Taboo’s Class – Etiquette Tea Class” last Wednesday, July 29, to see a program funded by the members of the OPTIONS Class Eight.
Two sessions took place at the Morris-Butler House, attended by 55 girls from 6 to 14 years of age. The class began with a tour of the historic home followed by the initial test of setting a table properly. I sat at a table with four girls with ages ranging from 11-14. They struggled to set the table correctly. Do you remember if the fork goes on top of the napkin or to the right of it? Where is the knife’s blade positioned next to the plate? I failed to get these two items correct (by the way, the napkin goes to the left of the fork and the blade of the knife faces the plate). It was an interesting exercise for us all.
Tea and finger foods were served with instructions provided throughout the session. Amy, the program director at the Morris-Butler House, provided interesting etiquette tips and asked various etiquette questions of the group. Many hands were raised with either the answer or another etiquette question. My OPTIONS classmates felt very strongly about providing this type of instruction and experience to the participants of Girls Inc. We understand the value of having good etiquette skills in the business environment and how that can give them an edge.
Two sessions took place at the Morris-Butler House, attended by 55 girls from 6 to 14 years of age. The class began with a tour of the historic home followed by the initial test of setting a table properly. I sat at a table with four girls with ages ranging from 11-14. They struggled to set the table correctly. Do you remember if the fork goes on top of the napkin or to the right of it? Where is the knife’s blade positioned next to the plate? I failed to get these two items correct (by the way, the napkin goes to the left of the fork and the blade of the knife faces the plate). It was an interesting exercise for us all.
Tea and finger foods were served with instructions provided throughout the session. Amy, the program director at the Morris-Butler House, provided interesting etiquette tips and asked various etiquette questions of the group. Many hands were raised with either the answer or another etiquette question. My OPTIONS classmates felt very strongly about providing this type of instruction and experience to the participants of Girls Inc. We understand the value of having good etiquette skills in the business environment and how that can give them an edge. I will leave you with the Cardinal Rules for Dining that was shared with us on the back of our menu:
- Always say “Please” and “Thank You".
- Keep the conversation pleasant and enjoyable. Never engage in gossip.
- Always bring food to your mouth, not the mouth to the food.
- Never talk with your mouth full.
- Don’t blow your nose on your napkin – ask to be excused and visit the restroom.
- Chewing gum and applying makeup are never allowed at the table.
- Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
- Toothpicks are never used at the table, nor are forks to be used as toothpicks.
Also, I wanted to extend congratulations to Girls Inc. on its 40th Anniversary!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Celebrating 40 Years
Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis celebrates their 40th anniversary this year. As a long-standing Women's Fund grantee, we are proud to support their work to help girls become strong, smart, and bold. This year, we provided funding for their summer camp program as in previous years; we have also funded staff and volunteer training, for example. Programs such as "She's on the Money!", which teaches economic literacy skills, are a great benefit to the girls and their families, and, ultimately, our community.
In June, I had the opportunity to go on a site visit to Girls Inc., where Women's Fund visitors participated in a summer camp program about beauty and self-perceptions. We were shown a video from the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty which reminded me about the unrealistic expectations the media establishes for beauty. Alongside young ladies
participating in the summer camp program, we critiqued the images portrayed by female superheroes and were challenged to work in teams to create our own "new and improved" female superhero. The girls had some amazing ideas which they confidently presented to the entire group. This exercise was a first-hand example of the impact of their programs on girls.
In June, I had the opportunity to go on a site visit to Girls Inc., where Women's Fund visitors participated in a summer camp program about beauty and self-perceptions. We were shown a video from the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty which reminded me about the unrealistic expectations the media establishes for beauty. Alongside young ladies
participating in the summer camp program, we critiqued the images portrayed by female superheroes and were challenged to work in teams to create our own "new and improved" female superhero. The girls had some amazing ideas which they confidently presented to the entire group. This exercise was a first-hand example of the impact of their programs on girls.This Thursday, August 6, is Girls Inc.'s annual Touchstone Awards luncheon. This year, they are celebrating their 40th anniversary and honoring 40 strong, smart, and bold central Indiana women. It is not too late to register; sign up now by following this link.
Check back with us this Thursday for a post by OPTIONS Class 8 participant Shelley Raper, who will share about her etiquette lesson with Girls Inc. summer camp participants.
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