Cathy Cunningham received the 2010 Woman of the Year in Philanthropy award for her efforts in Southeast Arkansas.  Snow Ledbetter Moen and Grainger Ledbetter accepted the newly established Brownie Ledbetter Civic Engagment Award for their family and shared reflections about their mother who died this past March.  2010 Grant Awards were announced:

"The Summer Culinary Institute for Young Women" at Arkansas Tech University is the receipient of a grant of $10,000 for its week-long program enabling fifty (50)  9th - 12th grade young women to be exposed to aspects of the hospitality industry - a predominately male profession.  Classes will  include entrepreneurship, nutrition, job readiness and other areas while also assisting the young women with their decision-making of college majors.

"The Supporting Survivors Program" of Catholic Immigration Services/Catholic Charities of Arkansas received a grant of $10,000.  This grant allows CIS to hire a Case Manager Coordinator to manage the ongoing needs of domestic violence survivors and their families.  Activities include assessing  immigrant survivors to identify areas of need and provide referrals to resources to meet those needs including enrollment in adult education programs such as ESL classes, life skills training, job skills training, etc.

Ozark Natural Science Center received a grant of $5,000 toward its "Girls Pursuing Science" program.  Girls Pursuing Science program - or GPS - includes a highly educational and exciting nature-based week-long summer camp and a winter retreat.  Girls are chosen by their teachers to attend and will take part in activities and camp experiences led by female scientists from an established network of partners in the university setting and conservation organizations, as well as ONSC's female teacher-naturalists.

WFA's Women|360° giving circle is a way those of us with small purses can continue to make a big impact.  By making a recurring monthly gift of $10, $25 or $50 to WFA, you become a member of Women|360°.  This allows WFA to honor your special commitment by acknowledging you in the listing of this group's membership.  Recurring monthly gifts ensure a steady growth in the grant-making ability of the Foundation.  

Click here to establish your monthly contribution - and select "make this a monthly recurring donation" to have your account automatically debited each month.

While many charities are still struggling in the midst of a slow economic recovery, the most successful nonprofits have found ways to challenge the culture of despair.  This podcast (22:58) reminds listeners that young people in particular need to be reminded about their power to affect social change through volunteerism.

The Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure is the 4th largest race in the Komen series.  For the Sweet 16 race in 2009, 45,550 people were registered and raised almost $2,000,000.  This year, 45,850 were registered before race day on Saturday, October 16. 

Money from this event goes for two purposes - 25% of the money raises goes directly into research grants to find a cure for breast cancer.  The other 75% of the money goes for grants in a 63 county service area in Arkansas.  26 of the 75 counties (1 out of 3) in Arkansas have no fixed mammography services - that means the women who are underserved, under insured  and uninsured - who are least likely to get a mammogram have little or no access.  Komen Arkansas grants go to support BreastCare and to pay for education and screening to the needy women of Arkansas.