What's in this issue? 

Women's Summit

Central Elementary School

Scholarship News

Frances Hesselbein

WLI Going On 10

Upcoming Events

Renew Your WLI Membership Today!
If you have questions, please contact Terri Slaughter at 610.807.5710.

terris@unitedwayglv.org

WLI Celebrates 10 Years in 2012!  

WLI Needs You!
Join a committee today.

• Development Committee
• 10th Anniversary Planning Committee 

For more information, e-mail or call Terri Slaughter at terris@unitedwayglv.org or 610.807.5710

Clutch Sponsor

Event Sponsor

I Am Excited To See The Results Of

Our Efforts

By Kathy Leber

I have been a member of Women's Leadership Initiative for over eight years.  I first became aware of WLI in a newspaper article about a group of women starting an organization, part of The United Way, to encourage women to become powerful leaders through philanthropy and advocacy.  WLI engages women in promoting positive changes for women and children and also recognizes women for their efforts.

Initially what caught my eye in the article about WLI was the first signature project, which provides scholarships for early childcare providers.  As a retired teacher I am a strong advocate of education.  WLI now has added a second project, providing Central Elementary School's after school and summer programming.  By women combining our resources we are able to do great things.

I have loved being a member of WLI.  I enjoy getting to know so many interesting, exceptional women and being able to work with them to make a difference in people's lives.  It is so exciting to see the results of our efforts as Cohorts graduate from college and children in Central Elementary School improve their learning skills. 

Ms. Gloria Steinem is our Keynote speaker at the Women's Summit, June 7th, at Cedar Crest College. In addition to outstanding breakout sessions, the day will include an Anniversary Reception celebrating our 10th anniversary and the 30th of our co-host, The Women's Business Council.

The Save the Date is in the mail now.

Our Second Signature Project is aimed at helping children read by third grade in one of Allentown's poorest performing schools. Thanks in part to our efforts, the reading rate is making great progress.

Representatives from the US Department of Education and co-founders of Success for All Foundation (SFA) recently visited Central Elementary to observe a school using federal School Improvement Grant funding that is experiencing success. SFA provides funding for a school-wide reform occurring at Central. Since October 2011 initial start of SFA's reforms, the number of students reading on grade level has shot up from one-third to two thirds. Community engagement is one of the basic tenets of reform at Central (that's us!) and one of the major qualifications for SFA funding.

At the February WLI Council meeting, the board agreed to fund summer programming in 2012 for Central at a cost of $10,000. This will provide four weeks of science and pre-Fall curriculum preparation for 100 at-risk children. 

NEEDS: Kleenex, gently used children's clothing. Call Val Lane, 610-360-7144. 

The First Signature Project of providing scholarships for women in early childhood education is drawing to a close. We are anticipating the graduation of the third Bachelor's Degree cohort this spring and East Stroudsburg University will hold a celebration on Saturday May 5, 2-4 p.m. on the ESU Campus. Approximately 40 students will have received this degree through WLI funds.

This committee is also busy with administering the annual Frances Hesselbein and WLI scholarships.  The Frances Hesselbein Scholarship is worth $3000. WLI makes an additional $3000 available in varying amounts. Since 2006, WLI has awarded scholarships to 22 women, totaling $51,000.

Candidates must be African American, Latina, Asian or Native American female students deeply committed to working or volunteering in social services in the Lehigh Valley. Applications are due March 30, 2012. Candidates for interviews will be selected by April 16th. For more information, contact Barbara Diamant, barbara.e.diamant@gmail.com. 

Mrs. Hesselbein has held the torch for leadership for decades. She has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States and was inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame. She was duly honored with a Lifetime Award for her exceptional work as a former CEO of the Girl Scouts and her continued commitment to developing leaders of all ages. She is the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Leader to Leader Institute. Author of numerous books on leadership and co-editor of 26 books in 28 languages, she is known world-wide.

Her calm spirit also inspired WLI founder Betsy Torrence who returned from a national United Way meeting with an idea to combine the strength of women to make powerful and lasting change in the Lehigh Valley through philanthropy and advocacy. Thus WLI was born 10 years ago.

Join us for our celebrations throughout the year.

Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) is a donor group supporting the community goals of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley by improving the lives of women and children in the Lehigh Valley through philanthropy, advocacy, and volunteerism. 
  For more information on WLI please contact Terri Slaughter.