November 2009
Women's Fund Welcomes New Board Members

Necole Irvin

Sally Molpus

Kathleen Shields O'Beirne

Dr. Michelle Owens

Due to term limits, we must say goodbye to several  board members. Thank you to Holly Lange, Sara Ray, Gwen Taylor, and Jane Hiatt for your vision and leadership.

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Women's Fund of Mississippi E-News
Dear Women's Fund friend,

new logo
We are excited to announce the Women's Fund of Mississippi has a new look!  Our new look is bold, welcoming, and inspiring...just like our friends, grantees and donors.

Thank you to Hilda Owen and Jennifer Kopf at Communication Arts for their excellent design skills.  And thank you to the Communications Committee of the Women's Fund, led by Susan Bruckner.
 
Starting January 2010, all correspondence from the Women's Fund will include this new logo.
 
Carol and Jamie
Women's Fund Awards $60,000 in Social Change Grantmaking

Reproductive Health Planning Grant at Moore Community House (Biloxi, MS): $20,000
This grant addresses the lack of reproductive health care for low-income women on the Coast. Moore will hire a full-time staff person to assess the need and availability of reproductive health programs among a diverse group of low-income MS teens and women, ulimately developing a program concept that best meets the reproductive health needs of low income women and teens on the Gulf Coast.

Children's Justice Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center: $16,000
The CJC will conduct an inter-disciplinary seminar for law, medical, and psychology students in spring 2010. The goal is to develop leaders in the state of MS who are rigorously trained in the identification and treatment of child abuse.

Coordinated Community Response (CCR) at Gulf Coast Women's Center for Nonviolence: $15,000
The CCR program will redefine domestic violence within the community as a crime, not just a family problem, and will be modeled after other successful CCR programs across the country.  The project will collaborate with law enforcement, service agencies, prosecutors, hospitals, faith-based organizations, and civic leaders.

Immigration Clinic at Catholic Charities: $5,000
This grant will support the Immigration Clinic's work of providing domestic violence-specific legal aid, social service casework, education, and resource and referral to the immigrant population in MS.

Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative: $4,000
This grant will support the advocacy work of the MLICCI, directed by Carol Burnett.  MLICCI advocates for improved child care policies and greater public investment in the child care subsidy programs for low-income families.
Contact Us
Women's Fund of Mississippi

120 N. Congress St.
Suite 903
Jackson, Mississippi 39201

601-326-0700 (Carol)
326-0701 (Jamie)

carol@womensfundms.org
jamie@womensfundms.org



 
king edward Save the Date  for "Downtown Spaces, Hip New Places" 2010

 March 2: Preview Party at King Edward Hotel Grand Ballroom

March 3: Luncheon at the Downtown Convention
Complex with philanthropist (and daughter of Texas oilman H.L. Hunt), Helen LaKelly Hunt

March 4: Downtown Tour and afternoon street party on Farish Street
 
Buy a ticket for $100 and receive entry to the lunch and the tour. Individual tour tickets only are $20. Preview party tickets are $50/person.  $125 for all three (Preview Party, Luncheon, and Tour)

Properties on the 2010 tour include:

  • King Edward Hotel, Apartments and Grand Ballroom (new since 2009 tour!)
  • Standard Life Building (new since 2009 tour!)
  • New Capitol Street Apartments and event space (new since 2009 tour!)
  • 119 President Street art gallery and 3rd flour apartment and 119 Underground (new since 2009 tour!)
  • Art exhibition at Gallery 119 - 50% of all proceeds benefit the Women's Fund
  • Sidewalk art show on N. Congress St. on the side of the Governor's mansion (new since 2009 tour!)
  • Street party on Farish St. on afternoon of March 4 (new since 2009 tour!)
Update on Statewide Planning

We've traveled from Natchez to Meridian to Greenville to Gulfport and back to better understand the needs of Mississippi women and their families. We are grateful for everyone who attended our community meetings and we look forward to sharing  our statewide planning report, to be released in early 2010. This report will highlight the major needs in different parts of the state, as well as the programs that work and existing assets in these communities.

The Women's Fund is committed to going statewide in our grantmaking, fundraising, and advocacy but we know that all effective grantmaking and advocacy begins with solid research and an understanding of women's experiences across the state. Stay tuned.
 
Volunteer Opportunities at NW Middle

As you may know, the Women's Fund is the official "adopter" of Northwest Middle School.  Looking for a hands-on volunteer opportunity? NW Middle needs volunteer judges for several upcoming events:
  • Science Fair on February 3rd (2-3 judges)
  • International Cultural Fair will be held on March 12th (2-3 judges)
The school is also looking for women and men willing to give short presentations on their career choices to individual classes.

If you're interested in any of these volunteer activities, please contact Patrice Turner at jpfturner@bellsouth.net or 601-853-7158.
About Us

The Women's Fund of Mississippi is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls by promoting social change and economic self-sufficiency through advocacy and strategic grantmaking.