DFW joins Raise for Women Challenge and we need you
Calling all DFW fans..... We have exciting news! DFW has entered the Raise for Women Challenge, an initiative to help women-focused nonprofits gain resources and recognition. A joint effort of The Huffington Post, the Skoll Foundation, Crowdrise and Half the Sky, the nonprofit organization that raises the most money between April 24th and June 6th will win $25,000, second place wins $15,000 and third place wins $10,000. DFW has entered the competition and together, we can win!
We'll need every one of you to help us win this challenge! Spread the word by email, on your Facebook pages, blogs, Twitter posts and word of mouth. The challenge starts at noon on Wednesday, April 24. Click on the logo above to go to our challenge page - and to send your friends there as well. Watch Facebook and the website for progress updates.
A letter from co-founder Marsha Wallace  Dear
My role with DFW has changed progressively since 2003, when I oversaw every aspect of day-to-day operations, to the present, when we have professional staff and an expanded board of directors. I serve DFW best when I am traveling to meet our passionate and dedicated membership, representing DFW at national and international conferences, speaking publicly about DFW and the issues we care about, fundraising for our future sustainability, and networking and collaborating with others leaders. The time has come for a shift in my responsibilities that will allow me to focus on what I do best and enjoy most. I have elected to step down as chair of the board of directors. I will, however, remain an active member of the board.  I am pleased to announce that Barbara Wagner has been elected chair. Having had a long career in corporate governance and management, Barbara is exceptionally qualified for this role. I am more excited than ever about the future of DFW. Together we will continue to change the world one dinner at a time. I encourage you to join us for the 10th Anniversary Celebration in Greenville in June, and meet Barbara in person. 
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May 2013 Featured Program
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MayaWorks in Guatemala
MayaWorks is all about creating work and economic opportunity for women. The program achieves its goals through a multifaceted approach: opening up US markets to Mayan weavers and artisans, a microcredit program to help Mayan women get started, and an extensive education program that boasts significant success.
Our $50,000 grant will directly help 125 artisans by funding salaries for professional staff, contributing to the artisans' up-front payments and providing scholarships for artisans' daughters and other education support. Another 500 people will be indirectly helped by the capacity and opportunity created. |
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Three things you want to know about Guatemala and MayaWorks
Microfinance is becoming more available around the world. While increasingly available, it is not necessarily always effective. We see MayaWorks as an excellent example of a coordinated program in which microcredit is part of a larger program of education and support. Find out more about microfinance in general and how it helps make MayaWorks work in this month's Food For Thought.
Education is an integral part of the program's success. Although Guatemala is one of the world's poorest countries, everyone has access to free education. But although 96 percent of Guatemalan children start, only 40 percent complete. Learn more about this and other challenges in Guatemala.
 If you are invited to a Guatemalan home for dinner, bring a gift for the hostess. But you'll be insulting her if you bring a gift of food. Your hosts will think that you do not appreciate the food they have prepared or that you consider the woman of the house an inadequate cook. Learn more about Guatemalan customs and some great recipes, including Flan, our featured Dish photo for the month, Arroz Con Pollo and Chile Rellenos.
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May 2013 Sustained Program
PINCC, India
Prevention International: No Cervical Cancer is a volunteer medical services program in India, where there are both cultural and financial barriers to preventive health care. Although preventive screenings for cervical cancer have existed for 50 years, more than 76,000 Indian women die of this disease each year. That is 26 percent of all cervical cancer deaths in the world.
With sustained funding of $45,000 over 3 years from Dining for Women, PINCC's objective in India is to initiate and complete three programs in Bangalore, Siliguri, and Hyderabad. Through screenings of up to 12,000 women and early treatment, PINCC expects to identify, treat and prevent up to 1,500 cases of cervical cancer.
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What's the dish on The Dish?
This is the first edition of The Dish, the monthly newsletter of Dining For Women. The newsletter provides information of interest to all our members, friends, donors, leaders and partners. If you find something interesting, we hope you will forward it on to others who might be moved to learn more, to donate or to join us. If you find something you don't like, please email me and let me know. I promise to respond.
The title of this publication carries multiple meanings. It is obviously part of our essence to break bread together in some fashion. And also we hope to be "dishing out" useful information for our community. But no reason we can't have some fun too. So our Dish logo, which this month is Flan from Guatemala, will change each month. We invite you to send us a photo (make sure it fits pretty much these same dimensions) of a dish from one of your meetings - preference given to those of you who cook food from the countries our programs are in. We'll pick one each month and credit your chapter. Please use the link provided above!
In reading this month's recipes and customs, I learned that a toast of sorts is customary at the start of a meal. So as you gather in homes, church halls, university commons, restaurants and clubs to share a meal and a vision, don't forget to toast: Buen provecho!
Laura Haight
Communications Director
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Spread the word:
Grant application open
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We are now accepting applications from grassroots organizations with 501(c)3 status. These grants are for the first half of 2014. Qualifying organizations that meet our criteria and mission can find information and apply on our website. But act quickly. Applications close April 26.
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Celebrate with us in Greenville this June!
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There's just a week left before the early bird pricing on tickets for our 10th anniversary celebration and conference ends on April 30.
The weekend of June 21-23 will be packed with inspiring and informative programs including a chance to meet and talk with representatives of some of our funded programs, like Zala Ahmad, who will speak about Rubia; Nancy Letteri from Children of Vietnam and Colleen Clines from Anchal.
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Want to get more involved? We have many volunteer opportunities including these:
- Help us out with a variety of roles during the 10th year anniversary celebration in Greenville, SC.
- Are you into social media? We need volunteers to assist us with getting our message out through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and whatever else is next.
- Chapter mentors are needed in the Heartland and the Western regions.
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 | | You can make a donation that supports all the work DFW does by clicking on the image. |
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Barbara Wagner
Chair
Susan Stall
Secretary
Sally Petersen
Treasurer
Marsha Wallace
Co-Founder
Barb Collins
Co-Founder
Kirsten Bunch Karen Frederick
Jordene Hale
Susan Holck
Jennifer Moyen- Logan
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