DECEMBER 2013 NEWSLETTER

Leadership Luncheon 2014

RESOURCES

EVENTS

December 5, 2013 Girl Scouts of Maine 17th Annual Women of Distinction Gala, featuring 2014 honoree Meredith Strang Burgess (CEO of Burgess Advertising & Marketing). More info here.

March 18, 2014, 7PM. Maine School of Law's Third Annual Justice for Women Lecture Series will feature renowned human rights and women's rights advocate from Afghanistan,

Dr. Sima Simar. USM's Abromson Community Education Center, Portland. Registration is required: click here.

GRANTS

The MetLife Foundation

launched a new global campaign to bring financial inclusion to low-income communities. $200 million over five years will support financial programs that will provide vital knowledge, tools and services to underserved individuals, families, businesses and communities.

Deadline: Open

AAUW

Accepting Applications for

Community Action Grants. Deadline: January 15, 2014

American Honda Foundation Invites applications for STEM programs. Deadline: Rolling

Pollination Project Seed Grants for Social Entrepreneurs

Individuals working to make their community and the world a better place in the areas of arts and culture, community health and wellness, the environment, and justice. Deadline: Open

Kellogg Foundation
Invites applications for programs that engage youth and communities in learning opportunities.
Deadline: Open

May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
Seeks proposals for youth development programs.

Deadline: Open

Wellpoint Foundation
Healthy Generations is a multi-generational health initiative with a goal to improve the health of communities by focusing resources on improving nine key health care concerns.
Deadline: Open

OPPORTUNITIES

Maine Women's Fund Resource Development Training for past and current grantees. 2014 dates: January 31; March 21; May 2. Click here for more info.

Ms. Foundation for Women Invites Applications for Fellowship Program. Year-long fellowship program designed to develop leaders who are advancing solutions to the critical issues that women face. More info here.

Deadline: January 31.

Axiom Technologies offers free computer classes. Click here for a list of classes and registration details.

Nancy Strojny, Portland Chapter Chair for SCORE, needs women to volunteer as business coaches. Contact 508-272-0763 or

nancy.strojny@scorevolunteer.org

Hardy Girls Healthy Women parenting webinar series. Jan. 7, 2014, 1PM-2:30PM: Operation Transformation: Transcending Media Messages to Become a World Changer. Register here.

We invite you to visit the

resources section of our website.

JOIN US ONLINE

Photo credit:

Jamie Bloomquist

"Happy #GivingTuesday?" It doesn't have quite the cheerful, nostalgic ring that "Happy Holidays" evokes, but I could very quickly become accustomed to it. #GivingTuesday is about philanthropy, and philanthropy is about giving your time, talent and/or treasure for the benefit of humanity. Philanthropic gifts don't get wrapped up in pretty paper with a bow. But giving of yourself, your time or your money to worthy causes has its own rewards that are anything but superficial.

Consider the girl who learned about her own leadership skills because she participated in a Trekkers expedition, through a grant from the Maine Women's Fund in 2013. Or the woman who will know how to run her own automotive shop as a productive member of society because she participated in the MoneyWise program for incarcerated women through Women Unlimited, a 2012 grantee of the Fund. Not exactly glamorous, but unarguably transformative.

Donors like you made those grants possible. Please consider supporting the Fund with a gift today, on this #GivingTuesday, to invest in the power of women and the dreams of girls. Be bold, be generous, and be joyful.

Happy #GivingTuesday!

Sincerely,

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist

CEO

REMEMBERING KAREN MORAN

The Fund community was very sad to learn of Karen Moran's passing in November. Her death at the age of 62 brought a life full of love, generosity of spirit and feminism to an abrupt end.

Karen led with uncommon courage and integrity, fueled by a fierce passion for holding space for many diverse perspectives, particularly under-represented voices. She was brilliantly incisive: artfully subtle and hard-hitting at the same time. She combined lightness, laughter and loving-kindness with emotional and intellectual intensity. As an innovative thought leader, as a magnetic teacher, as a consummate consultant, as a discerning coach, Karen's style was to lead from behind, nudging gently and firmly, bringing awareness to the heart of an issue, deftly guiding people to their growing edge in a way that resulted in their feeling the joy of having successfully done the work by themselves. --Marilyn Bronzi, Board of Directors, MWF

Read more about Karen's inspiring legacy here.

#GIVINGTUESDAY

There's the fervor of Black Friday and the staggering internet sales of Cyber Monday. Now, we in the world of philanthropy have #GivingTuesday! On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, participate in the newest holiday tradition: give back--make an impact--in a way that's meaningful for you.

Here's a great overview on how to teach kids about charity.

And did you know that charitable giving and volunteering is actually good for your health? It's true!

NEXT Tuesday, you can also help --

through PIZZA.

On December 10, visit Otto Pizza on

Congress Street in Portland and you'll have a portion of your purchase directed to the Fund.

The Fund is thankful to be part of a community dedicated to helping empower Maine women and girls. Thank you!

GRANTEE NEWS

A fun family treat for the holidays! A Company of Girls, the after school theater/arts prevention program presents The Best Worst Christmas Pageant Ever!, a Christmas tale adapted from the best-selling book by Barbara Robinson. December 13-21, 2013. Portland Ballet Studio Theater, 517 Forest Ave., Portland. Call for reservations: 207-874-2107. More info here. Check out these great photos from the Company's fall activities.

Do you know a girl aged 12-19 who's helping to make Maine a better place for girls? Hardy Girls Healthy Women is now accepting nominations Girls Rock! Awards. Girls Rock! Weekend is scheduled for April 4 & 5, 2014. Click here to find out more and to nominate a girl who rocks before the January 31st deadline. Nominations may be completed either using the form online or by filling out a hard copy and

Coastal Studies for Girls

mailing it to Hardy Girls. Here's more info on 2013's inspiring event!

Coastal Studies for Girls, a semester school located in Freeport on 600 acres of coastal farmland, has two openings for the 2014 Spring term. The curriculum is designed for 10th graders and founded in science and leadership. Financial aid information is available here.

SAVE THE DATE - ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Please save the date!

MWF Leadership Luncheon

Wednesday, May 21, 2014
11AM - 2PM at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland

The Fund is thrilled to announce its awardees for the Tribute to Women in Industry, Samantha Smith and Sarah Orne Jewett awards, coming soon. The Fund is giving a new award this year, so stay tuned for more details to come!

REGIONAL MEETINGS ON NEEDS

This fall, the Fund continues to gather community members in most Maine counties to learn about the most pressing needs of women and girls and opportunities to address them. The Fund is grateful for the many hosts, volunteers and participants who make these meetings possible.

Lend YOUR VOICE to the conversation at these upcoming meetings:

York County, TONIGHT, 5:30-7:00 PM

Brick Store Museum, 117 Main Street, Kennebunk

RSVP to regional leader, Misty Smalley

Oxford County (second date), Thursday, December 5th, 4:30-6:00 PM

Ordway Hall Living Room on the 2nd floor at Gould Academy, 39 Church Street, Bethel

RSVP to Board Member, Rebecca Andreozzi

Waldo County, Wednesday, December 11th, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Key Bank, 111 Main Street, Belfast

RSVP to staff liaison, Katie Allen

Aroostook County, Monday, December 16th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Office of Northern Maine Development Commission, 11 West Presque Isle Road, Caribou
(With limited telecom attendance from Fort Kent and Houlton)

RSVP to staff liaison, Katie Allen

FUND AND RELATED NEWS YOU CAN USE

Did you know? The Fund is on LinkedIn. Follow and connect with a community dedicated to investing in the power of women and the dreams of girls.

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Fall Grantee Visits
Board members, Fund staff, and donors recently visited Wayfinder Schools (formerly Community Schools at Opportunity Farm and Camden) and the Women's Policy Center and Lobby, grantees from the Fund's 2013 Economic Security Initiative. Visitors learned about the organizations' ongoing initiatives to help Maine girls and women prosper. The Fund will visit Hardy Girls Healthy Women this week, and additional 2014 visits.

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The Maine Children's Alliance recently released its 19th edition of the Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book.

According to the new statistics, among Maine children under age five, almost one in four [are] living in poverty.

"Investing in young children is an investment in the future prosperity of Maine," Ned McCann, executive director of MCA, stated. "At the Maine Children's Alliance we have been concerned that during the time that more of Maine's children are getting poorer, fewer are receiving support to help them through their financial hardships."

Read more about the economic state of Maine's children by downloading the Data Book here. The Portland Press Herald recently covered the report here.

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In case you missed it: view the Maine Women's Fund 2012-2013 Report to the Community. If you'd like to receive a copy by mail, please email Katie@mainewomensfund.org or call 207-774-5513.

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Avon Foundation Launches Social Media Campaign to Fight Domestic Violence
#SeeTheSigns is a powerful social media campaign designed to educate people about the signs of domestic violence during the 16 Days of Activism, a global human rights-based movement against gender violence.

The image to the right is just one piece from the social media toolkit. Check out more jarring statements like this in the gallery, and share on your social media channels to help others #SeeTheSigns of domestic abuse.

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In need of Portland office space? State Street Church has space available for use by nonprofits. More info here.

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Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund

provides scholarships and support for low-income women 35 and older to build better lives through college completion. The application for the 2014 school year is now available. Click here to view an informational video about guidelines and frequently asked questions.

The Maine Women's Fund thanks MaineShare for its ongoing support. MaineShare makes it easy to donate to more than 30 statewide organizations working every day to make Maine a better place to live. For more information, please visit the website.

On behalf of the staff and board of the Maine Women's Fund, thank you for reading and for all you do to support Maine women and girls.

Office locations:

565A Congress Street, Suite 306, Portland, ME 04101 | 41 Mechanic Street, Suite 328, Camden, ME 04843