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RESOURCES
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EVENTS
June 5 & 6
Downeast Senior Safety Net Workshops in Machias, Bucksport & Ellsworth. Topics to include financial, heating and medical assistance. Sponsored by Legal Services for the Elderly, Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Maine Equal Justice Partners, and Washington Hancock Community Agency. More info: (207) 626-7058 / jsandborn@mcjp.org.
July 30. 10:30AM-2:00PM.
Women's Open House at Penobscot Job Corps, Bangor.
Featuring tours, trade booths, Q&A with female students, BBQ, surprises and giveaways. More info: contact Penobscot Job Corps Center at (207) 990-3000 x305.
GRANTS
Ribbons of Hope--Invest in Women is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations that promote the well-being and future prospects of women and girls. One grant of $100,000 will be awarded to an organization that promotes education, health, economic independence, social well-being, or human rights for women and girls. Find the RFP here. Deadline: July 1.
Joyce Foundation Announces $1.6 Million for Adult Learners
to support the creation and promotion of education technologies. Click here to learn how to apply. LOI: July 11.
launched a new global campaign to bring financial inclusion to low-income communities.
Deadline: Open
American Honda Foundation
Invites applications for STEM programs.
Deadline: Open
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
Healthy Generations is a multi-generational health initiative with a goal to improve the health of communities. Deadline: Open
OPPORTUNITIES
The Money Minders Program matches trained, supervised, bonded volunteers with adults 55+ who need help establishing a monthly budget and ensuring all bills get paid in a timely and accurate manner. Free for clients who meet low to moderate income. Click here for more info.
Maine EPSCoR High School Internship Program at University of Maine in Orono (Summer 2014). Provides Maine high school students with a paid, hands-on opportunity to gain real-world experience in STEM fields that might include: biology, climate change, chemistry/ biochemistry, engineering, computer science, forestry, economics, etc. More information: contact laurie.bragg@maine.edu or (207) 581-2295.
We invite you to visit the
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LETTER FROM THE CEO
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, 
What do you get when you put 700 people--all of whom are passionate about the economic security of women and girls--in a room for two hours to hear stories of feats of courage and strength?
Answer: inspiration, laughter, a few tears and a record breaking $127,000 to support the important work of the Maine Women's Fund! All who purchased tickets, sponsors, advertisers and those who made additional gifts helped make this year's Leadership Luncheon an enormous success.
Thank you to our generous supporters: together we are working to help Maine girls and women thrive.
I hope you'll enjoy these great highlights of the event:
The day was a herculean effort by two great committees, chaired by volunteers Judy Woodbury and Heather Shields, volunteers from Coastal Studies for Girls and Bangor Savings Bank, and the staff and board of the Fund.
Talking to people afterward, one attendee confided, "This is the one event I love going to." Another said, "I always come away so inspired and energized, and this year did not disappoint!" These comments are a testament to the joyful energy in that ballroom, of Mainers caring deeply about making life better for Maine women and girls.
Please SAVE THE DATE for next year's Leadership Luncheon: May 19, 2015. We hope to see you there for another day of joyful celebration, inspiration and empowerment!
Thank you for all you do for Maine women and girls.
Sincerely,
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PCSW SEEKS INPUT
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The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
Seeks Public Input on Most Challenging Issues
Maine's Permanent Commission on the Status of Women is a statutorily enacted commission to inform Maine policy makers about the status of women and girls, issues that impact them and the challenges they face. As such, the group (which includes Maine Women's Fund CEO Sarah Ruef-Lindquist) advises the Governor and members of the Legislature about policy and social issues affecting women and girls in the state.
The Commission seeks input from Maine's women and girls about the most challenging issues facing Maine women and girls, and what can be done to help. Click here to complete the survey. Your input will be reviewed by the members of the Commission and will directly influence recommendations made moving forward.
Please note: all surveys will remain anonymous. The survey will be live until June 30.
Please click here for the link to the Commission's survey.
Thank you!
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 HIGHLIGHTS of the event
The 2014 Leadership Luncheon proved to be another inspiring day for the Maine Women's Fund community. A crowd of 700 listened intently to the stories of women, girls and men who are overcoming barriers to make our Maine communities stronger.
Amidst standing ovations, laugh-out-loud moments, and heart-rending stories of courage, this year's attendees and sponsors raised $127,00 after expenses to support the work of the Maine Women's Fund. Thank you to our many generous sponsors and donors.
The networking reception introduced this year's Economic Security Initiative grantees and allowed time to catch up with friends old and new.
 From top left: Chloe Maxmin, winner of the Samantha Smith Award, said, "To the young women in the room: don't be afraid to confront power and make your voice heard." High school students Caitlyn and Chantelle spoke about their experiences at REAL School STEM Academy for girls. Molly Bogart talked about how Maine NEW Leadership sparked a strong passion for making a difference for women and girls in Maine.
 Clockwise from top left: Emcee Suzanne Nance; Tribute to Women in Industry award winner Mary Bonauto speaks; a student volunteer from Coastal Studies for Girls; Fatuma Hussein, winner of the Sarah Orne Jewett Award, arrived to the Luncheon just 11 days after giving birth; Mmembers of the 2014 Maine Women's Fund Board of Directors; Board President Melinda Shain; Drew Wing, Executive Director of Maine Boys to Men, accepts the new Visionary Partner award on behalf of his organization.
Thank you to the joyful, bold and generous Fund community!
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 Women, Work & Community offering FREE Summer Business Classes Beyond Start-Up: Moving Your Business Forward
Have you been in business for more than 1 year? Do you need help moving your business to the next level?
Learn about money management and financial tools critical to good decision-making; marketing strategies and strategic planning for growth; and the role of business financing. If your business is at a plateau or is not bringing in enough income, then this five-week class will help you to address any roadblocks, develop a plan of action, and move your business forward. Classes limited to 15 people.
Presque Isle: Mondays 8:30-11:30 AM, June 2-30 Register here for Presque Isle
Houlton: Mondays 1:00-4:00 PM, June 2-30 Register here for Houlton
Fort Kent: Wednesdays 5:30-8:30 PM, June 4 - July 2 Register here for Fort Kent
Basics of Starting a Business
This class covers the basics of a business plan, marketing, cash planning and is suitable for those thinking about or in the early start-up phase of a new business. It will help you assess the feasibility, desirability, and viability of your business idea and get you started with your plan.
Online class: June 11-25, 10:00 - 11:30 AM.
Register here.
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Equality Maine presents its second annual Spirit of Pride Summer Party on Thursday, June 19. Click here to get your tickets. This year's honorees are Jill Barkley and Chris O'Connor, co-chairs of Pride Portland.
What: Spirit of Pride Summer Party - A Cocktail Party Celebrating Pride Season
When: Thursday, June 19 | 6pm - 8:30pm
Where: Portland's Ocean Gateway
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Maine NEW Leadership Shares Alumni Testimonials
Recently the Maine Women's Fund visited last year's grantee NEW Leadership, a program of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, and came away with wonderful feedback from graduates and donors alike:
"The NEW Leadership Program woke up a desire deep rooted in my spirit to wake up, advance forward....The trainings, leadership development, self reflections, testimonies and experiences of other women gave a wisdom that money can't buy." - Angela Williams, 2013 NEWL graduate (UMaine at Presque Isle)
"One of the biggest things I took away from the program was self-advocacy: the networking workshops and opportunities that we were lucky to have throughout the week allowed me to practice these important skills." - Megan Phelps, 2013 NEWL graduate (Bowdoin College)
"NEW Leadership gave me the confidence and the drive to take action on issues that are important to me....I feel passionate about making a difference for women and girls in the future, and NEW Leadership gave me many of the tools to do so. - Molly Bogart, 2013 NEWL graduate (Susquehanna University)
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Wayfinder Schools presents "Ann Patchett in Conversation with Richard Russo", an evening with two award-winning, best-selling authors. All proceeds from this very special event benefit Wayfinder Schools, the nation's oldest alternative high school.
Best-selling author Patchett will make her first public appearance in Maine on Tuesday June 10, along with Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Richard Russo. The two will hold a lively conversation at Hannaford Hall in the Abromson Center of the University of Southern Maine, in support of Wayfinder Schools. The 7 pm event is open to the public, with a ticket price of $35. A VIP reception will be held from 5:30 to 7, with the opportunity to meet and talk with the authors.
WHEN: June 10, 2014 at 7:00 PM
VIP Reception | $75 drinks & hors d'ouerves
WHERE: Hannaford Hall in the Abromson Center of USM
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FUND AND RELATED NEWS YOU CAN USE
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Maine Women's Fund Named Beneficiary of "Be Your Best Women's Retreat & Celebration"
Maine's Lanette Pottle, CEO of Positivity Lady Enterprises & founder of Positivity Nation, will be leading Be Your Best Women's Retreat & Celebration this September at The Regency Hotel & Spa. Other facilitators participating in the event include Sheri Fink (California), Carla Walter (Kentucky), Tess Marshall (Arizona) and Ahalya Kumaran (Toronto, Canada). Step back from the overwhelm of a daily life focused on others and step forward into a weekend dedicated to boldly reconnecting with your authentic self, rediscovering your passions, and refocusing on ways to honor yo ur magnificence. Gain a new perspective about how to balance these things with the people and causes you care about. Note: $25 from each ticket sold will be donated to the Maine Women's Fund. Special "buy one, get one" pricing is available for friends of Maine Women's Fund through 6/30/14. Learn more here.
Maine Startup & Create Week to Feature Women & Entrepreneurship Panel Session
Women face particular challenges in the area of innovation, startups, and entrepreneurship. Part policy discussion, part pragmatic tool, this discussion will focus on this issue, experiences of success, and solutions. Including Shauna Causey, VP Marketing of UpGlobal; Kristen Gwinn-Becker, CEO and Founder, HistoryIT; Cyndi Prince, President and Founder, LooHoo; Eloise Vitelli, Director, Program and Policy for Women Work & Community; moderated by Mandy Schumaker, CEO & Founder, Higher Performing People. June 16. For more details, click here.
Maine Startup and Create Week (June 12-20) celebrates active, creative, empowered entrepreneurs who are launching successful ventures and startups in Maine. Featuring more than 30 events over eight days, including speakers, panels, parties, and pitch events celebrating Maine's robust startup culture. Click here for details on all events. Click here for a full schedule.
FAMILY Act: A Baby Boon? Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) introduced the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act in Congress last December.
From Workforce:
More companies are offering paid parental leave for their employees, and a bill in Congress could extend that benefit to all workers in the United States. If the legislation - known as the FAMILY Act - becomes law, it would replace the two-decade-old Family and Medical Leave Act, which gives workers 12 weeks of unpaid time off to attend to a personal sickness, the birth of a child or to act as a caregiver for an ill family member. The FAMILY Act would instead provide all workers with 12 weeks of paid time off to attend to health-related events. California, New Jersey and Rhode Island are the only states that currently offer 12 weeks of paid time off.
>>Read more
 Voice and Agency: Empowering Women and Girls for Shared Prosperity
This major new report from the World Bank distills vast data and hundreds of studies to shed new light on constraints facing women and girls worldwide, from epidemic levels of gender-based violence to biased laws and norms that prevent them from owning property, working, and making decisions about their own lives.
Did you know? The Fund is on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow and connect with a community dedicated to investing in the power of women and the dreams of girls.
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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. |
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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
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