August 2015 Table of Contents
Message from the CEO
Spotlight on Grantee: Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
Save the Date! The Power of She 10K
Events, News, and Resources
2015 Grantees
Thank you to our 2015 Leadership Luncheon Sponsors
A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Greetings!

August - a month when I bet more of the world is on vacation than any other - in "vacationland" is magical. The days are long, taking a dip in the ocean doesn't seem "crazy" and spending time with family and friends, playing and relaxing in what I think is one of the most beautiful places on the earth. We hope you are enjoying "vacationland" even if you're not on vacation!

 

A year ago the Fund staff was preparing for the move to new offices in Falmouth, and now that we've been there a year, it feels like "home". I hope you will stop in at 74 Lunt Road in Falmouth to see the new "digs" and say "hello". Two full-time staff, Kelly Martin our Operations Manager and Lauren Webster LaFrance, our Marketing and Communications Director, and maybe even Anne Saer Driscoll, part-time Finance and Human Resources Manager would love to see you and give you a tour. Read more about Lauren below. She's just started in July and has already "hit the ground running" to help craft and spread the news of all the great things going on at the Fund. I hope you get to meet her soon.

 

In July a group of Fund board presidents - past and present - gathered at the home of Robin Lin Hodgskin in Yarmouth overlooking Casco Bay and shared stories of the past and hopes for the future of the Fund. Four out of the eleven past presidents and the newest president, Natalie Solotoff, enjoyed a lovely evening, thanks to Robin's gracious hospitality, with other former board members and staff. The Fund is extremely fortunate to continue to have the dedication of those whose service has brought the Fund through 25 years of grants to help plan for the next 25 and beyond, working to ensure economic security for Maine women and girls. 


 Melinda Shain, Barbara Babkirk, Nancy Wanderer, Darcie McElwee and Natalie Solotoff 

 

Meanwhile, back at the office we're preparing for site visits to this year's 11 grantees through the fall, winter and spring; our board will hold a Retreat to focus on the Fund's grant making, to increase not only its quantity but its quality, and folks are already busy planning for the 2016 Leadership Luncheon. Please, save the date: May 18, 2016 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. As always, we're planning for an inspiring, energizing event celebrating the women and girls leading Maine in the 21st century. See you there, if not before!

 

 
Sincerely,

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist 
CEO

 

SPOTLIGHT ON GRANTEE: Planned Parenthood of Northern New England

In late May, the Fund visited the administrative offices of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England located in downtown Portland.  

 

Grant funding helped to build PPNNE's public policy and grassroots organizing capacity, increase community engagement and organizing, demonstrate local and widespread support of women's health issues, and influence public discourse and opinion-making the connection between women's health and their economic security as well as the cost-effectiveness of investing in expanded access to family planning services.  

 

Along with their allies, PPNNE works hard to advance women's health care access and ensure that reproductive health issues are represented and protected in Maine's policy making arenas. Furthermore, in the context of a rapidly evolving health care landscape, PPNNE is helping patients and other uninsured Maine women learn about their options for insurance and enroll in affordable plans or other programs.   

 Kelly Martin, Karen Geraghty, Bridget Mancini, Aimee Martin, Melinda Shain and Katie Allen 

 

In 2014, there were approximately 125,000 uninsured Maine adults. Expanding Medicaid would extend coverage to an estimated 69,500 Maine adults, but this legislation has not yet been successful. However, with the new subsidies and tax credits available through the Health Insurance Marketplace, improvements are being made: Maine's uninsured rate dropped by more than one-fourth from 2013 to 2014. And, today 38% of PPNNE's Maine patients are uninsured, down from 43% just two years ago.  

 

PPNNE continues to work for Medicaid expansion and to find opportunities to make sure that those who qualify for insurance coverage through the ACA are getting it. In partnership with the Maine Health Access Foundation, PPNNE is conducting outreach and public education about the Health Insurance Marketplace in southern Maine. Additionally, their Certified Application Counselor staff and volunteers directly help uninsured people with the enrollment process.  

 

Involving volunteers in health insurance outreach and enrollment efforts is just one way that PPNNE engages volunteers in meaningful work. Grant funding also supported the creation of PPNNE's Maine Volunteer Action Team (MAT) in February of this year.  Comprised of over forty committed members, they are building PPNNE's capacity for grassroots engagement through diverse activities like event planning, tabling, phone banking, mailings, door-to-door and event canvassing, lobby day, in-district meetings with elected officials, house parties, letter to the editor writing, electoral skills and message training, patient escorting, and group discussions. People interested in volunteering with PPNNE to help protect women's health care in Maine can contact [email protected].   

 

Providing access to, and enhancing the quality of, health care is one of the Fund's six strategic areas that advance the economic security of Maine women and girls. It was a pleasure to visit PPNNE and hear about their ongoing efforts to improve and safeguard health care access in Maine.  

 

 

SAVE THE DATE! THE POWER OF SHE 10K - OCT. 11
Register Now!

 

EVENTS, NEWS & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES    

 

Mainebiz 2015 Women to Watch Reception
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM 
The Westin Portland Harborview, Portland

 

Join the Mainebiz staff as we gather to celebrate the accomplishments of five outstanding women. In addition to a special presentation, guests will enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and great face-to-face networking with past and present honorees as well as other business executives.

Register by August 21st to take advantage of our Early Bird Discount! #MBW2W15     

 

 

The Power of She -- All Women's 10K

Sunday, October 11, 2015

University of Southern Maine - Portland Campus

 

Something magical happens when women gather to run together in the spirit of taking bigger steps toward a better you! More information available here.  

 

 

Maine Women's Summit on Economic Security

Friday, October 16, 2015

8:45 AM - 4:15 PM

Augusta Civic Center

More information available here

 

In Building a Prosperous Maine, we laid out a roadmap to economic security for women and our families. On October 16th, we'll come together to turn those ideas into action. Register to be a part of this energizing day with like-minded opinion leaders from across the state as we hear from thought-provoking speakers, participate in interactive workshops, and take advantage of opportunities to build our skills.


The Girl Scouts of Maine 

Women of Distinction Gala

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks, South Portland

 
The Women of Distinction Gala is an annual event that celebrates women whose individual excellence and high levels of achievement distinguish them as outstanding members of their communities and exemplary role models for today's girls. More information available here.  

 

 

NEWS  

 

MWF CEO, Sarah Ruef-Lindquist, will join more than 300 cyclists as they tour the state by bicycle from September 12-19. The 2015 ride is the third annual organized by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, founded to promote the state as a bicycling destination and to use cycling as an economic development tool for local communities.  Read more...  

   

  

  

  Lauren Webster LaFrance joined the MWF staff as Communications and Marketing Director in July 2015. A Maine native, she's a long time resident of the greater

Portland area but has also resided Down East, in Central Maine and on the border in Jackman. She's a dual-degree alumna from the University of Southern Maine (USM) with a BA in Women's Studies and an MA in American & New England Studies.


Prior to joining the Maine Women's Fund, Lauren administrated the USM Wom
en & Gender Studies Program as the Assistant to the Director for thirteen years. Lauren has advanced skills in communications, social media marketing, event coordination, and community engagement.

MWF CEO, Sarah Ruef-Lindquist, elected chair of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Maine's Permanent Commission on the Status of Women is statutorily enacted government-appointed assembly dedicated to improving opportunities for Maine women and girls. The Commission advises the governor and members of the legislature about policy and social issues affecting women and girls in the state. The Commission recently published a biennial report, "2015 Report on the Status of Women & Girls in Maine." More than 3,000 individuals were interviewed in August of 2014 for the report. Ms. Ruef-Lindquist served on the Report Committee. Read more... 

 

 

First Installment of IWPR's 2015 Status of Women in the States Report   

Women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, and their earnings are essential to the economic security of families across the nation. Yet, gender equality at work remains elusive. Women who work full-time, year-round still earn only 78 cents on the dollar compared with men, and during the last decade little improvement has been made in closing the gender wage gap (DeNavas-Walt and Proctor 2014). The glass ceiling persists, and occupational segregation-the concentration of women in some jobs and men in others-remains a stubborn feature of the U.S. labor market (Hegewisch et al. 2010). These national trends show up in states across the nation. This report examines women's earnings and the gender wage gap, women's labor force participation, and the occupations and industries in which women work. It also considers areas where women have experienced progress toward gender equity in the workforce and places where progress has slowed or stalled.

>>Read the Report 

 

 

 

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

  

Foundation for Women's Wellness 

The Foundation for Women's Wellness is dedicated to improving women's health by raising support for innovative early-stage research and education. To advance this mission, FWW is inviting proposals for its 2015 Women's Health Research Awards, an annual program that supports small, short-term studies with promise for improving medical knowledge in cardiovascular disease, leading female cancers, the role of hormones in disease and stage-of-life health issues such as pregnancy and menopause, and diseases disproportionately affecting women. In 2015, FWW will award two one-time research awards of $25,000.
>>Read more
 

Intel Corporation has announced a $300 million initiative aimed at boosting workforce diversity at the company and in the technology and gaming industries. Through its Diversity in Technology initiative, Intel will work to build a more robust pipeline of female and minority engineers and computer scientists; actively support the hiring and retention of more women and minorities; and fund efforts to increase the number of positive representations of these groups within the technology and gaming industries. To that end, the chip maker will collaborate with education programs focused on underserved neighborhoods and communities as well as computer science and engineering programs at higher education institutions, including historically black colleges and universities.



Open Meadows Foundation
Open Meadows Foundation is a grant-making organization seeking projects that promote gender, racial, and/or economic justice. The projects must be led by and benefit women and girls, particularly those from vulnerable communities. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded for projects that are designed and implemented by women and girls; reflect the diversity of the community served by the project in both its leadership and organization; promote building community power; and have limited financial access or have encountered obstacles in their search for funding. Small and start-up organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline: August 15, 2015

 

The MetLife Foundation 

Launched a new global campaign to bring financial inclusion to low-income communities. 

Deadline: Open

  

American Honda Foundation 

Invites applications for STEM programs. 

For 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

 

 

2015 GRANTEES

The Maine Women's Fund has awarded grants totaling $98,000 to organizations working to build the economic security of Maine women and girls. This includes grants from donor-advised funds, resources established by individuals who make recommendations as to how the funds are spent. Read More...

 




       

Thank you to our 2015 Sponsors!

Lead Sponsor:  

Cornerstone Sponsors: 





iBec Creative






Maine Magazine


Gift Underwriter:
Spinnaker Trust

Volunteer Underwriter
Hurley Travel Experts/Direct Travel

Video Underwriter:

Benefactor Sponsors:
Rep. Chellie Pingree and S. Donald Sussman

Supporter Sponsors:
Gayle Brazeau, Dean, College of Pharmacy, University of New England

Friend & Nonprofit Sponsors:


MaineShare

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:
74 Lunt Road, Suite 100, Falmouth, ME 04105 | 41 Mechanic Street, Suite 328, Camden, ME 04843

JOIN US ONLINE 
    
  Find us on Facebook    Follow us on Twitter    View our profile on LinkedIn