WEST CHESTER, PA (May 8, 2020) – The Fund for Women and Girls (The Fund) has responded to COVID-19 through innovative programs to raise awareness about the pandemic’s impacts on local women and girls.

First, The Fund invites all high school girls in grades 9-12 to attend its second annual Girls in Action Summit on Monday, May 18, 2020 from 3:00-5:00 pm. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Fund will be hosting a virtual Summit.

Inspired by CCFWG’s award-winning Girls Advisory Board (GAB) girls’ grantmaking and leadership program, the Summit engages high school girls throughout Chester County for an empowering afternoon of action. Attendees will learn about the deep and varied needs in their communities while engaging in strategic grantmaking.   

As a Summit participant, each girl will have the chance to: 

• Connect virtually with fellow teens throughout Chester County
• Hear from leaders of local non-profits about how COVID-19 is impacting the women and girls they serve
• Be inspired by keynote speaker Mo’ne Davis
• Give back to the community by helping award two $500 grants to local non-profits
• Learn about local girls with their own businesses and other resources for girls

Please encourage the young women in your life to register here by the morning of May 18^th.  

Thank you to our generous event sponsors: Chester County Women’s Commission | Capacity for Change | 2120 Creative | Helena Astolfi | Judi and Tim Bell | Commissioner Marian Moskowitz

The Fund Hosts Virtual 15^th Annual Making a Difference Luncheon on June 5th

For the first time in its 15-year history, The Fund’s Annual Making a Difference Luncheon is going virtual! It will no longer be held as an in-person event while stay-at-home restrictions remain in place, and will instead become a virtual event hosted on Friday, June 5^th, 2020, from 12:30-1:45pm. Click here to register.

The virtual Luncheon program will feature award-winning keynote speaker Dr. Janet Dewart Bell, a social justice advocate, renowned speaker and author of Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement. Her accomplishments include an Emmy for outstanding individual achievement and programming for National Public Radio that was honored with a Peabody award. Dr. Bell will speak to the connections between the Suffrage Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and our current climate today.

Additionally, The Fund will honor local unsung hero Patricia Yoder with its Kitchen Table Award for her work on behalf of mothers and children as the Chester County Health Department’s maternal-child health supervisor. Each year, the Kitchen Table Award honors local women who have made substantive contributions through service and/or philanthropy through their own time, talent or resources. Pat has played a critical role in minimizing barriers to care and connecting families to much needed resources.

Downingtown native and Broadway actress Mary Kate Morrissey will also provide exciting entertainment to virtual attendees. Mary Kate stars in the national tour of Mean Girls. In the past, she also starred as Elphaba in the national tour of Wicked. The Fund is thrilled to have her join the Luncheon lineup while she’s home in Chester County.

Finally, The Fund will continue its celebration of the Centennial anniversary of women’s right to vote at the Luncheon this year by encouraging all virtual Luncheon attendees to snap a selfie of their white or purple attire in honor of the early suffragists who fought to secure voting rights for many women in our country. Supporters are encouraged to post selfies on social media and tag The Fund on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter at @thefundcc. 

All proceeds from this event support programs at The Fund that aim to bring about gender equality, a key ingredient to our whole community’s ability to grow and thrive. In these uncertain times, The Fund’s sponsors have continued to uplift and support our work to ensure another successful Luncheon this year. Thank you to our bold sponsors for their support. 

To join us, please contact Development Director Dana Wiley at dwiley@thefundcc.org or 484-356-0940.  

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The Fund for Women and Girls leads and unites the community through philanthropy and advocacy to ensure that women and girls have resources and opportunities to thrive. For over 20 years, The Fund has raised awareness about the critical needs of women and girls, and has awarded over $3.3 million to 75 local non-profit organizations. To learn
more about The Fund for Women and Girls, visit www.thefundcc.org.