WEST CHESTER, PA — The Fund for Women and Girls recently awarded $15,600 in grants to two local organizations – Cheyney University and Mighty Writers El Futuro Kennett – for projects that advance women and girls in Chester County. Two earlier recipients in this grant cycle were the Black Women of Chester County in Action ($3,000 for a Bakers Dozen Listening Tour) and the Alliance for Health Equity ($7,500 for the Nonprofit Justice and Equity Institute).
For the fifth year in a row, The Fund awarded ‘Moving Her Forward’ Impact Grants, a grantmaking program established to focus on swift responses to pressing needs in the community, distributing over $130,000 in that time to 22 different organizations in Chester County. These Impact Grants support systems-level changes and leverage impact through collaborative funding with other foundations/donors, focusing on the needs identified in The Fund’s Fourth Edition Blueprint Report: Lighting a Path, its comprehensive research report on the state of women and girls in Chester County.
Cheyney University – Period Poverty Project ($7,500): Cheyney University is partnering with the brand Aunt Flow to provide free pads and tampons for women on campus. This Impact Grant funds eight period product dispensers across campus that will provide free period products to students, staff, and visitors as needed. This project will provide dispensers in six restrooms in the Marcus Foster Student Union, including two women’s restrooms and four gender neutral restrooms to ensure that those who transitioning will have access to products. Dispensers will also be installed in two bathrooms in the library. Founded in 1837, Cheyney University is the nation’s oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Twenty-five percent (25%) of Cheyney students are from households in the bottom 20% of household income, a larger percentage than at most other county colleges and universities.
Mighty Writers El Futuro Kennett – Food and Hygiene Product Distribution ($8,100): Mighty Writers El Futuro is in Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County and supports and uplifts Latino culture and families. They offer monthly Family Write Nights, twice a week Mommy & Me programs, job readiness for teens, and a daily after school writing Academy (grades K-5). Mighty Writers El Futuro distributes food, diapers, period products, books, and other essential items three times each week to the Kennett Community. This Impact Grant supports the distribution of these essential basic necessities in response to the recent decrease in Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in May.
To date, The Fund has directed over $4.2 million to 95 non-profit organizations in Chester County to strategically address persisting needs, including homelessness, domestic violence, and women’s health. All Fund grantmaking comes from a restricted endowment and The Fund raises money to support its operations and programming.
Through its inclusive and community-driven process, The Fund continues to lead and unite the community through philanthropy and advocacy to ensure that women and girls have resources and opportunities to thrive.
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