The San Diego Women\u2019s Foundation was organized in 2000 around a powerful idea: unite women in collective philanthropy, for the purpose of funding worthy causes that might otherwise receive little recognition and donor support. The group gathered on May 29, in Old Town\u2019s Cygnet Theatre, to announce grant recipients for 2018.<\/p>\n
Sara Bennett, president-elect of the foundation, will begin her term in office this July.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the most fun event on our calendar,\u201d Bennett said during an early-evening social hour before the official announcement program began. \u201cThis is the culmination of the year, granting. The fun part is giving away money.\u201d<\/p>\n This year\u2019s grant awards went to six new community partner organizations, none of which have been funded by the foundation before. The overarching theme of the evening program, which guided selection of the grantees, was \u201cBuilding Bridges.\u201d<\/p>\n Rita Solberg has been a member of The San Diego Women\u2019s Foundation (SDWF) for over 10 years, and she explained how the group functions.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen who join learn about collective philanthropy,\u201d Solberg said. \u201cThis is wonderful training, and the members learn about wisely giving in an incredible one-year process.\u201d<\/p>\n The foundation chooses a theme for the upcoming year\u2019s grant awards, reaches out for letters of intent from possible grant recipients and requests grant proposals from organizations eligible for the year.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very fair process,\u201d Solberg said. A team of foundation members makes site visits to examine the programs of likely grantees, and at the foundation\u2019s April meeting, all members vote. Solberg stated that the ballot usually has eight candidate charities, with four or five tapped as beneficiaries from the voting.<\/p>\n Solberg further described membership requirements. Each woman who joins the foundation pledges to give $2,000 each year for five years, with $1,000 annually going to the foundation\u2019s endowment and the other $1,000 given to education and community partners.<\/p>\n Storyteller Alyce Smith-Cooper opened the formal celebration inside the theater, noting the importance of sharing stories that draw people toward \u201crighteous paths\u201d that lead them to \u201cthe Creator of all.\u201d She went on to observe that pooling money increases the impact of giving.<\/p>\n Katie Sawyer, SDWF executive director, next offered welcoming remarks. The foundation has funded 91 nonprofits during its 18-year existence.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we showcase women in philanthropy. Together there is nothing we cannot accomplish. With tonight\u2019s grant announcements,\u201d Sawyer said, \u201cwe will have given $3.4 million and touched thousands of lives in our area. We want to continue the momentum one year to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n A total of 137 foundation members were involved in this year\u2019s grant process.<\/p>\n The 2018 grant awards are set for the following six organizations. The Boys to Men Mentoring Program is slated to receive $25,000 to build communities of male role models for fatherless boys. The International Rescue Committee\u2019s Refugee Girls Academy will be given $50,000 to grow the organization\u2019s outreach to more refugee girls in San Diego County. And $25,000 this year will go to the Refugee Student Enrichment Activities program developed by Survivors of Torture, International. The Tariq Khamisa Foundation\u2019s Restorative Workshops, teaching problem-solving skills and promoting nonviolence among middle school youth, will receive $25,000 to expand student enrollment in the workshop program. The Student Studio, created by The David\u2019s Harp Foundation, Inc. is set to be given $30,000 for at-risk homeless and foster youth to process stressful life situations through artistic expression in a state-of-the-art recording studio.<\/p>\n Smith-Cooper returned to the stage to address attendees again.<\/p>\n \u201cUse your stories to build bridges,\u201d she said. \u201cStory telling is a gift. Everybody\u2019s got stories that need to be told, trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n Featured throughout the program were short videos showing the outcomes of the SDWF 2017 grant awards. The theme for last year was combating homelessness, especially among youth and young adults. The SDWF grants cycle 19 for next year will focus on prevention and intervention to fight human trafficking in San Diego County, including labor and sex trafficking. More information about the foundation and its efforts is available at SDWomensFoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Uniting](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/San-Diego-Women-Foundation-Members.jpg\")