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December 2020 |
From the President: Renewed Commitment to our Mission |
Dear WGA Members,
Warm greetings. As I write this, our mission has never been more relevant. In September of this year, 865,000 women left the workforce according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounting for 80% of all newly unemployed Americans. The pandemic has caused women to leave their jobs as they bear more of the responsibility for childcare, virtual learning, elder care, and domestic tasks.
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The Center for American Progress estimates the cost of mothers leaving the workforce (or reducing their hours) to take on unpaid labor will be $64.5 billion per year. This staggering loss is not a short-term phenomenon, but rather begins a cascade of long-term consequences for future earnings, retirement savings, and family security.
These statistics are more than numbers; they represent family, friends, and neighbors in our community. The pandemic has laid bare the deeply rooted systemic challenges facing women and girls, especially women and girls of color. As WGA begins our work anew in 2021, our steadfast focus will remain on lifting women and girls in Northeast Florida up and out of poverty. We thank you, our members, for being a vital part of the solution by your commitment to WGA. We encourage you to ask others to join us, too.
As 2020 comes to a close, I wish you and your families health and strength; may the promise of the new year resonate with fresh hope.
Jan Healy
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'Tis the Season of Gratitude |
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The 2020-2021 Steering Committee includes (left to right) TOP ROW: Ann-Marie Knight (DEI), Kristi Brandon (Secretary), Heather Corey (Education), Mary Pietan (Governance), Karen Mayfield (Vice-President), Barb Wenger (Ad Hoc-20th Anniversary); SECOND ROW: Sheila Collier (At-Large), Susan Rodgers (Connectors/Membership), TriciaRae Stancato (Communications), Tara Braithwaite (Education), Stephanie Cost (Governance), Linda Simmons (Grants); THIRD ROW: Gracie Simendinger (At-Large), Joni Poitier (At-Large, DEI), Wendy Ranson (Treasurer), Rachael Mueller (At-Large), Sabeen Perwaiz (Vice-President), Margaret Barton (At-Large); FOURTH ROW: Jana Ertrachter (Ad Hoc-Strategic Planning), Jan Healy (President), Saralyn Grass (Advocacy), Pam Field (At-Large), Rachael Tutwiler-Fortune (At-Large), Poppy Decunto (Advocacy); BOTTOM ROW: Nina Waters (TCF President/Liasion), Barbara Barrett (At-Large), Wanda Willis (Connectors/Membership), Faith Schonfeld (At-Large); Not pictured: Allison Newberry-Dennis (Grants)
WGA is grateful for all our Steering Committee members. We especially want to thank those who have stepped up to serve during these challenging times. Thank you for your enthusiasm, talents, and commitment to WGA and our mission.
We thank our current grantee partners for the outstanding work they are doing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Barnabas Center, Inc., BEAM (Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry), Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County, Catholic Charities, Center for Children's Rights, Delta Research and Educational Foundation, Feeding Northeast Florida, First Coast No More Homeless Pets, Gateway Community Services, Inc., Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Helping WIN, Inc., MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation, Inc., Rethreaded Inc., St. Gerard Campus, Volunteers in Medicine, and Year Up Jacksonville.
We appreciate The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, especially Nina Waters, Joanne Cohen, Grace Sacerdote, Susan Edelman, Kathleen Shaw, and Teri Calinao for masterfully guiding WGA always.
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WGA Engages Communications Consultant |
WGA is delighted to announce that Katy Keene has been hired as a part-time Communications Consultant to help WGA tell our story of impact. She will be responsible for managing content across multiple WGA communication channels. Working closely with WGA members, Katy will coordinate efforts to engage members, target prospective members, and reach out to the news media and the community at large. Welcome Katy!
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'Tis the Season of Giving |
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As you are making plans for your year-end giving, please consider a contribution to the WGA grant pool. A donation of any size is a meaningful gift in honor of a special woman or girl in your life. You can make your donation online or by sending a check to WGA, The Community Foundation, 245 Riverside Ave., Ste. 310, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Be sure to designate that it is for the grant pool.
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Consider Becoming a Legacy Member |
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A one-time gift of $25,000 endows your membership for life! Learn more at wganefl.org/membership/legacy-membership. Contact Joanne Cohen, Vice President, Philanthropic Services at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, at 904.356.4483 or JCohen@jaxcf.org to discuss a legacy membership.
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20th Anniversary Approaches! |
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The 20th Anniversary of WGA's founding is in the fall of 2021. (The first grants were awarded in 2022.) Barb Wenger has graciously agreed to plan our 20th Anniversary Celebration activities. "I am beginning by assembling a small group of fun, creative and engaged WGA women who will brainstorm with me (via Zoom cocktail parties) about potential celebration activities, creative ways to communicate with members and our community, and fun ways to engage new members and older members who may not be currently active," Barb said. "Anyone interested in joining this initial planning effort, please email me at barbwenger@gmail.com. It would not involve a lot of your time but I would really value the perspective of those who are working in parts of WGA where I have not served."
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Register for These Upcoming Events |
New Member Coffee January 21, 2021; 10:00–11:30 AM Location: Virtual Visit with your WGA Leadership and your fellow new members via Zoom. Hear about opportunities for involvement, learn about our grant process and ask any questions you might have. You are encouraged to invite a friend who is interested in being a strategic philanthropist in our collective giving organization. REGISTER
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Race Cards with 904Ward January 28, 2021; 11:30 AM–1:00 PM Location: Virtual Too often discussions about race either stay at surface-level or happen only among audiences steeped in knowledge about sociology, history, systemic racism and privilege. The goal of the Race Cards is to facilitate honest, authentic discussion around race in a way that is accessible to everyone. Each deck of cards contains questions such as "When did you first become aware of your race?" and "What do the hashtags #blacklivesmatter and #alllivesmatter mean to you?" Questions span participants' personal experiences, the current state of justice and race relations in our communities, and participants' take on concepts such as privilege and equity. We look forward to a meaningful discussion on race in our community with a reflection on the role it plays within the work of the Women's Giving Alliance and all our lives. REGISTER
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Downtown Connector January 28, 2021; 5:00–7:00 PM Location: Virtual Join us on Zoom for our Downtown Connector event. All WGA members and friends are invited regardless of where you reside. Grab your favorite beverage and be sure to join us! REGISTER
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Save the Dates |
Mark your calendars for these future events. Details to come in future eNews.
- Women in Leadership:
March 18, 2021; 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
- WGA Grantee Delta Research: April 22, 2021; 5:30–6:30 PM
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Welcome New Members |
Jackie Cornelius Audrey Gardner Patricia London Tania Yount |
Referrals Barbara Moulding Nina Waters JuJu Taylor
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