Knoxville, Tenn. – The Women’s Fund of East Tennessee (WFET) is pleased to announce the newest members of the Strong Women, Strong Futures (SWSF) network. Funding for this designated giving totals over $350,000 and includes ten non-profit organizations, chosen after a competitive grant application process this previous March:
- Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport
- Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains
- Girls Inc. of TN Valley
- Hola Lakeway
- Centro Hispano
- Project Grad, Knoxville Education Foundation
- The Restoration House
- East Tennessee Artscapes
- A Step Ahead, East Tennessee
The Strong Women, Strong Futures Network was established and funded by WFET in 2018. After completing extensive research in the region to better understand the barriers to post-secondary education, they worked to develop tools and resources to better reach the young women and girls in their area. “With our vision of every woman self-sustaining, it was clear that a narrowing of our focus into higher education for the women we serve was the best use of our time and resources. We have been fortunate to work with twelve non-profits over the past six years, and the collaboration with them has proved to be impactful for the clients we collectively serve. We are excited to re-launch these efforts with the recently awarded grantees,” explains Kirby Deal, Executive Director of the Women’s Fund. “We believe that when you invest in a woman, you invest in a family, a community, and, ultimately, a region.”
The Strong Women, Strong Futures Network was initially designed to achieve the goal of creating opportunities for more women and girls in East Tennessee to pursue post-secondary education. WFET believes the most efficient path is to foster partnerships with similarly focused non-profit organizations to share expertise and collectively identify opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and action in our communities. Continuing the early work of the SWSF network enhances the ability to achieve those goals long into the future.
The Women’s Fund was founded in 2011 with the mission to serve as a catalyst to transform the lives of women and girls in East Tennessee. By 2015, the Board of Directors elected to become a supporting organization of the East Tennessee Foundation, becoming a 501(c)3 public, non-profit. With a focus on collaboration, education, and advocacy, WFET quickly became a premier source of hope and funding for those who need it most in our region. For more information, or to apply for grants, please visit: www.womensfundetn.org
