A Huge Success! Thanks to the generous support of our donors, artisans, volunteers and an outstanding committee led by Journeys VI Chair Judy Ingala, Journey’s netted $30,000 to help break down barriers to education for low-income women and girls in 25 counties in East Tennessee.
The two-week juried show of approximately 30 artists, began with a kickoff gala at the McKinney Center in Jonesborough, TN. Guests dined on hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef James Allen from the Blackthorn Club, and Phil Scharfstein, One Stop Wine & Spirits, provided the beverages. During a brief program where sponsors were recognized, the new Women’s Fund Network Grantees, representing eight exemplary organizations covering the 25 counties served by the Women’s Fund, were recognized and their work to provide access to education, including mentoring was shared.
After conducting a series of focus groups throughout the region, WFET found that a major barrier to education in the 25-county area served by the WFET is a cultural attitude discouraging women and girls from furthering their education whether at a university, college, or technical school. WFET has committed $300,000 to build and fund the network over the next three years. With the guidance of communications professionals, the network will research, design, test, and deploy a counter narrative, and recruit other champions to participate in sharing and imbedding the new narrative throughout East Tennessee.
Additionally, the Roan Scholars were on hand to volunteer and share their backgrounds and aspirations with the crowd.
Women’s Funds and organizations around the world have discovered that women’s funds provide critical financial power to help women find solutions to family and community challenges such as: breaking down the barrier to post-secondary education, domestic violence, and many other issues that challenge individuals’ ability to develop their personal assets to be successful citizens.
