June 8, 2005

Giving back to the community

Three Generations Circle of Women Givers awards $26,000 to seven area organizations

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       For struggling moms to students needing help to pay for summer school to non-traditional college students, $3 a day can make a difference.
      Thanks to the 58 members of the Three Generations Circle of Women Givers, each of whom gave $1,000 this year, seven area organizations will be better able to help their clients.
      With a mission to improve female economic self-sufficiency, the Three Generations Circle of Women Givers awarded a total of $26,500 in grants late last month to the recipients listed below.
      - Department of Human Services, Leelanau/Grand Traverse Laundry Project-$1,000
      - Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Inc., Law Enhanced Access Project (L.E.A.P.)-$7,000
      - Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency, Inc., Asset Building for Women-$10,000
      - Northwestern Michigan College, Bridge Program-$2,000
      - Traverse City Area Public Schools, Project Finish-$1,500
      - Traverse City Area Public Schools, Project Success-$1,500
      - Traverse City Area Public Schools, Summer Child Care Program for Low-Income Women-$3,500
      For girls who need to go to summer school but cannot afford it, the grants to Project Finish and Project Success will make a difference.
      "It has been used in the past and students have taken advantage of it to finish as many as two or three classes that were outstanding," said Lance Morgan of Traverse City High School who is also in charge of the secondary summer school program. "Hopefully that will again be the case and we'll find a good group of young women who are interested in catching up or getting things done so they can graduate on time."
      The Asset Building for Women program at the Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency received the largest grant this year. The $10,000 will be for local matching funds for the Individual Development Account (IDA) program. The agency had state and federal funds that were accessible only with matching local funds.
      The IDA program helps women and their families in the five-county area save for a home, education or a business. Participants save $20 minimum a month for an average of three years. IDA then matches that at a rate of three to one for home ownership and two to one for starting a small business or getting an education.
      The program, which began locally in 2001, has 86 accounts and the grant will allow additional ones. Twenty-four participants have used the money as a down payment on a home or to continue their education.
      "About 28 percent of the current IDA people that we serve have been women who have a history of domestic violence or sexual abuse," said Karen Emerson, financial management services manager, Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency. "That's why when this grant came across I said we're serving a lot of these folks right now so this may be a good fit."
      The Three Generations Circle of Women Givers began in 2000 at the Women's Resource Center to leverage women's economic power and help women in need. Since its founding, the organization has granted $250,000 to the community.
      Members of the circle each give $1,000 a year and the funds are divided between grants and the Women's Resource Center.
      "Half of the grants do go to the community," said Carmen Stevens, director of development for the Women's Resource Center. "We made seven grants this year to different organizations and the other half goes to support Helen's House."
      Helen's House is a shelter for women and children escaping from domestic violence.
      This year, the Three Generations received 23 requests for grants requesting $192,000 in support from area organizations and programs. Circle members gather annually to determine how to distribute the money, reviewing grant applications and choosing recipients.
      The goal of the Circle is to empower women as philanthropists as well as help women and girls in need.
      "One of the key components of us starting the Circle was the need for funding for women and girls," said Stevens, noting the huge gap between need and the funds available. "There are so many opportunities for women to give in this community and we hope that by participating in the Circle they will become more engaged in the community."
      For more information on the Three Generations Circle of Women Givers, contact Stevens at 941-1210.