YOUNGSTOWN/WARREN, Ohio – On April 16, donors and supporters of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley’s Fund for Women & Girls awarded three grants totaling $3,500 to local nonprofits working with young women in the Valley.
As a community-led fund, each shareholder in the Fund for Women & Girls has a say in how grants from the fund are awarded. After hearing presentations from three finalists, the roughly 30 attendees cast their vote and selected the winner of the $2,000 grand prize: Promise Community Hub for its Youngstown Summer Experience youth summer camp. The nonprofit’s annual camp brings in kids from across the city for daily activities and learning experiences, including certifications for teens including Safe Sitter childcare training, CPR training and ServSafe food safety training.
My Melanin Speaks received the $1,000 prize for its Santa Baby holiday event – a daylong event that gives young women the chance to take part in activities building on themes of creativity and empowerment. And The McGuffey Centre received the $500 prize for its Step-by-Step Steppers program, which will teach girls several dance styles as well as self-encouragement and empowerment.
“These three organizations are doing incredible work that isn’t just telling young women what they have to do but giving them the skills, support and encouragement to chart their own path of success,” says Josh Medore, the CFMV staff liaison to the fund. “All of our Fund for Women & Girls shareholders were impressed and we saw a lot of great conversations happening after the presentations so they could learn more about the finalists.”
Also presenting at the event was Amaris Moss, a scholar from Inspiring Minds Youngstown and the founder of One Bead at a Time. Moss, who makes jewelry, was selling her bracelets and necklaces at the event and sought support from shareholders to increase her business’ capacity.
As a community-led fund, every donor to the Fund for Women & Girls – regardless of the size of their gift – gets a voice in making grant awards. For the Microfunding Event, the fund’s Guiding Circle selects finalists from all received applications, with the finalists then giving a brief presentation and answering audience questions about the program they’re seeking funding for.
For more information on the Fund for Women & Girls or to make a donation, visit CFMV.org/fund-for-women-girls.
Pictured:Sonja Fields and Laquita Clark from The McGuffey Centre, Anika Jacobs from Promise Community Hub and TeiAsha Simms and Katrina Simms from My Melanin Speaks presented their organization’s work at the Fund for Women & Girls’ Microfunding Event on April 16.