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Community Corner

The San Diego Women's Foundation annual Grantmaking Kick Off

Funding for innovative educational programs can’t wait. Not when graduation rates are as low as 50 percent in some San Diego communities.  Not when impoverished kids are academically two years behind their peers, or when gifted students are forced to give up on their college dreams due to family hardship.  The San Diego Women’s Foundation (www.sdwomensfoundation.org), an organization that brings women together to turn passion into action with the power of pooled philanthropy, believes it can help change this reality…now.  Education is the current grantmaking focus of The San Diego Women’s Foundation. 

 

On Wednesday, September 21, 2011, The San Diego Women’s Foundation will host the annual Grantmaking Kick Off at Gompers Preparatory Academy, 1005 47th Street, San Diego, CA 92102-369 for its educational grant focus. Members and prospective members are invited to launch the educational grantmaking for 2012.  The program includes a panel discussion with Paula Cordeiro, Dean of the USD School of Leadership & Education Sciences ("SOLES"); Bud Mehan, Director of the UCSD Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment and Teaching Excellence (CREATE); and Susan Wolking, Executive Director of the Girard Foundation. They will discuss the global and local challenges facing education and some of the creative solutions that are beginning to become trends.
  
 The panel presentation will be followed with informative breakout sessions focusing on  

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1) Charter Schools and the Collective Educational Effort  -- Hear from Gompers Prep's Director, Vincent Riveroll, and parents about how their school transitioned from a public school to a charter school and the impact that has had on their educational performance and programs.
  
2) Public Schools and Creative Solutions -- Principal of John Marshall Elementary School, Staci Monreal will discuss the challenges they face as a public school and the strategies they have used to succeed.

3) Beyond the Classroom – Representatives from Elementary Institute of Science Institute, Orchestra NOVA, and Tech Trek! Will discuss what they’re doing to enrich students' in-class experiences with extra-curricular education.
  
4) An Innovative Approach to Teaching -- Two teachers from the Words Alive program will talk about the success they’ve had working in classrooms on new, inventive approaches to reading.

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“Because of our collective strength,” said Eileen Haag, a long-time community leader and new chair of The San Diego Women’s Foundation, “we have granted more than $2 million to 58 impactful nonprofit programs and built a $2.3 million endowment since our founding 11 years ago.  What we have achieved as a group would have been unthinkable to do alone.  That is the essence of pooled philanthropy.”

Today, The San Diego Women’s Foundation (www.sdwomensfoundation.org) has more than 200 members, and looks to add another 100 members in the coming year.  “More women mean more grants and stronger community impact,” said Haag.  She noted that since its inception, founding members envisioned a lasting legacy beyond their own lifetimes.

The program reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with panel discussions commencing at 6:15 p.m.  Foundation members and prospective members are invited.  For additional information, please RSVP to Bridget at bridgetm@sdfoundation.org or call (619) 814-1351.

Women who wish to become a member of The San Diego Women’s Foundation or would like more information are invited to visit www.sdwomensfoundation.org or call (619) 235-2300.

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About The San Diego Women’s Foundation

Founded as a supporting organization of The San Diego Foundation, The San Diego Women's Foundation has grown to an organization of more than 200 members. Each member has committed to an annual contribution of $2,000 for a minimum of five years and has one vote to determine where grants will be awarded each year. The power of many women giving together has made a significant impact on the San Diego Region. Since it was founded in 2000, the Foundation has now exceeded $2 million in grants to 58 nonprofit programs.  For more information, please visit www.sdwomensfoundation.org or call (619) 235-2300.

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