Foundation holding online vote
PITTSBURGH – The Women and Girls Foundation is launching its first-ever online vote to engage community members in the selection of 2009 grantees. Earlier this fall, the foundation reached out to agencies the serve women and girls in southwestern Pennsylvania seeking grant applications for projects that would increase women and girls’ rights through community organizing or policy advocacy efforts. The foundation’s grant-making committee reviewed 31 applications from the region and selected the Top 10 proposals.
Now, in an effort to engage the community in its grant-making process,
the foundation seeks community input on the Top 10 proposals. The online vote will help the foundation determine which of these agencies will receive a grant award.
To vote, the public is encouraged to visit the foundation’s home page, www.wgfpa.org, click on the Vote NOW! link, review the Top 10 proposals and select the proposal they believe will be the most effective in increasing rights for women and girls in the region.
The Top 10 proposals are:
City of Pittsburgh will evaluate hiring practices and provide recommendations to increase the number of women in the public safety and fire department. Area served: City of Pittsburgh.
Coalition of Pennsylvania Crime Victims Organizations (COPCVO). This project will train crime victims and engage them in legislative advocacy efforts to increase support for victim services: Area served: Southwestern Pennsylvania and statewide.
Just Harvest will advocate to the state Department of Public Welfare to withdraw proposed regulatory changes to TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) Special Allowances. Area served: Southwestern Pennsylvania and statewide.
Mercy Behavioral Health will educate girls on the legislative process and engage as advocates on an issue that impacts their lives. Area served: city of Pittsburgh.
New Voices: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice will conduct a grassroots community-organizing initiative to address needs of non-violent female offenders at the Allegheny County Jail. Area served: Allegheny County.
The Midwife Center for Birth and Women’s Health will engage in local and federal legislative advocacy efforts to increase access to midwifery services. Area served: Southwestern Pennsylvania and statewide.
Vanessa Koch (a Carnegie Mellon University student) will implement a multimedia campaign to engage young women in greater Pittsburgh on the issues of gender wage gap. Area served: Allegheny County.
The Washington Hospital Team Outreach will link adult women and adolescent girls in a countywide community advocacy effort to encourage positive body image. Area served: Washington County.
Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh will improve magisterial district judges’ response in cases of domestic violence. Area served: Allegheny County.
Women’s Law Project will work to achieve public disclosure of information about gender equity in federally funded middle schools and high schools. Area served: Southwestern Pennsylvania and state, as well as Lawrence and Butler counties.
“WGF’s online vote initiative will be a great way to engage the community and encourage them to use their voice in helping to determine the policies and programs that will be funded by our foundation” Heather Arnet said.
Votes must be submitted by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16. The number of votes earned will not determine the grant award winners. However, after the end of the voting period, the foundation’s grant-making committee with review voting results and detailed grant proposals and, after careful review of all of this information, will recommend $50,000 of grant awards to the foundation’s board of directors for approval and release at their December board meeting.
More information and request for proposals guidelines and timeline are available online at www.wgfpa.org.
The Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania is an independent community-based foundation serving 11 counties in Southwest Pennsylvania. Its mission is to achieve equity for women and girls in the region.