Grant History

• Girls, Inc. for their Operation SMART program, a research-based, education program that develops enthusiasm for and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
• Peace at Home Family Shelter for their Supporting Our Sisters’ Financial Independence program, an intensive 12-month financial empowerment program targeting 100 NWA domestic violence survivors. The Shelter hopes to train other facilitators at shelters around the state so they might offer the training in their shelters.
• Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter – Funding will go to the Shelter’s Teen Life Skills program which offers opportunities for the young women in foster care to learn and develop daily life skills throughout their stay at the shelter. These life skills include managing money, using resources in the community, cooking, living healthy, college readiness, personal safety, healthy relationships, and more.
• Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services – Funding goes to the ongoing programs at the children’s home in Monticello which encourage the young women to complete their education. Their “Reach for the Stars” program serves young women between the ages of 12 and 21 through mentoring, ACT preparation classes, college visits, one-on-one meetings with staff to review goals, and receiving assistance with homework.

2014 Grant Award Recipients

• The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts for their SE1+G1RLS C0DE program where eighth and ninth grade girls will explore both computer programming and hardware engineering through the Raspberry Pi platform.
• The Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Benton County for their SMART Girls program, which addresses the need for girls and women, ages 8-18, to have strong self-esteem, to have life skills to deal with issues facing them, and to begin to form life goals.
• Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter for their Higher Education Preparatory Program which seeks to provide the encouragement and means to enable the young women in residence to graduate high school and to consider continuing their education as a valid option.

2013 Grant Award Recipients

• Accion for their business boot camp for women entrepreneurs. The boot camps are free to participants and will provide training to women so they learn what it takes to start and run a business.
• Havenwood for their Women’s Empowerment Series which training which focuses on five key areas with residents; family, health, education, career and productivity.
• Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas for their GEM Program’s goal is to empower Spanish-speaking individuals to acquire marketable skills and computer literacy, and learn in their native language how to navigate the system to find opportunities for self-development, education, and employment.
• Kid’s Life and Money for their Financial Leadership Academy for Girls (FLAG), focusing on students in grades 5-12. The program provides educational and leadership opportunities for women and girls that are aligned with its core values of higher education, financial literacy, leadership development, entrepreneurship, and service.
• Lifehouse Ministries, Inc for their parenting skills education. By providing compassionate care in a loving, safe, and supportive environment, and by knowing the developmental milestones that are appropriate for children, the role of parenting can be an enjoyable experience with a positive outcome.
• Pulaski County Youth Services for their ACT Preparation Program which provides college-bound students with the keys to success for achieving their maximum score on the college entrance exam.

2011 Grant Award Recipients

• The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas began in 1998 as a project of the “Top 100 Women of Arkansas” and was a designated fund with the Arkansas Community Foundation. In its first year, WFA’s founders contributed $100,000 to establish the Women’s Foundation as an enduring resource for all Arkansas women and girls. Grants from the fund are used to promote ideas and support programs that assist Arkansas women and girls in achieving their full potential in any endeavor.
• The Women’s Foundation is currently working to grow the WFA Grant-making Endowment Fund so that we might provide increased support to deserving organizations currently addressing the states’ greatest needs for women and girls. Funding is made available to human service, educational, and charitable groups in every corner of the state.
• Grants Committee Report – 2011
• In 2011 the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas received 31 Letters of Interest totaling $244,400 in requested funds. Regional Grant Making Committees reviewed Letters of Interest and applications from their areas and made recommendations for the WFA Board of Directors.The Foundation awarded a total of $29,970:
• $14,970 for programs/projects in Central Arkansas;
• $5,000 for programs/projects in Northwest Arkansas; and
• $10,000 for programs/projects in Southeast Arkansas.
• CASA Women’s Shelter of Pine Bluff, $10,000 for a Job Training Program Coordinator
• The job training advocate will work one on one with the agency’s clients to develop their confidence and skills so that the women may find gainful employment. This program will help the CASA clients in their skill building: resume preparation, interviewing skills and professional attire. CASA is committed to ending violence against women and children and believes that women and children have the right to live without fear of battering – physically, emotionally or financially.
• Girl Scouts Diamonds of AR, OK, & TX, $6,500 for Financial Literacy for Girls
• Through an interactive Girl Scout Pathway Series focusing on financial literacy, the Girl Scouts – Diamonds Council will partner with local experts, educators and/or volunteers to educate teenage girls in grades 9-12 on the importance of effectively managing their personal finances and to empower these girls to make sound financial decisions as they enter adulthood. Utilizing the “Hands On Banking” materials available through Wells Fargo Bank, the Diamonds Council will host financial literacy programs throughout the state for both Girls Scouts and non-Girls Scouts providing over 240 girls with useful resources and tools to help them improve their organizational
  and money management skills.
• Girls Inc., $2,500 for Girls Dig It!
• Girls Dig It! will give Ft. Smith area young women participating in the Girls Inc. program a more detailed look into the dynamic world of archaeology. The program bridges the sciences and the humanities, combining the tools of scientific disciplines with the interpretive practices of humanities’ disciplines such as history, art history, anthropology, linguistics, philosophy, folklore and folk life. The program introduces the girls to the analytical and interpretive skills used in these disciplines, as
  well as to the epistemological and ethical questions raised by archaeological investigation.
• Methodist Family Health, $3,645 for Arkansas Cares
• Funds from the WFA grant will purchase GED preparation software and printed materials for the women of Arkansas CARES (Center for Addictions Research, Education and Services). Many of the CARES women have not completed high school or the General Educational Development (GED) test. Having this software allows Methodist Family Health to help the women prepare for the GED test, opening up the door to better jobs, continuing education and overall future success (and their children’s success) upon leaving the program.Ozark Literacy Council, $2,500 for Financial Literacy Program for Women
• OLC’s financial literacy program for their women ESL students will enable them to acquire language skills to secure a job, to allow them to become knowledgeable participants in their own financial situation, and to develop financial independence. Partnering with Arvest Bank, LULAC NWA, LULAC Arkansas, NWA Hispanic Advisory Council, and the U of A’s International Students and Scholars Program , OLC can coordinate efforts to meet the financial literacy needs of the Washington and Benton County women immigrant population, so that they and their families can inevitably contribute to the economic vitality of our community.Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County, $2,825 for Women’s Employment Initiative
• The Women’s Employment Initiative is designed to help SPSF recipients who are soon-to-be or recent college graduates find lucrative employment. The program offers employment assistance for approximately 30 women. Services such as mock job interviews; individual resume design and production consultation; guidance with interview attire, and professional job-search assistance are offered through a day-long workshop and several follow-up consultations for each participant. Workshop presentations are offered by the employment specialists at Little Rock Workforce Center and HR professionals from L’Oreal and Acxiom.

2010 Grant Award Recipients

• The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas began in 1998 as a project of the “Top 100 Women of
  Arkansas” and was a designated fund with the Arkansas Community Foundation. In its first year, WFA’s founders contributed $100,000 to establish the Women’s Foundation as an enduring resource for all Arkansas women and girls. Grants from the fund are used to promote ideas and support programs that assist Arkansas women and girls in achieving their full potential in any endeavor. Between the first grant-making cycle in 1999 and 2006, WFA gifted $152,449 to 79 programs directly benefitting 7,600 women & girls and indirectly benefitting thousands more.
• Grants Committee Report – 2010
• WFA received $280,000 worth of requests in 31 Letters of Interest during this grant cycle. Regional grant-making committees reviewed the letters and requested full proposals from 7 organizations. Six organizations submitted full proposals; 1 organization chose not to submit a proposal during this cycle. Regional grant-making committees reviewed full proposals, made site visits, and then made recommendations to the State Grant-Making Committee, who then made recommendations to the
  WFA Board of Directors.
• The board chose to fund 3 grants for a total of $25,000:
• The Summer Culinary Institute for Young Women at Arkansas Tech University received a grant of $10,000 for its week-long program enabling fifty (50) 9th – 12th grade young women to be exposed to aspects of the hospitality industry – a predominately male profession. Classes will include entrepreneurship, nutrition, job readiness and other areas while also assisting the young women with their decision-making of college majors.
• The Supporting Survivors Program of Catholic Immigration Services/Catholic Charities of Arkansas received a grant of $10,000. This grant allows CIS to hire a Case Manager Coordinator to manage the ongoing needs of domestic violence survivors and their families. Activities include assessing immigrant survivors to identify areas of need and provide referrals to resources to meet those needs including enrollment in adult education programs such as ESL classes, life skills training, job skills training, etc.
• “Girls Pursuing Science” program at Ozark Natural Science Center received a grant of $5,000. Girls Pursuing Science program – or GPS – includes a highly educational and exciting nature-based week-long summer camp and a winter retreat. Girls are chosen by their teachers to attend and will take part in activities and camp experiences led by female scientists from an established network of partners in the university setting and conservation organizations, as well as ONSC’s female teacher-naturalists.

2006 Grant Award Recipients

• The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas began in 1998 as a project of the “Top 100 Women of Arkansas” and was a designated fund with the Arkansas Community Foundation. In its first year, WFA’s founders contributed $100,000 to establish the Women’s Foundation as an enduring resource for all Arkansas women and girls. Grants from the fund are used to promote ideas and support programs that assist Arkansas women and girls in achieving their full potential in any endeavor. WFA gifted $152,449 since the first grant-making cycle in 1999 through the 2006 grant-making cycle.
• Grants Committee Report – 2006
• Prepared by Cynthia VanWinkle
• Thirty-one grant applications were received requesting a total of $134,733.56. Nine grants were awarded for a total of $19,750.
• Girls Scouts of Crowley’s Ridge ($3,000): The Girl Scouts of Crowley’s Ridge Council will plan and implement six workshops for 565 girls ages 5-17. The workshops will focus on science activities and will give the girls the opportunity to earn a patch, petal, try-it, or badge, depending on their age level.
• Girls Scouts of Conifer Council ($2,000): Girls from diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups will investigate basic science methods through engaging in hands-on science activities conducted by pre-service teachers and science club members at Texarkana College and Texas A&M University, Texarkana. The project will engage girl/adult partners in collaborative science learning and build supportive community partnerships.
• Girls Scouts of NOARK Council (Hispanic Outreach) ($2,000): Outreach to girls in seven schools in three counties that will involve up to 140 Hispanic girls in grades K – 5 and their families. Each girl will participate in two, 2-hour NOARK Girl Scout (educational) programs at no cost. This project will help meld Hispanic and American cultures in Northwest Arkansas communities.
• Girls Scouts of NOARK (Rural Outreach Program) ($3,000): Outreach to girls in six rural elementary schools who live in remote and/or isolated areas which limit their extracurricular activities through three, 2-hour NOARK Girl Scout Programs focusing on physics, science, and math to develop girls’ interest and curiosity in these fields to provide confidence for their careers and introducing a network of female mentors who empower girls to be transformed into women of confidence, character, and courage who will make the world a better place.
• Peace At Home Shelter ($3,000): The Arkansas Women Achieving project is an innovative, cost-effective model program that improves long-term outcomes for families escaping dangerous homes by building job skills and inspiring hope and courage. Their goal is that no woman returns to her abuser because she cannot afford to take care of herself and children.
• Western Arkansas PACE ($2,500): Due to continuing underachievement of gifted girls in adolescence (thus affecting long term education and career goals and attainment), sixth grade girls and other stakeholders will attend a conference dealing with their issues, gaining inspiration and motivation, and being exposed to successful female role models in various careers (math/science, business, education, arts, government).
• Pulaski Technical Collage ($2,250): This program will enable low-income, first-generation and/or single mothers to begin classes and learn about careers in math, science, and technology. The program will also reach out through mentoring, peer group education, events, web-based communities, newsletters, field trips, guest speakers, and financial assistance. This project seek to improve career knowledge and graduation rates.
• AR Sheriffs Youth Ranch ($3,000): Program Team Balance – Women and Economy is designed to help girls on rural campuses develop into strong, capable women, both by teaching life and financial skills and by instilling a sense of empowerment and self-worth. The program will accomplish these goals through classroom and experiential educational opportunities.
• Grant County Unified Community Resource Council ($2,000): A mentoring program that will pair single parent scholarship recipients with trained mentors to create a fostering relationship that will provide students with the skills, knowledge, and support necessary to complete their education, earn gainful employment, and improve their lives and the lives of their children.

2005 Grant Award Recipients

• Prepared by Cynthia VanWinkle
• The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas granted a total of $26,000 to eight projects benefiting women and girls in Arkansas for the 2005 grant cycle. Eight projects were selected to receive $26,000:
• Montrose After/Out of School Time Program ($5,000): Montrose Development Center,
  Southeast Arkansas Girls Going Globals – Using GPS/GIS to navigate the world of technology ($5,000): Arkansas 4-H Technology Team, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, Statewide
• Aim for Success Women’s Conference/Follow-up Lifeskills Courses ($3,500): CareerCloset Life House Ministries (Northeast Arkansas, Paragould)
• Female Role-models In Education Nourishing Diverse Sisterhood (FRIENDS) ($3,200): Literacy Council of Jefferson County (Southeast/Central Arkansas, Pine Bluff)
• Meeting the Growing Needs of Arkansas’ Women in Agriculture ($3,000): University of Arkasnas Division of Agriculture (Statewide)
• Operation SMART – A sceince, math and relevant technology program ($2,300): Girls Inc. of Fort Smith (Northwest Arkansas)
• Summer Escapes: “Don’t Sweat it” – a mentoring and workshop program reaching 11-15 year old girls ($2,000): Arkansas Post Girls Scout Council (Southeast/Central Arkansas, Pine Bluff)
• Science Matters – a science workshop designed to build confidence and capabilities in women and girls ($2,000): Girl Scouts of Ouachita Council (Central Arkansas, North Little Rock)

2004 Grant Award Recipients

• Prepared by Cynthia VanWinkle
• The Mini-Grant committee, chaired by Cyndee VanWinkle, reviewed grant proposals and recommend seven to the board as being funded. A total of 55 proposals were received and reviewed, with $235,000 being requested by those agencies. The following grants were awarded for a total of $19,893:
• Girls Proclaiming Power ($1,498): A program by the Southwest Arkansas Domestic Violence Center in DeQueen, Arkansas serving 480 girls.
• Empowering Girls in Math, Science & Technology ($4,995): a program by the Math & Science Institute in Russellville, Arkansas serving 150 girls.
• Transitional Space ($3,000): a program by Second Genesis of Little Rock, Arkansas serving 80 women.
• Inspired Girls Go Tech ($1,350): a program by Huntsville Middle School in Huntsville, Arkansas serving 175 girls.
• Aim for Success ($1,050): a program by CAREER Closet in Paragould, Arkansas serving 40 women.
• Girls Expect Respect ($5,000): a program by Center for Healing and Hope in Little Rock, Arkansas serving 200 girls.
• Teach Girls – Teen Esteem ($3,000): a program by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in Texarkana, Arkansas serving 120 girls.

2003 Grant Award Recipients

• Prepared by Cynthia VanWinkle
• The 2003 Mini-grant Committee reviewed 70 proposals requesting a total of $281,000. This first round of evaluations yielded positive reviews of 25 applicants, representing funding requests totaling $99,000. The committee then discussed the merits of each proposal in relation to WFA’s mission and goals, the number of women and girls potentially served by the project, the program’s geographic scope, budget, and capacity for change-making within the community. The group also decided that the funding emphasis would be on programs for women and girls that inspire personal, educational, and economic development, rather than projects that were strictly human/social service efforts designed to meet basic needs of food, shelter, health, and safety. Thirteen grants were awarded for a total of $15,557.
• GROW Project ($1,000): The Junior League of Little Rock’s GROW Project encourages girls to participate in bimonthly seminars, summer camp, mentoring, arts enrichment, and field trips focusing on improving self esteem and leadership potential. Focus: Self Esteem. Geographic Scope: Central Arkansas, Little Rock.
• Circle of Givers Project ($1,000): The League of Women Voters – Arkansas’s Circle of Givers Project will promote philanthropy among women, between 35 and 75 years of age, who are working professionals in 5 counties in central Arkansas. Focus: Philanthropy. Geographic Scope: Central Arkansas, 5 County area around Little Rock.
• NASA Project ($600): Wonderview High School’s NASA Project – A female astronaut will visit female students at the high school to inspire them to reach high expectations in their future careers and in their lives. Focus: Mentoring. Geographic Scope: Northwest Arkansas, Hattieville
• College and Career Day Project ($857): The University of the Ozarks College and Career Day Project, for 8th grade girls, will encourage them to make plans to excel in high school and in college and it will expand their vision and interest in various careers available to them in the future. Focus: Education & Economic Development. Geographic Scope: Northwest Arkansas, Clarksville
• Career Development Project ($1,000): The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Washington
  County’s Career Development Project will help women who are single parents to consider career options and create a smooth transition to the business world after college. Women professionals will mentor participants in workshop seminars. Focus: Mentoring. Geographic Scope: Northwest Arkansas, Springdale
• LEAP Project ($2,000): The Literacy Council of Jefferson County’s LEAP Project will reach low-literate women and girls and teach work readiness, personal hygiene, communication skills, computer skills, and a strong work ethic. Participants will learn through classroom instruction and mentoring. Focus: Skills Development. Geographic Scope: Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff.
• Girls + Science = Success Project ($2,500): The Girls Scouts of Conifer Council’s Girls + Science = Success Project will raise the level of expectations for higher education and careers, of older girls in 12 counties in southwest Arkansas. The project will provide an innovative approach to motivate girls to continue their education and pursue careers specifically in medicine, physics, biology, and engineering. This is WFA’s third grant to the Girls Scouts of Conifer Counsil. Previous grants supported HOT- Hands on Technology, computers, math, science workshops, job-site visits. Focus: Education & Economic Development. Geographic Scope: Southwest Arkansas, 12 Counties.
• She’s On the Money! Project ($2,500): The Women’s Project “She’s On the Money!” Project
  will provide girls the skills needed to make smart decisions about their financial futures and to contribute to the economy. They will learn how to budget, save, and take informed financial risks. Participants will also discuss issues affecting women such as childcare, welfare, and equal pay for equal work. Focus: Financial Education. Geographic Scope: Central Arkansas, Pulaski & Garland Counties.
• Sowing Seeds of Fire Oral History Project ($1,000): The Boys, Girls, Adults Community
  Development Center’s Sowing Seeds of Fire Oral History Project will build on an earlier grant from the Women’s Foundation to the “Delta Women and Youth Achieving Goals” project that documented Delta African American women’s struggles and successes. This new project will provide intergenerational mentoring, skills building, an introduction to technology careers, and sharing stories promoting social action and justice. Focus: Mentoring. Geographic Scope: Southeast Arkansas, Marvel.
• Women in Our Lives Project ($1,500): Vilonia Primary School’s Women in Our Lives Project is an ongoing weekly project that introduces K through 4th grade girls to professional careers and career opportunities in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The project also includes mother/daughter meetings in the library and classroom visits. This is the third grant to the Vilonia School District: Previous grants supported a Music Mentoring project, and a section of Library Books on Successful Women. Focus: Mentoring. Geographic Scope: Central Arkansas, Vilonia.
• Delta Scholarship Project ($500): The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund’s Delta
  Scholarship Project is a public awareness and marketing project to increase awareness in 10 rural counties in the Delta, to promote education and career opportunities for women who are single parents, and to encourage them to apply for scholarships for college classes for career preparation. This is WFA’s fourth grant to the Single Parent Scholarship Fund. Previous grants supported Pulaski. Co. Computers on Loan for Women, and Student Mentoring project, as well as this year’s Washington Co. Career Development project. Focus: Education & Economic Development. Geographic Scope: Eastern Arkansas; 10 Delta Counties.
• Ready to Read Project ($100): The Community Action Program for Central Arkansas’s Ready to Read Project will provide funds for non-prescription reading eyeglasses for women who are incarcerated in Faulkner County so they can improve their reading skills and plan for re-entry into the workforce. Focus: Education & Economic Development. Geographic Scope: Central Arkansas, Faulkner County.
• Positive Power Project ($1,000): The Girl Scouts of Crowley’s Ridge “Positive Power Project” will work to eliminate bullying and to build self-esteem for girls residing in housing authority residences, who will learn anti-bullying techniques, decision-making, and leadership techniques, resulting in more successful educational and career paths. This is WFA’s third grant to the Girl Scouts of Crowley’s Ridge. Previous grants supported a project for Hispanic girls, mothers, and grandmothers, intergenerational mentoring through scouting; and Science Kits. Focus: Selfesteem. Geographic Scope: Northeast Arkansas, Jonesboro.

2002 Grant Award Recipients

Prepared by Cynthia VanWinkle

The Grants Committee reviewed 60 grant applications and selected 7 for funding, for a total of $14,000.

• Second Genesis: $2500 for a mentoring program serving women who as a result of poverty, domestic violence, drug addiction, or poor coping skills, have been incarcerated. Once they are released from jail, this program provides help with housing, life skills, counseling, and mentor support so women can gain employment and be reunited with family. (Central Arkansas)
• Girl Scouts Conifer Council: $2500 for a mentoring program for 7th to 12th grade girls to develop leadership skills, explore career paths in law, medicine, business, communication, and government and learn about financial management and philanthropy. Girls will shadow women mentors in their community and will volunteer for 12 hours of community service. (12 counties in southwest Arkansas)
• Boys and Girls Club of Arkansas River Valley: $2500 for a mentoring program for girls, ages 13 to 18 to explore careers, develop skills necessary for obtaining and holding jobs, increase decision making skills, and develop goals using a computer generated plan. The program also includes small group discussion, guest speakers, field trips, and job shadowing. (Russellville, northwest Arkansas)
• Girl Scouts of Crowley’s Ridge: $2500 for a targeted mentoring program for Hispanic girls and their mothers and Hispanic business and community leaders to provide an intergenerational program encouraging decision making, assertiveness, and leadership skills among young girls and teens. (Paragould, northeast Arkansas)
• Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County: $2500 for a mentoring program for adult women who are single parents and are seeking a college degree. The program pairs current college scholarship recipients with mentors on five college campuses to encourage them in selecting courses, career paths, and to navigate and solve any problems so they will complete their degrees and their goals for jobs, community activities, and providing guidance for their own children. (Central Arkansas)
• Newton County Library: $800 to create a base collection of books featuring women who are leaders, who work in unusual occupations, and who provide strong role models. (North central Arkansas)
  Women and Children First: $550 to provide mentoring by 25 community volunteers for 400 women who are victims of domestic violence. The program includes learning basic computer skills, writing letters and resumes, and studying for the GED to improve employment prospects. (Central Arkansas)
• Dress for Success: $150 to provide some funds to purchase plus size clothing and large size shoes for women who need business clothes to interview for jobs. The Women’s Foundation also will encourage board members and friends to donate gently used clothes for this project.

2001 Grant Award Recipients

• Prepared by Cynthia VanWinkle
• The Grants and Programs Committee reviewed 36 applications and awarded $16,090.
• PC Maintenance and Repair – Computer in a Box – $5000
• The Pine Bluff School District Scoggins-May-Hall Gifted and Talented Center is sponsoring the program titled, “PC Maintenance and Repair,” an extension of the “Computer-in-a Box” program WFA funded in 1999. The program targets 4th to 9th grade girls, who work in pairs.
• From proposal: “The challenge is to involve more girls in the technical computer technology courses, rather than just general computer courses. I knew the project would need to be interesting, competitive, time-worthy, and fun for the girls to buy-in. This was accomplished through the first course, Computer in a Box. The girls learned the names and functions of all of the inner parts of a computer. They then used that knowledge to construct working computers from the case up.”
• “In PC Maintenance and Repair, the 4th to 9th grade girls will learn the basics of troubleshooting, maintenance, and upgrading computer systems. They will utilize Intel Motherboards, computer cooling fans, sticks of memory, video cards, and miscellaneous parts, boards, cords, and software. At the end of the project, all of the girls will be able to service most common computer systems in use today.”
• Math, Science, Computers…and Girls! – Hands on Technology (HOT) – $1770
• The Girl Scouts of Conifer Council is sponsoring the program titled, “Math, Science, Computers and Girls!” an extension of the “Hands on Technology” (HOT) Program funded by WFA in 2000. The program targets 14 counties in southwest Arkansas and will reach 100 to 125 girls in each county.
• From the proposal: “The WFA grant we received in 2000 for Hands on Technology allowed us to equip 12 HOT tubs and conduct activities for girls in math and science. The new grant will allow more than 1000 girls to increase their computer skills and confidence and to explore the world of technology. It will encourage girls to consider college degrees in fields such as computer science and engineering. The 12 HOT tubs, laptop and tutorial will be shared throughout the 14-county southwest Arkansas area, including Texarkana, DeQueen, Nashville, Magnolia, ElDorado, and Camden.”
• Everyday Math & Technology – Every Day! – $5000
• The Sutton Elementary School, a Fort Smith Public School is sponsoring the program titled “Everyday Math & Technology – Every Day!”
• From the proposal: “Students in my 6th grade class are from lower income homes with parents who are mostly blue collar workers. Only 20% have access to a computer. For this project, the 6th graders will be divided into groups of four students who will go to businesses in our community to interview women about how they use math and technology every day in their jobs.”
• “Students will prepare questions ahead of time and will utilize various forms of technology, including a digital camera, video recorder, computer, and tape recorder. They will return to the classroom to edit and work on a PowerPoint presentation incorporating digital video clips. The women who are interviewed, the students’ parents and other classes will be invited to see the presentations in March during Women’s History Month.” “Grant funds will be used to purchase computer equipment, a television, a digital camera and other items so students can prepare presentations after interviewing professional women in the community to find out how the women apply math and technology in their everyday work.”
• Musical Mentoring – $4320
• The Vilonia Public School Band Department is sponsoring the program titled “From College-toClassroom, Students-Teaching-Students Musical Mentoring.”
• From the proposal: “The Vilonia School District is the eighth poorest school district in the state. We have no local industry, but our parents are very hard working. We may be rural, but we have the best interests of all of our students at heart. In our state much money is spent on sports, but it is important that the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas is focusing on helping girls and will provide funds for meaningful and significant mentoring projects.”
• “In this Mentoring Project, female college band students from the University of Central Arkansas will be paired with female Vilonia high school and junior high band students for one-on-one coaching and teaching. Each participating female high school and junior high band student then will be assigned a middle school female band student to instruct, mentor, encourage and teach. The lessons will be highly structured, with individual goals of All Region Band and college music scholarships.”
• “This project will instill in girls a strong commitment to give back to their community by mentoring other girls, a commitment that may last all their lives.”

2000 Grant Award Recipients

• Prepared by Cynthia VanWinkle
• The grants committee reviewed 41 applications and awarded $20,000.
• $5,500 for the Girls of Promise Conference, a one-day statewide conference held in Little Rock for eighth grade girls and their math or science teachers. The conference emphasizes math, science, technology, finance, and medicine. It features successful women who share their paths to success and who challenge the students to take higher level math and science courses.
• $2500 to Conifer Girl Council, Texarkana for “HOT,” (Hands On Technology). The project goal is to promote positive attitudes about math, science and technology. Women employed in these fields will conduct workshops and arrange job-site visits for the girls participating. Impact: 100 girls over 10 months.
• $2500 to Mother to Mother of Northwest Arkansas in Bentonville. The grant will provide financial assistance to cover childcare and transportation costs for 12 under-served mothers to receive training in computer skills and self-enrichment courses to help them surmount personal barriers to achieving self-sufficiency. Impact: 12 women and their families.
• $2500 to The Learning Center in Bee Branch. This pilot project will create an after-school mentoring and computer education program for at-risk girls in a rural area with few resources. The pilot project will focus initially on 8 girls.
• $2500 to The Shepherd’s Ranch Program (a part of Centers for Youth and Families). This grant will support an on-going statewide mentoring program for at-risk girls from age 10 until they graduate from high school. This project includes weekend and summer activities as well as weekly mentor contacts. Impact: 24 – 60 girls and mentors.
• $2500 to Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County. Funds will be used for a computer loan program for low-income single mothers enrolled in higher education. The new and/or upgraded used computers will allow mothers to complete their assignments at home while caring for their children. Nine used computers have been donated and are ready for upgrading. Other funds will allow the purchase of additional computers. The computers will be passed on to other scholarship recipients in subsequent years. Impact: initially, 9 – 11 women. Additional women will benefit in subsequent years.
• $500 to the Arkansas Advisory Committee on the Status of Women to help purchase and
  disseminate 300 copies of a comprehensive report on the health, political and economic status of women in Arkansas. The purpose of the report is to promote women’s equality and their full participation in society. This award will be made in memory of Diane Blair
• $500 to Boys, Girls, and Adults Community Development Center in Marvell, AR, to support
  “Sowing Seeds of Fire: Stories of African American Women Activists in the Delta.” Funds will support an in-depth oral history research project that will incorporate interviews, film and photographs. Subjects of the research are two African American women activists, Erma Jean Davis of Marvell and Cassie Currence of Gould. Project will provide a teaching tool for Delta schools.
• $500 to University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Funds will support a nationally advertised 21st Century Families Conference focusing on initiatives critical to families and mothers. Topics at the conference will include health and nutrition; strengthening families; developing youth; managing resources; and developing leadership and volunteerism. Expected attendees: 400, 80% of whom are expected to be women.
• $500 to UALR Foundation to support research for “A Gathering of Women: Arkansas Women 1930-2000,” an exhibit and website to be created through the research of Dr. Johanna Miller Lewis, Professor of History. This project will trace the trends in Arkansas women’s history by comparing experiences of women across the state. Impact: Exhibit will open in May 2001,
  available statewide.

1999 Grant Award Recipients

Prepared by Cynthia VanWinkle

In 1999 the Grants and Programs Committee reviewed 61 applications and awarded $19,159.

• $2,000 to Quapaw Community Center, Hot Springs for a leadership training seminar serving 20 8th grade girls.
• $720 to South East Arkansas Education Service Coop for software to train 12 women
  presentation skills. The women will return to their community to make presentations and train other women.
• $2,215 to Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado for educational curriculum materials “Think It Over Baby” to provide prevention education and leadership development to 100 girls in SE Arkansas.
• $700 to Blytheville Alumnae Chapter, Delta sigma Theta Sorority curriculum supplies and booklets for a mentoring program reaching 20 girls, ages 11-14.
• $500 to Boys & Girls Club of Paris for a “Just for Girls” Club using Smart Girls program to promote self-esteem and positive peer group for 50 girls, ages 13 – 18.
• $500 to UALR Gender Studies/Women’s Program Advocate funds for a woman’s exhibit
  reaching 500 women during a regional women’s conference
• $1,524 to Vilonia Elementary School to purchase books about women and create a designated section of library about women. 144 girls will participate. Students will dress, and emulate women they study.
• $2,000 to Ouachita Girls Scout Council, Little Rock for software and books that focus on the sciences and math as part of an existing community outreach program serving 150 girls.
• $2,300 to Cotton Plant High School for 30 girls to participate in Growth, Inc., a greenhouse business organized by 7 women, introducing girls to the strategies of entrepreneurship.
• $2,500 to Pine Bluff School District for a Computer-In-A-Box program teaching 40 girls, grades 4th to 9th the technology to build and maintain a computer.
• $1,700 to Mother to Mother of NW Arkansas to provide childcare and transportation for 10 women to learn computer skills for the job market.
• $500 to Rogers Area Chamber of Commerce to support women’s task force that will identify the needs of women in the community.
• $2,000 to Crowley’s Ridge Girl Scout Council, Jonesboro to purchase science kits for 185 girls for a “Girls Scouting in the School” Day.