CFMV’s Fund for Women & Girls Awards 3 Microgrants

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio ­– The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley’s Fund for Women & Girls awarded three microgrants totaling $3,500 to local nonprofits working with young women in the Valley.

The fund’s Guiding Circle selected three finalists from all the applications that were received. The finalists then gave a brief presentation and answered audience questions about the program they’re seeking funding for.

After hearing presentations from the three finalists during a microfunding event Wednesday, the roughly 30 attendees cast their votes and chose United Returning Citizens as the winner of a $2,000 grand prize for its Jumping Through Adversity double dutch summer program. Starting this summer with 36 teens, the program will use jumping rope as an entryway to providing support for participants’ education and health, as well as a space to build friendships.

SWAG Sisters received a $1,000 prize for its Dream Beyond Big event, which featured keynote speakers and workshops to expose young women to a wide range of career paths and empowerment topics. Callie’s Confidence received a $500 prize for the Miss Crowned in Confidence pageant, which delivers self-esteem programs and other support to young women in foster and kinship care.

“All three presenters do great jobs in their work with young women, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group as we bring back this centerpiece of the Fund for Women & Girls,” said Josh Medore, the CFMV staff liaison to the fund. “We’re especially proud to be able to support three organizations led by Black women.”

As a community-led fund, every donor in the Fund for Women & Girls – regardless of the size of their gift – has a say in how grants from the fund are awarded.

Pictured at top: Carshara Bradley from United Returning Citizens; Honeya Price and Lanae Allen from SWAG Sisters; and Lovie Barnes and Domonique Williams from Callie’s Confidence.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.