29 Oct 2019 Community Foundation’s Women’s Legacy Fund Awards $30,000 at Fall Breakfast – Photo Gallery
The Women’s Legacy Fund (WLF) of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation awarded the second of a three-year grant to Lee County Public Schools during its annual fall breakfast meeting on October 24. The grant will continue to support the Career Pipeline for Women in Health Care program, a program focused on enrolling women in underserved and underemployed communities in health science education programs at the two Lee County technical colleges, Fort Myers Technical College, and Cape Coral Technical College.
Women completing the program earn valuable state licenses and industry certifications which guarantees them an interview at two local health employers, Lee Health, and Cypress Cove at Health Park. After being completely triaged for possible funding sources, this program provides gap funding for women entering these programs to ensure that any additional financial barriers to certification attainment are overcome, and they can enter the workforce with the skills they need for success.
Now in its second year of the three-year grant, the program has demonstrated increased enrollment and completion rates, as well as employment placement with Lee Health and Cypress Cove to decrease openings of critical needs positions with Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) and Certified Medical Assistants (MA).
The program is designed for women to enroll and complete their post-secondary education with a direct link to an in-demand job, and to furthermore have the potential to continue their career path in the health care system. The women in these communities will be empowered to provide a generational impact, for themselves and their families.
Eighty women attended the breakfast, toured the Healthcare Sim Lab and met with students in the program.
The Women’s Legacy Fund is a group of women who combine their contributions in this collective philanthropy initiative to foster the immersion of women in philanthropy and develop the region’s next philanthropic leaders.
Since its inception, the WLF has been able to provide more than $230,000 in grants to benefit people and communities in Southwest Florida including this year’s grant of $30,000. Currently, the Fund has $878,546 in endowment that will continue to help fund local issues now and in the future.
Contributors to the WLF give a minimum of $250 each year ($100 for women younger than 25). The first half of contributions is pooled for the purpose of immediate annual grants, while the second half is pooled into the WLF’s endowment fund which provides additional grants to be made both now and in years to come. Prima Donors are local women who have contributed $10,000 or more to the WLF endowment and are committed to making an impact in their community through charitable giving.
About the Southwest Florida Community Foundation
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation, founded in 1976, cultivates regional change for the common good through collective leadership, social innovation and philanthropy to address the evolving community needs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Foundation partners with individuals, families and corporations who have created more than 400 philanthropic funds. Thanks to them, the Foundation invested $6.3 million in grants and programs to the community. With assets of more than $126 million, it has provided $79.9 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves since inception. The Foundation is the backbone organization for the regional FutureMakers Coalition and Lee County’s Sustainability Plan. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s regional headquarters are now located in the historic ACL Train Depot at Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers, with satellite offices located on Sanibel Island, in LaBelle (Hendry County). For more information, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.floridacommunity.com
