Page 56 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2016

leading the way
story by Lynn Lofton
Thotos courtesy of Women’s Foundation of Mississippi
he Women’s Foundation She adds that people respond
of Mississippi has made favorably to the foundation’s
a difference in the lives research-based operation and support of female residents in the of long-term changes. “They can see nine years of its existence. we’re making a real difference in the The Jackson-based lives of women and girls.”
Lives
p
nonprofit is the only grant making The Women’s Foundation is funded
generous anonymous donors,” Jordan said. “Women make up more than half the state’s population and can definitely be game changers.”
The Women’s Foundation began as a field of interest within the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson in 2002. In 2009, the Women’s Fund became
an independent nonprofit and statewide grant making origination. “Carol (Penick, executive director) pulled us out as a separate entity and that’s when real growth came about,” Jordan said.
Julie Kuklinski, director for the Moore Community House
Women in Construction Program
in Biloxi, is a board member for the Women’s Foundation. The program received one of the foundation’s
first grants to train women in non- traditional jobs and continues to train women to fill construction jobs.
Women’s Foundation of Mississippi
601.326.0700 www.womensfoundationms.org
and advocacy organization in the state entirely dedicated to
funding programs
that improve the lives
of women and girls. Director of
Communications
Lisa Jordan explains
that the foundation
makes grants to other
nonprofits, not to
women directly. “For
example, we awarded
a grant to the Black
Nurses Association on
the Coast to help with their program of reducing teen pregnancy,” she said. “Some of our grants go to community colleges to help with the issues of child care and transportation for women trying to earn degrees. Our research shows these issues make
it take longer for women to obtain degrees.”
through individuals, corporate donors
CHANGING
and national foundations such as Packard and Kellogg. This year, a total of $800,000 will be awarded to groups statewide.
A three-year focus called the Game Changer Campaign began in January with a goal to raise $6 million. “We’re off to a great start with $4 million raised already, thanks to two very
56 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • September 2016
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