October 2015

Fund for Women celebrated in grand style...
First Lady Carla Markell receives First Founder Award
Governor Jack Markell declared September 30, 2015 Fund for Women Day in honor of the Fund having given $2.1 million since our inception in 1993.

First Lady Carla Markell Receives First Founder Award
The First Founder breakfast honored Carla Markell as the ninth woman to receive the Fund for Women's First Founder Award, which is given to a Founder with a record of exceptional generosity, who demonstrates civic or charitable responsibility, and whose leadership has encouraged others in serving our Delaware community. Carla has certainly earned this award, and no one knows more about Delaware nonprofits. She has always been there to lend a hand, give ideas for growth, or even open the Governor's mansion to the Fund for Women.

At the 2010 breakfast, Carla Markell introduced June Peterson for her award, so June returned the favor. June was honored for being a voice for the arts as well as the environment in Delaware. She has been a mentor through Creative Grandparenting, helped women at Baylor Prison read to their children as part of Read Aloud Delaware, and gathered home furnishings for women moving from the YWCA's Home-Life Program into their own homes. June founded the Wilmington League of Women Voters and, with her late husband, Delaware Governor Russell Peterson, launched the June J. and Russell W. Peterson Fund for Environmental Education and the June J. and Russell W. Peterson Fund for Social Justice to promote justice and equality for Delawareans.
Nearly 300 people attended the sold-out breakfast. Shirley Min, an anchor and reporter for WHYY, attended and interviewed Michele Whetzel, our chair, and Carla Markell. Here is a link to the coverage.
 
Senator Greg Lavelle, new Fund for Women Founder, presented Carla with a Delaware Senate Tribute for all she has done for the people of Delaware.
Governor Markell Proclaims it Fund for Women Day
FFW Board of Trustees Chair Michele Whetzel, Lisa and Ken Jones, and Founder and Former Chair of Trustees
Kay Preston celebrate FFW Day
The day continued in Dover at "Lunch with Our Legislators" at the Biggs Museum with over 100 people attending. Governor Markell, who became a Founder at the breakfast (joining his wife, daughter and mother, who have been long time FFW Founders), proclaimed it Fund for Women Day in the state of Delaware. A main attraction at the breakfast was the maps of Delaware legislative districts (link to the maps) mapping our Founders to both Senatorial and Representative districts. Thank you to Terrianne Lavin of the FFW Board for creating the maps.The Governor referenced the maps, challenging the dozen or more legislators present to compete for the most Founders in their district. He called the FFW "an important philanthropic venture for women." A special shout out to Founder Trudi Thompson who drove from her home in Falls Church, VA to introduce two of her Dover friends to the Fund for Women.
Champagne and Cake to Celebrate Fun(d) for Women Day
Representative Steve Smyk, Lynn Kokjohn, Pete Swhwartzkopf,  and Representative Dave Wilson celebrate FFW Day

The fun continued at the Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Beach with champagne and cake (and great hors d'œuvres too). As in the earlier two events of the day we had many of our grantees from the last three years join us.

Cathy Davis-Harmon attended all three events and invited friends from each county to join her. We were not surprised when she became a Founder in her home county (Sussex) at the end of the Fund for Women Day.

Carla Markell warned us it would be a tiring day and for the dozen or so of us who did all three events she was sure right. Yet, it was well worth it for the buzz it created on social media, the great press coverage and for the nearly 60 new Founders who will help us be able to do more for others.

Thanks to Lynn Kokjohn and Susan Sherk who co-chaired the day, The First Founder Award Breakfast Committee, New Castle County Committee, the Kent County FFW Day Committee, and the Sussex County Development Committee  for making such a wonderful day possible. As many of you know we are a volunteer run organization with a very, very part time wonderful Support Manager, Kate Schlegel, who worked very hard to ensure we had a smooth event - and we did.
Thanks to the following board members for attending all three events:
Pam Cornforth - Secretary
Suzanne Feaster - Grants Chair
Kay Keenan - Vice Chair
Lynn Kokjohn - ex Officio for Strategic Planning
Susan Sherk - Archivist
Carolyn Strum - Sussex County Development Committee
Louie Sullivan - Post Grant Chair
Ginger Ward - Next Million Chair
Michele Whetzel - Chair
1. First Lady Carla Markell receives the First Founder Award. 2. Michele Whetzel, FFW Chair and First Lady Carla Markell. 3. Cynthia Primo-Martin and Board Member Pamela Sharpe 4. The Sussex Development Committee at the Champagne and Cake Celebration 5. Governor Jack Markell, First Lady Carla Markell and June Peterson 6. Sold out breakfast started FFW Day off in a special way!
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The Fund for Women Mission
Through collective philanthropy,the Fund for Women invests and advocates by bringing together our knowledge, passion, and commitment
to empower women and girls in Delaware to achieve their potential.
Our Vision
All women and girls in Delaware are empowered*
to achieve their potential.**
* Empowered - made stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and
claiming their rights.
**Potential - latent qualities or abilities that my be developed and lead to future success.