|
Welcome to August!
Did you know August is often called the "Sunday of Summer"? It's that special time of year when we're soaking up every last bit of sunshine, making memories and squeezing every ounce of fun out of the season before fall comes knocking. We hope you've been enjoying your summer as much as we have. It's hard to believe we're almost at the end of it but, we’re determined to enjoy every bit of what's left!
Since I last checked in with you, I've had a summer full of moments that reminded me how grateful I am for family, friendship, and purpose. I celebrated my birthday with my mom, family and friends on a wonderful vacation to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Our group chat was affectionately named the "Puerto Rican Princesses," and trust me…it lived up to the name! It was filled with laughter, great food, unforgettable memories and so much love.
Back home, I was deeply honored to receive the ACColades Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel, Southern California, recognizing exceptional leaders committed to creating social impact. Receiving an honor like this is especially meaningful because it reflects the incredible work being done by the entire S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls family. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
| |
One of my favorite afternoons this summer was spending time with the amazing girls at In A Perfect World, one of the outstanding organizations our Foundation proudly supports. Seeing firsthand the confidence, joy, and promise these young women possess is a beautiful reminder of why our mission matters.
| | |
I also had the pleasure of meeting with Delores Druilhet Morton, the new CEO of Step Up for Women, who will be joining us at this year's SHE Leads: Empowering Nonprofit Leaders for Girls conference. Delores will participate in what I believe will be one of our most meaningful conversations yet - a Town Hall on "Mental Health & Nonprofit Leaders." Caring for those who spend their lives caring for others is a conversation we can't afford to ignore, and I can't wait to share it with our attendees.
As we continue preparing for SHE Leads and all of the work ahead, I'd like to ask for your support. Every donation helps us continue investing in organizations that empower girls and young women to reach their fullest potential. If you'd like to join us in making a difference, please visit shaunfoundationforgirls.org/donate.
There's so much packed into this month's MAGNOLIA Monthly! So, pour yourself a cool glass of lemonade, iced tea or your favorite summer beverage, settle into a comfortable chair, and enjoy all the exciting news, updates and inspiration waiting for you inside.
Thank you, as always, for believing in our mission and for helping us create brighter futures for girls and young women.
With gratitude,
Shaun
Shaun Robinson
President and Founder
S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls
| | “Do not let the perfect get in the way of the good.” — Dr. Sharon Malone | | Program Spotlight: INSPIRE Girls Leadership Program | Shaun recently had the privilege of joining our grantee partner, In a Perfect World, for an inspiring day of programming! | |
This summer, In a Perfect World launched an all-girls cohort of their INSPIRE: What Makes Me, Me? program, with support from the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls.
INSPIRE is a social-emotional learning experience focused on identity, strength, and self-awareness.
| | Through guided journaling and reflection, participants explored who they are, what they value, and the futures they want to create. | |
Seeing their confidence, insight, and growth firsthand was a powerful reminder of what's possible when girls are given the space to discover their voices.
We're honored to invest in programs like INSPIRE that empower girls to embrace their strengths, believe in their potential, and envision bright futures.
| | |
Sharon Malone, M.D.
Nationally Recognized Expert in Women's Health, Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Health, & New York Times Bestselling Author
| | |
Health is one of the core pillars of the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls' mission, and empowering women and girls to take charge of their well-being is one of the most meaningful ways we can support them.
That's why this month's featured read is Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy by renowned OB/GYN Dr. Sharon Malone.
Blending medical expertise with personal stories and practical advice, Dr. Malone equips women to better understand their bodies, advocate for their health, and navigate every stage of life with confidence. This inspiring, accessible resource is an important reminder that women's health deserves the same care and attention we so often give to others.
| | |
Ivy Walker
Serial Entrepreneur, Author & Risk Management Expert
Treasurer, S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls
| |
|
Girls' Leadership Guide:
The Art of Saying No
| Most leaders of small nonprofits know the feeling. You're researching new grant opportunities, and something catches your eye. It looks like a solid opportunity. Real money that could keep your staff paid for six months or help you replace your ancient technology. There's just one catch: the RFP is written for something adjacent to your mission, not squarely inside it. Maybe it funds career readiness and your program is about mentorship. Maybe it requires a STEM component you'd have to build from scratch. Maybe it funds "youth services" broadly enough that you could squint and make your girls' program fit, if you stretched the language enough on the application. | | |
So, you decide to stretch. You tell yourself the girls you serve will still benefit, and maybe they will. But this is how mission drift usually starts: not with a funder demanding something foreign, but with an organization reshaping its own description of itself to match whatever money is on the table.
Saying yes feels like survival. Saying no feels like leaving money on the table you desperately need. But the leaders who build organizations that last are the ones who learn to say no and remain focused.
| | |
Jayne Morgan, M.D.
@drjaynemorgan
Cardiologist and V.P. of Medical Affairs, Hello Heart
Adj. Ass. Prof. of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine
Creator of the Stairwell Chronicles
Advisory Board Member,
S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls
| |
Healthy Her: Can We Have a Heart-to-Heart about Women's Heart Health? |
The Bottom Line:
-
Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined, but only 47% of benefits leaders know it.
-
Women's cardiovascular risk rises in 3 windows most prevention strategies miss.
- Visibility is what closes the gap. When women's risk becomes measurable between visits, it becomes manageable.
A pattern I see all the time:
I want to tell you about a woman in her late 40s who started calling out sick more often.
She thought she was coming down with something. She didn't go to the doctor or connect what she was feeling to her heart. Almost no one in her life would have, either.
| | Breaking Barriers: This Month's Must-Reads | |
First Black Woman to Serve Overseas in U.S. Military Honored at Lincoln Cemetery | Renee Messelin, recently identified as the first Black woman soldier to serve overseas, was honored at Lincoln National Cemetery for her WWI service with the "Hello Girls," an elite corps of bilingual telephone operators. | | |
|
A Historic First Game Marks the Return of Women's Professional Baseball | The Women's Professional Baseball League's inaugural season is underway, and its first victory officially belongs to the Los Angeles Queens—a milestone that marks an exciting new chapter for women in sports. | | |
|
NASA's New Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebrates a Trailblazing Astronomer | This month, NASA will launch a remarkable new telescope into space. Named after Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, known as the “mother of Hubble,” the telescope honors NASA’s first chief of astronomy and first female executive. | | |
| The S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls is a grant-making, 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving the quality of life for underserved and underrepresented girls and young women. We support initiatives empowering girls in the key areas of our mission: (S)TEM, (H)EALTH, (A)RTS, (U)NITY and (N)EIGHBORHOODS. | | | | |
