If you are following along, you know what a busy year it has already been for Cassie Beer and the Women’s Fund! In January, Patty Dunn joined the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne as the Development Specialist for the Women’s Fund. She is responsible for expanding philanthropic support through communities of giving to meet the strategic development goals of the Women’s Fund. Learn More about Patty!
Economic Security:
The 2024 Women in the Workplace Luncheon was a sold-out event held at Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday, March 13th. At this event, three local employers—Benchmark Human Services, Design Collaborative, and Katz, Sapper & Miller—shared their strategies for creating more inclusive workplaces. Additionally, thirty local workplaces were recognized for meeting or exceeding metrics in at least one category measured in the 2024 Employer Scorecard, with six employers meeting all four categories. Two prestigious awards were announced live: the Navigator Award went to Indiana Tech for the highest overall performance on the Compass Survey, and the Moving the Needle Award was given to Stillwater Hospice for the most significant performance growth on the Compass Survey.
Young Women and Girls:
The Women’s Fund partnered with the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne to launch “Take a Girl to Work Day” on April 9th, 2024. This initiative aims to expand career horizons for all girls in our community, especially those who may not see women in leadership roles in their daily lives. Four local school districts participated, sending 200 6th-grade girls to spend the morning with mentors at 30 locations across the city. The event also featured a sold-out luncheon with 450 attendees, where local women shared their workplace experiences, inspiring the young attendees.
Personal Safety:
For Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, the Women’s Fund partnered with 16 local coffee shops and restaurants to distribute 12,000 “No Matter What” QR code coffee sleeves to raise awareness. This campaign led to a 64% increase in unique visitors to our website’s “Get Help” section. Additionally, in response to our 2021 Young Women & Girls Study, which highlighted that girls in our community did not feel safe or affirmed in the programs they participated in, the Women’s Fund has expanded its training offerings. Due to the tremendous response to the 2023 training, the Women’s Fund will offer three versions in 2024: Male Ally Training on May 31st, Level I Girl-Centered Practice in June, and Level II Savvy Sister Training in October.
These initiatives reflect our collective commitment to creating a safer, more equitable community where women and girls can thrive. We will continue to include updates about the important impact the Women’s Fund is having in our community. Get Involved!