The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) raised over $1,00,000 during its 2020 Numbers Too Big To Ignore Fundraising Campaign. The campaign culminated with a virtual celebration event on October 27, featuring special appearances by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice. The funds will finance AWF’s work to support organizations that improve the lives of economically vulnerable women and girls in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties.
Unable to gather in-person this year for the 24th annual Numbers Too Big To Ignore Fundraising Luncheon, AWF transitioned to a fundraising campaign, mobilizing its Board of Directors, corporate partners, and individual donors.
“In spite of these challenging times, there was a tremendous response from the community and we are incredibly grateful,” said Lativia Ray-Alston, campaign co-chair and AWF Board Member.
“Our donors demonstrated they are champions for women and girls through their generosity this year,” added Bentina Chisholm Terry, campaign co-chair and AWF Board Member.
Prior to COVID-19, disparities already existed for women and girls in Metro Atlanta. As of 2019, 17% of women live below the poverty line in Metro Atlanta and the largest demographics living in poverty in Atlanta are women age 25-34 followed by women age 18-24. The pandemic has only exacerbated the situation. Female jobs are 19% more at risk than male jobs because women are disproportionately represented in industries negatively affected by the pandemic.
The absence of economic self-sufficiency is at the heart of critical issues faced by women and girls in our community. Access to resources plays a major role in determining the choices women and
girls make. AWF helps bridge this gap through our grantmaking programs – Women’s Pathway to Success Program and Breaking Barriers, Building Women: Economic Empowerment Program.
The Women’s Pathway to Success Program focuses on job creation, reduction in poverty, and eliminating barriers to employment for women living at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines in metro Atlanta. This program will impact a minimum of 18,000 women over 5-years. Under the Women’s Pathway to Success Program, ten local nonprofit organizations will receive support over five years to provide the critical combination of services needed to move women to economic self-sufficiency. Year five of the program begins in January 2021.
The Breaking Barriers, Building Women: Economic Empowerment Program focuses on higher education and asset building for low-income women in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. The two-year program received grant funding for a third year from The Coca-Cola Foundation and Truist Foundation.
“With a third year of funding for our economic empowerment program, AWF will continue to fund programs that help women to build wealth in addition to achieving economic self-sufficiency,” said Kari B. Love, AWF’s CEO, “We’re thankful for corporate partners like The Coca-Cola Foundation and Truist Foundation that support our work to help women and girls in our community thrive.”
Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, funding for both grantmaking programs will adapt to meet the developing needs of AWF grantees and their clients.