Amarillo Area Foundation Announces Recipients of

Women’s Philanthropy Fund Grant Awards

 

The initial grant awards from the Amarillo Area Foundation Women’s Philanthropy Fund were announced

at the Fund's annual meeting on October 20th.  These awards included:

 

 Innovative Award –

The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center - $2,500

Martha’s Home - $2,500

Opportunity School (to assist with speech therapy program) - $2,500

 

Empower Award –

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Wheatheart Satellite (serving Hansford & Ochiltree Counties) - $7,500

 

Impact Award –

The Downtown Women’s Center (to provide dental services for clients) - $4,000

TTUHSC Amarillo Campus (to assist in establishing the InfantRisk Call Center) - $10,000

 

Sharon Oeschger (right), Chair of the Women's Philanthropy

Fund Advisory Committee, visits with WFP member Rita Allen

 

The Women’s Philanthropy Fund was established as a component fund of the Amarillo Area Foundation in

2008. The fund provides a charitable investment tool for women to pool their resources together to address

emerging issues facing our region and women and children in all areas of life. The fund unites women to

serve as leaders in philanthropy and was founded by 68 women who made an initial pledge of $1,000 per

year for three years. Membership is $1,000 per year to maintain voting privileges on grants and other

business that might come to the fund. Contributions at any level are greatly appreciated and encouraged. 

The fund has grown to $210,000 in cash and pledges. 

 

As a Donor Advised Fund, both income and principal may be used to serve the charitable needs for which

the fund was created. Annual membership contributions will be split between current use and endowment

reserve in an amount to be determined annually by the Board of Advisors. The Foundation Board of

Advisors includes Sharon Oeschger, Chair; Susie O’Brien, Vice Chair; Nicki Crump, Geneva Schaeffer,

Susan Teeple, and Suzanne Willis. Amarillo Area Foundation Advisors are Kay Brown, Angela Lust,

Charlotte Rhodes, and Nancy Seliger. The next call for grants will be in the spring of 2010 and will be

posted on this website.