Mission
Statement
The mission of High Country Women's Fund is to affect positive change for women and their families in Avery and Watauga counties. We endeavor to inspire, educate, and empower women moving toward self-sufficiency by connecting them with local resources and with other caring women in our community.
Director's Circle
Director’s Circle
members meet quarterly to
provide direction, guidance, and decision making for HCWF.
2010
Director’s Circle members include: Lucy Aldridge, Betty Cox, Karen Curlin,
Margaret Dunn, Linda Gilleland, Hughlene Frank, Betty Howe, Mary Bost Gray, Mary Jo Grubbs,
Barbara Hall, Marianne Hall, Pinky Hayden, Sherri Jaquays/Bonnie and Jaime Schaefer, Wilder Women, Kay Trainor/Glynda Valentine, Johnston's Group, Joan Hearn, Dru Henson, Rosemary
Horowitz, Billie Howell, Judy Isenhour, Naomi Johnson, Debbie Jones,
Kim Kincaid, Pat Mauldin, Dawn Medlin, Jenny Miller, Dana Morace,
Clarice Petrellis, Linda Robinson, Patty Smith, Ann
Spinetto, Merida Steele, Virginia Vanstory, Ruth Ellen Weems,and
Rebecca Moore
Allocations Committee
Members meet three times a year to
review grant requests from organizations. Members visit organizations
to help with paperwork, and are invited to attend monthly Inter-Agency
Meetings. This committee makes recommendations for final Director’s
Circle approval. Members include: Mary Jo Grubbs: Chair; Sanda Cooper;
Vicky Weeden; Susan Barron; and Barbara Hall.
2010 Advisory Council
Advisory Council
members meet monthly to work on the
day to day business of fundraising, membership, publicity, finances,
and service projects. Elected by the Director’s Circle, the 2010
Advisory Council includes:
Officers: Linda Robinson:
Chair; Pinky Hayden: Vice-chair; Kim Kincaid: Treasurer; Jill Huffman: Secretary
Council Members:
Jennifer Kearse; Mary Jo Grubbs; Rebecca Moore; Jenny Miller; Teri Wiggans
History
Created in May 2006,
the High Country Women’s Fund is an initiative of the High Country
United Way. It is a giving circle of caring and committed women who
sincerely want to help women move toward self-sufficiency.
While we are an
independent, autonomous fund, we feel strongly that being under the
umbrella of a reputable parent organization such as the United Way is a
benefit to our donors. Our United Way allows us to connect with greater
resources, provides local accountability with our partner agencies, and
helps us keep our overhead and administrative costs to a minimum. We use
the money raised to support women in need through funding and service
projects in the following critically needed areas:
-
Transportation:
Helping women with car payments, insurance, auto repairs, tires and
gasoline enabling them they can get to and from jobs, school and
childcare
-
Caring for
Children: Funding programs for after school & summer care; providing
childcare for GED program for teenage moms; collecting new & used
books for reading program; initiating loaner program for cribs and
highchairs; supplying funds for diapers & other baby needs; and
furnishing safe play areas for a recovery house
-
Education:
Increasing opportunities by providing college tuition aid, school
books, computers, internet service for on-line classes, workshops for
specific job training, required uniform and equipment for nursing
classes
-
Housing:
Eliminating obstacles for a safe place to call home by assisting with
utilities, moving expenses, deposits, temporary housing for victims of
domestic violence & substance abuse , furniture, appliances,
telephones, kitchen items, dehumidifiers, painting and cleaning a
recovery house
-
Personal needs:
Providing essentials and supplements such as eye glasses, basic
hygiene items, clothing for interviews & new jobs, exercise &
nutrition support
-
Prevention:
Funding programs to empower women and girls such as:
-
LIFT (Leadership Initiative for
Female Teens) a weekly group for at risk high school girls
-
LEAD (Leadership, Environment &
Agricultural Discoveries) a summer camp and monthly mentoring
program for low income middle school girls interested in science
-
Believing is Seeing – a six week
program for women on the journey to self-sufficiency designed to
reduce stress, increase positive coping mechanisms, communicate
effectively, create and reach goals
