Erie Women's Fund Awards $40,000
December 06, 2023
The Erie Women’s Fund (EWF) is a field of interest fund housed at The Erie Community Foundation and is dedicated to Empowering Women and Families. Since beginning in 2007, this group has given more than $1,000,000 to local nonprofits that align with its mission. EWF provides financial grants, hosts enriching educational forums, and engages members through informational meetings and social gatherings.
“The Erie Women’s Fund was in a fortunate position this year,” said EWF Chair Lauren Bauer. “Due to the overwhelming generosity of EWF members in 2023, the steering committee was able to supplement the Furchak Ferko Fund disbursement with EWF Grants funds to increase our impact, approving a total of $40,000 in grants to two local nonprofit organizations.” Grants made through the Furchak Ferko Field of Interest Fund are administered by the Erie Women’s Fund.
The Erie Women’s Fund awarded $30,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania to expand its Child Feeding programming into the summer months. This will allow Second Harvest to better meet the needs of children experiencing hunger when daily school meals are not available.
EWF also awarded $10,000 to Operation Warm, which provides brand-new winter coats and shoes to local children in need. Operation Warm works with the directors of each of the Erie Community Schools to identify the students in need of winter coats or shoes and get the correct sizing for each student. This funding will allow at least 500 low-income students to receive a new coat or shoes.
“The confidence boost we are able to provide these students is immeasurable,” said Anna Stoiber, Director of Development. “Not only are we meeting their basic needs of warm coats or dry shoes, but we give these children the ability to play outside with their friends without being wet or cold, something many of us take for granted.”
For more information about The Erie Women’s Fund, please contact Olivia Burgess at 814-413-7358 or by email at oburgess@eriecommunityfoundation.org.