By Laura Giammattei, Community Foundation of Dunn County
The Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) of Dunn County celebrated its 2022 Fall Grants Gala on November 14 at the Mabel Tainter Spirit Room, where they awarded $16,350 to six local non-profit organizations that support women and children through their annual grant process.
The WGC of Dunn County is a fund of the Community Foundation of Dunn County (CFDC) which focuses its efforts on women and children in Dunn County through education, grantmaking and other community-based activities. The WGC brings together women from diverse backgrounds with the common goal of improving the lives of disadvantaged women and families in Dunn County.
The following nonprofit organizations received grants from the WGC in 2022:
1. The Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts – $2,500 to help bring schools to the Mabel Tainter. This grant specifically supports bringing elementary students to attend a show at the Mabel, which is hoped to become an annual event. The Mabel believes that the community is best served when future generations of leaders have the opportunity to experience the arts firsthand.
2. The Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley-Menomonie Center – $2,500 for their “Career Launch” program, which focuses on encouraging kids to assess their skills and interests, explore careers, and make sound educational decisions in preparation to eventually join the workforce. This grant will be used to purchase virtual simulation equipment, cover travel expenses for field trips, staff training and marketing for the program.
3. The Bridge to Hope – $2,000 for their “Pack a Backpack” program. The Bridge to Hope was established in 1982 and committed to ending domestic abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking. This grant supports helping at least 10 children by purchasing 10 backpacks and 10 sets of specialty supplies and clothing.
4. The Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes – $3,000 to support the mental health of girls in Dunn County. The Girl Scouts serves girls from kindergarten through 12th grade by offering programs, badges and experiences in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), the outdoors and life skills. This grant may be used for staff time, supplies, incentives and appreciation, financial assistance for girls, troop dues, memberships, event attendance, uniforms, camps and field trips.
5. The Colfax Public Library – $3,000 for their “Welcome Families” program. The Colfax Public Library is supported by the Village of Colfax and Dunn County. Most of the people served are low income and rural families. This grant will support improvements to the library to ensure a welcoming space for children and families, including purchasing furniture, acoustic partitions, study carrels, laptop computers and books on women’s health.
6. Literacy Chippewa Valley – $3,350 for Education Courses at the Dunn County Jail. Literacy Chippewa Valley (LCV) is a community-based literacy program designed to empower adults and their families to develop the literacy skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency and function effectively in their roles as citizens, workers, and family members. A Dunn County coordinator teaches two days per week at the Dunn County Jail focusing on GED/HSED, employability, and literacy. This grant will help to cover the cost of this teacher’s salary.
The WGC of Dunn County’s next event will be their Membership Meeting in the spring of 2023. This event is an opportunity for current members to come together and reconnect after the winter months. Guests of members are encouraged to attend and join the WGC for an annual donation of $250. Women between the ages of 18 and 40 can become a member for $125 and have their second year’s membership fee covered by current generous members.
Those interested in becoming a member, please visit this website.
