Overview: The Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) hosted an annual Women’s Giving Fund event, Spring Fling, where they awarded grants to three nonprofit organizations serving women in the Inland Empire. The grants, totaling $50,000, will support mental health services at Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center, women’s transitional services at Women of Worship & Warfare International, and breast health services at San Antonio Regional Hospital. The IECF plans to commission new research to better understand the needs of women in the region and direct contributions toward areas with the greatest need. Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, a trustee of the San Bernardino County Board of Education, was also named the 2024 Woman of Achievement and received $5,000 for her charity of choice.
Breanna Reeves
On April 21, the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) hosted an annual Women’s Giving Fund event, Spring Fling, where they awarded three nonprofit organizations serving women grants.
Every year National Women’s Health Week is observed, beginning on Mother’s Day. Led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH), this year’s theme is “Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience.”
With this theme, OWH seeks to highlight the health issues impacting women while also encouraging women to “take charge of their health journey.”
The Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) has sought to educate and focus on issues facing women through their annual Women’s Giving Fund (WGF) grants. Established in 2017, the Fund has awarded over $185,000 to nonprofits dedicated to supporting women and families.
In April, the WGF grant had the largest cycle and awarded $50,000 individual grants to three Inland Empire nonprofit organizations that provide life-giving services to women and their families.
The 2024 grantees and their funded projects were: Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center, to support their mental health services; Women of Worship & Warfare International, to support their women’s transitional services; and San Antonio Regional Hospital, for their Women Caring for Women program.
Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center was founded in 2001 by Michelle Watson’s friends and family “to ensure no one faces cancer alone.” Michelle’s Place is a local cancer resource center that serves all cancers for individuals and their families across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and North San Diego. Michelle’s Place offers a variety of support services, from support groups to creative workshops to educational seminars.
Women of Worship & Warfare (WOWW) International is a faith-based nonprofit organization that practices outreach in the community by distributing food and resources to those in need while also educating them about God. WOWW received a grant from IECF for their Women of Worship & Warfare House of Prayer (WOWWHOP) Services for Transitional Women. The one-year program offers the following services to women who want to change their lives: food, clothing, employment preparation, personal and spiritual enrichment, among others.
San Antonio Regional Hospital, located in Upland, was awarded a grant to support their Women Caring for Women (WCW) outreach program that is designed to deliver breast health services offered by the women’s imaging center to low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals.
“We’re incredibly honored to distribute these grants that center the needs of women in the region,” said Nefertiti Long, board chair of IECF and chair of the WGF, in a press release. “We are also grateful that this fund has continually grown through the generous support of our donors who believe in what’s possible when you come together.”
During the event in which grantees were awarded, the WGF also announced plans to commission and invest in new research to guide its grantmaking. Using data, the Fund plans to improve their understanding of issues affecting women in the Inland Empire’s women, ensure all contributions are directed toward areas with the greatest need and support the community for maximum impact.
Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, trustee of the San Bernardino County Board of Education, was also named 2024 Woman of Achievement and received $5,000 for the charity of her choice that serves women in the IE.