News & Resources News The Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation Honored New York Women’s Foundation® at Celebrating Bronx Women Entrepreneurs Event New York, NY–On March 31, 2009, The New York Women’s Foundation® (NYWF®) was honored by Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation, during its Celebrating Bronx Women Entrepreneurs event. The award ceremony took place at the New York Botanical Garden, located at 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY. NYWF® was presented the Visionary Award for its significant contributions in fostering the efforts of women entrepreneurs and of nonprofit organizations by providing vital social and economic empowerment services to the women of New York. "The work of the Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation truly makes a difference in New York State. They embody what is possible when each of us invests in making our communities a better place for everyone to live and work." said Ana Oliveira, President and CEO, NYWF® "This is an important moment," Ms. Oliveira continued, "as a whole, more women have become poor in the last twenty years. Positively, the number of women business owners has increased. This is not a time for shyness. We must seize the moment and shape it – and offer solutions." Celebrating Bronx Women Entrepreneurs was sponsored by US Small Business Administration, Citibank, Monroe College and others, and also featured booths by graduates of the Women’s Business Resource Center. The event concluded with a special musical performance featuring The Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls 1st Grade Violinist, who delighted guests and received a standing ovation. (more details) The Economic Status of Women in New York State Did you know... Women in New York are more likely to be poor now than they were at the end of the 80s? Women only earn 78 cents for every dollar men earn? Women in New York State fare worse economically than they did in 1989, according to The New York Women’s Foundation’s (NYWF®) new report, The Economic Status of Women in New York State. The report, researched and authored by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), examines how women in New York State fare in two areas: employment and earnings and social and economic autonomy. While the report finds substantial potential for women’s economic progress, it also depicts a stark and alarming portrait of poverty in a wealthy society, particularly for women of color.[more] Historical News Articles ANNOUNCEMENT: NYWF® is pleased to announce the following new grantee partners for 2008: •  Adhikaar for Human Rights and Social Justice •  Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation •  Homelessness Outreach & Prevention Project of the Urban Justice Center •  Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) •  Love Heals: The Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education •  Mount Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program •  ParentJobNet, Inc •  PHROLES program of Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES) •  RightRides for Women’s Safety •  Row New York •  VAMOS Unidos •  Voces Latinas News from the Neighborhood Dinner! Over 130 friends, colleagues and community activists gathered at the Bronx Museum of the Arts on November 13, 2008 at the Neighborhood Dinner to celebrate women’s work and leadership in the economic revival of the Bronx. Since 1994, each year the Foundation has held the dinner across the city to honor women community leaders for the commitment, dedication and work on behalf of women and girls. The recipients of the 2009 Neighborhood Leadership Award are Josephine Infante, CEO of the Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation and Nurah Amat’ullah, Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Institute for Research and Development. Nurah and Josephine are being honored for their strong and transformational leadership in building and improving the lives of women, families and their communities. The Keynote Speaker for the event was Lorraine Cortés–Vázquez, New York State Secretary of State, NYWF® board member and Co–Chair of the event. Hosting the event was Tuhina De O Conner, Co–Chair of the Neighborhood Dinner and NYWF® Board member. The awards were designed by artists from Studio 889. Musical performer for the evening was Charmaine DaCosta and spoken word performances were by Kathryn Gil and Gina Villanueva of the New Settlement Apartments’ Girls’ Program Initiative, a grantee partner of the Foundation. Link to the pre press releases and post press releases Expand the Circle Challenge: We Met Our Goal! At our 21st Annual Celebrating Women® Breakfast on May 15, 2008, we announced a new million dollar challenge - “Expand the Circle.” The goal of the challenge was to increase the Foundation’s grant making and the number of people engaged as activist philanthropists on behalf of low-income women and families in New York City. We are happy to report that exceeded our goal! We raised over $1.2 million and we expanded our circle by 1,071 activist philanthropists! In addition, every gift received between May 15, 2008 and September 15, 2008 was matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $1 million dollars, thanks to the generosity, commitment and vision of an anonymous donor. Bronx Neighborhood Dinner 2008 This year we are in Da Bronx where we will honor the achievements of two extraordinary leaders working in the South Bronx. The recipients of the 2009 Neighborhood Leadership Award are Josephine Infante, CEO of the Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation and Nurah Amat’ullah, Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Institute for Research and Development. In their respective fields, Nurah and Josephine have commended praise from their colleagues, supporters, and communities for their strong and transformational leadership building and improving the lives of women, families and their communities. The Catalyst Fund of the Tides Foundation During 2008, The New York Women’s Foundation® joined The Catalyst Fund of the Tides Foundation. The purpose of the fund is to increase support for women of color-led organizations in order to build a stronger and more unified movement for reproductive justice. (Tides Brochure) The Catalyst Fund awarded a matching grant of $100,000 to NYWF®. We are pleased to report that we exceeded the match and increased our total grant making this year to women of color-led reproductive justice organizations. The recipients of the Tides Fund grant are: Red Hook Initiative, Sisterhood Mobilized for AIDS/HIV Research and Treatment (SMART), Women’s HIV Collaborative of New York, Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition, Brooklyn Young Mothers Collective, Sistas on the Rise and Sauti Yetu Center for African Women. We would like to thank our corporate supporters and affinity groups for their incredible work. To make a donation and demonstrate your support of women of color-led reproductive justice organizations for the next cycle of grant making, (click here) Report from the Fall Gala On October 2, 2008 The New York Women’s Foundation held its first gala. There were 300 hundred friends and supporters in attendance and the Foundation raised $675.000 for programs benefiting low income women and families in New York City. (read more) NYWF® Congratulates: New York Women’s Foundation® congratulates Abigail Disney on the success of her groundbreaking documentary "Pray the Devil Back to Hell", a finalist for Oscar nomination in the Documentary Feature Category. As a recipient of the Visionary Award, past Board Chair, long time board member, and Honorary Chair of the New York Women’s Foundation® Board of Directors, Abby is a visionary leader who embodies the power of activist philanthropy locally and globally. She is a fearless advocate and voice for women’s activism and its power to bring about social change. We thank Abby for bringing to us this inspiring story of the Liberian women’s grassroots activism and how it changed the course of their country. As we seek solutions to the economic crisis in our city, nation, and the world it is a timely reminder of what we can achieve through courage, persistence, and collective action. The Celebrating Women® Breakfast 2008: Expand The Circle On May 15, 2008, over 2,100 women and men of consciousness gathered at our 21st Annual Celebrating Women® Breakfast to honor the work of our 2008 grantee partners and other incredible honorees: Marie C. Wilson, President and Founder of The White House Project; Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief International Correspondent, and Josephine Atimango, Margret Achan, Teddy Bongomin Amito, Jovina Bako and Agnes Agwang of Meeting Point International, Uganda. We were inspired by their leadership, courage, vision and commitment to raise women’s voices, to tell the truth about our lives and our society and to reaffirm our interdependence and the power of our collective action. In that spirit, the Foundation announced a million dollar challenge – “Expand The Circle” - every gift raised in this challenge until September 15, 2008 will be matched dollar for dollar up to one million dollars. This new challenge provides the Foundation with the opportunity to continue to increase its grantmaking and attract more activist philanthropists. This year, the Foundation will award $2.75 million in grants to over 65 organizations whose passion and commitment to women, girls and families in our city is unparalleled. We invite you to join us and “Expand The Circle” - give a gift to the New York Women’s Foundation® and reach out to your friends and networks to also give as generously as they can to the Foundation. Remember that every gift counts. Together we can make a tangible difference in the lives of women and families in our city. NYWF® HOSTS ITS SECOND STATE OF THE FOUNDATION EVENT. On Monday December 3, more than forty women attended the State of the Foundation reception in the penthouse of the Foundation’s office. The audience ranged from NYWF® board alumnae to other concerned individuals seeking to make a difference in the lives in women and girls in New York City. The purpose of the event was to inform current constituents about the progress of the Foundation during its 20th anniversary year, as well as to introduce future friends and partners to our work. , [more] NYWF® HONORS WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AT THE 2007 NEIGHBORHOOD DINNER IN QUEENS. On Thursday, September 20, social justice advocates, elected officials, other community and supporters joined The New York Women’s Foundation® in honoring two dynamic young women leaders at its Neighborhood Awards Dinner. Luna Ranjit and Ana Maria Archila received the 2007 Neighborhood Leadership Award for their outstanding contributions as activists and change-makers in their communities. [more] REPORT ON THE “I DECLARE MY INTERDEPENDENCE!” CHALLENGE In May of this year, philanthropist Abigail E. Disney issued her 90-day “I Declare My Interdependence!” challenge at the Celebrating Women® Breakfast: participants were challenged to make two gifts, one to The New York Women’s Foundation® (NYWF) and another to an organization that reflected his or her deepest passion about justice and social change.  Not one for idle talk, Disney promised she would match these gifts, up to one million dollars, in the form of a grant to the NYWF®.   We are astounded at the impact of this challenge on so many organizations and on so many donors.   It certainly has the effect that Abby Disney intended, to “unleash new dollars” to support organizations who fight “hard to get their share of a finite pool of charitable dollars.” [more] NYWF® Board Member Diana Taylor is Front Page News! On Monday, August 13, Diana Taylor, Senior Vice-Chair and Chair of the President’s Council of NYWF’s Board of Directors graced the cover of the New York Daily News. Taylor discussed not only her relationship with Mayor Bloomberg and her career in investment banking, but also her tireless commitment to philanthropy. To read the Daily News article, [more] The New York Women’s Foundation® Elects Nine New Members to its Board of Directors New York, NY —The New York Women’s Foundation® (NYWF®) is proud to announce its new leadership structure and the election of nine new members to its board of directors. Antoinette E. La Belle and Rhonda Joy McLean were elected to serve as Co-Chairs of the 2008 Board of Directors. As Co-Chairs, they will accelerate the expansion of The Foundation’s work at this important time in its history. [more] Weaving the Threads On June 11, 2007, The New York Women’s Foundation®, in partnership with The Global Fund for Women, held a public forum entitled: Weaving the Threads: Women’s Activism and Leadership in New York City and Africa. The panel of experts brought to light the strides that are being made in women’s activism at home and around the world. [more] Keep Families Together: Women, Children & Incarceration On April 19, 2007, The New York Women’s Foundation® (NYWF®), in partnership with Oxygen Media, held a forum hosted by the Open Society Institute on the status of incarcerated women in New York State. The purpose of the forum was to highlight the unique issues facing women in prison. [more] Faith, Feminism & Philanthropy On February 22 2007, The Foundation held the second forum in its “Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy” series. The first forum was held in June 2006 and focused on bringing together secular and religious activists to discuss working together to uplift women and girls through differences of identity and religious beliefs. The second forum sought to expand upon these points and to further define leadership and feminism as well as the role of faith in social justice movements. [more] NYWF® Congratulates its Grantee Partner Equality Now and the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition The New York Women’s Foundation® congratulates its grantee partner, EQUALITY NOW, for its instrumental role in the legislative agreement on anti-human trafficking legislation that has been reached in Albany. Under the bill, individuals engaged in Sex Trafficking by “compelling, inducing, deceiving or forcing their victims” to act as prostitutes can be convicted of a class B felony, which carries a sentence of 3 to 25 years in prison. Those engaged in Labor Trafficking can be convicted of a class D felony and sentenced to 3 to 7 years in prison. [more] Women Helping Women, Funding Change: The New York Women’s Foundation® Since 1987, The New York Women’s Foundation® has been a powerful force for change-a cross-cultural network of women empowering New York’s low-income women and girls with the tools and opportunities they need to construct their lives as they envision them. [more] Women’s Philanthropy: Making History The scope of women in philanthropy is expanding by the day. Impassioned women advocates have, throughout the centuries, channeled their intellect, time, and skills into improving society. Now we’re adding ever-increasing financial capital to the mix. In a culture where money equals power, women’s philanthropy is catalyzing evolution on a global scale. [more] 2007 State of The Foundation On Monday, April 16, The New York Women’s Foundation® held its first “State of the Foundation” event at their office. Before an audience that included both founding pioneers and women attending their first NYWF® event, President and CEO Ana Oliveira spoke about the Foundation’s 20th anniversary, including the successes of the past, and the goals for the future. [more] Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy: Bringing It All Together Change can be hard. It challenges us to step outside of one’s usual life and way of doing things. But, as The New York Women’s Foundation’s® Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy forum proved, it becomes easier, day by day, with one fundamental element: dialogue. [more] Putting Your Support to Work with Women and Work Empowering women to escape the cycle of violence and poverty is one of the most complex social issues in our world today with a shifting set of interconnected solutions. But for many women, a key element to breaking that cycle is economic independence. [more] Unspoken Truth: Teen Dating Violence The New York Women’s Foundation® gives grants to a number of organizations working to provide positive girls’ programming as well as groups working to stop violence against women. This article was prepared by a young woman named in the Sadie Nash Leadership Program. Sadie Nash helps girls to develop critical skills that will carry them into adulthood. This is SNLP’s first grant from the Foundation. [more] What Does Silence Cost? A Community Response To Domestic Violence There’s an old story about a man who shoots his parents and then throws himself on the mercy of the court on the grounds that he’s an orphan. As the executive director of New York State’s only shelter program for Asian survivors of domestic violence, I encountered a similar situation when preparing to open a new shelter in a Brooklyn neighborhood. [more] If Your Charitable Donations Could Talk, What Would They Say? At The New York Women’s Foundation®, our grants say that we want to build a better, safer, and healthier New York City for low-income women and girls. The New York Women’s Foundation® has dedicated 17 years to funding community-based organizations that serve this marginalized community, many of whom live in crisis on a daily basis. Making a year-end gift to the Foundation helps us accomplish our mission to help all of New York City’s women and girls accomplish their dreams. [more] Queens Settlement House Opens Doors For Immigrant Women "It was scary coming to the United States. I was worried about how people would look at me, and I was scared of prejudice against Asians." Although she saw more opportunities for women in America than in Taiwan, where she was born, Mai found it difficult to be a young newcomer in New York City. She faced triple discrimina- tion because of her gender, race, and immigrant status. [more] A Girl’s Guide to Success The New York Women’s Foundation® helped pave the road for them to realize their dreams. Girls’ Day (previously College or Career Day in alternate years)now occurs annually and took place this year on August 7. It is an all- day event designed to help young women from grantee organizations plan for their future in academics or busi- ness. The Foundation staff joined twenty girls and their chaperones on visits to NBC and Deutsche Bank. The women ’s group of GE, NBC’s parent corporation, sponsored the workshop. [more] Creative Philanthropy — Alice Hoffman’s Green Angel Grant The noted author Alice Hoffman wanted to give something to the low-income women and girls of New York City after 9/11. Believing in the vital work being done by The New York Women’s Foundation® to bring economic security to this underserved group, Hoffman decided to donate the advance received for her new book Green Angel. [more] Communities Coordinated Against Violence: A Model Program Violence in the family is a problem that cuts across race, ethnicity, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, religious, and age classifications. Although in New York City the numbers of abused women and children seeking help is quite high (in 2001, there were 233,617 "Domestic Incident Reports" filled out by the New York Police Department and over 144,000 calls to the City’s domestic violence hotline), experts agree that this is only the tip of the iceberg, representing about 10% of the actual levels of violence in the home. [more] Women Leaders in the Neighborhood — a Reason to Celebrate Harlem was the hot-ticket and destination on October 29th when the NYWF® held its annual Neighborhood Dinner and Awards at the celebrity hotspot, Jimmy’s Uptown. A sold-out crowd of nearly 200 people joined in celebrating The Helen La Kelly Hunt Neighborhood Leadership Awardees Iris Raiford and Digna Sanchez. [more] Past Events •  Committee for the Future Meeting NYWF® affinity group Committee for the Future (CFF) held its monthly meeting at Ernst&Young on February 10th. Their goal this year is to raise $100,000 for the Foundation. To date, they have raised over $20,000. One of the primary ways the CFF encourages others to support the Foundation is by holding small, intimate parlor meetings, usually located in someone’s home where the guests are introduced to the Foundation’s mission and experience a presentation from a grantee partner organization. The CFF is a great way to network with other professionals, learn about the Foundation and meet people who are working on the front lines to improve the lives of women and girls in New York City. In addition to its regular activities, the members are busy preparing for their upcoming ten year anniversary celebration on April 2nd. •  “Sip, Shop and Swap” On Thursday January 29, 2009, Circle of Sisters for Social Change (COS) co–sponsored an event with the Asian Women Giving Circle (AWGC) called “Sip, Shop, and Swap” at the Mertz–Gilmore Foundation. COS teamed up with AWGC as a part of a 2009 initiative to create ties with other affinity groups in the city. At the event, speakers from two non–profit organizations familiarized guests with their work; NYWF grantee Center for Family Life in Sunset Park and The Heart Health Project, funded by AWGC. Tuhina De O’Connor, NYWF® Board member and AWGC member, led an informative wine tasting session, featuring wines that can fit one’s budget. The “shop” and “swap” came in the form of an eBay style sale, comprised of gently used items the attendees brought themselves from Manolo Blanick shoes to Prada tops to Christmas decorations. The proceeds from the sale were given as donations to the two co–sponsors. •  Grants Advisory Committee On January 13th, NYWF® Grants Advisory Committee (GAC) met for the orientation and kick–off for the first cycle of grant making for 2009. The GAC is a volunteer team of women from diverse backgrounds who are the cornerstone of the Foundation’s participatory grant making process. In small groups of 2 and 3, they conduct up to four site visits to eligible organizations, report their findings and make recommendations to the NYWF® Board – they are “the eyes and ears” of the Foundation. The economic downturn and its impact on the Foundation’s grantmaking and on community–based organizations were the main topics of concern for the committee members. Despite the difficulties that will come with the economic downturn, Oliveira assured volunteers that NYWF® intends to keep funding at the same level as last year. •  Celebrating Women’s Breakfast 2008: Become The Change •  NYWF® and Community Partners Convene Forum on Defining and Measuring Poverty in New York City. •  The New York Women’s Foundation® to Host 2007 Neighborhood Dinner in Queens! •  Networking for Young Women: Strategies to Build Relationships •  Girls Leadership Day 2007 •  Celebrating Women® Breakfast 2007 •  Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy; Exploring Women’s Leadership and Activism •  Young Women Responding to HIV/AIDS: Activism in New York City •  Neighborhood Dinner, 2006 – Lower Manhattan •  Faith Feminism and Philanthropy 2006 •  Celebrating Women ® Breakfast 2006, Life Changing •  Neighborhood Dinner 2005, Brooklyn •  Celebrating Women® Breakfast 2005, Be The Change •  Neighborhood Dinner 2004, Bronx •  Women For Women - 15 Monologues •  Celebrating Women® Breakfast 2004, Be Courageous •  Neighborhood Dinner 2003, Queens •  Celebrating Women® Breakfast 2003, Women Living Courageous Lives •  2003 Public Forum Unlocking the Door: Creative Solutions to Domestic Violence •  Celebrating Women® Breakfast 2002, Fifteen Years of Women Helping Women •  2002 Public Forum Women on Welfare: Where are They Going? •  2001 Public Forum Women and NYC's Low-Wage Labor Market: Is a Living Wage Possible? Press Releases • 2009   05-21-09     Over 2000 women gather at 22nd Celebrating Women® Breakfast to raise more than $1.3 million   05-15-09     New York Women’s Foundation® Announces Enhanced Response to the Economic Crisis: RISE–NYC!   03-27-09     The Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation will honor New York Women’s Foundation® at their celebrating Bronx women entrepreneurs event • 2008   12-22-08     The New York Women’s Foundation® awards $500,000 in grants to 12 New York City Community–Based Organizations   12-15-08     The New York Women’s Foundation® Convenes Forum To Discuss The Impact Of The Foreclosre Crisis On Women   11-14-08     The New York Women’s Foundation® Honors Two Dynamic Women Leaders in the Bronx   11-12-08     The New York Women’s Foundation® Celebrates Women’s Participation And Leadership In The Bronx Economic Revival At Its Annual Neighborhood Dinner!   06-26-08     New Report: Economic Status of New York Women Has Declined.   05-19-08     The New York Women’s Foundation Honors Trailblazers, Awards More Than $2.75 Million in Grants at 21st Annual Celebrating Women® Breakfast   05-01-08     Twenty-One Years of Women Helping Women: The New York Women’s Foundation® awards $2.75 million in grants. • 2007   09-25-07     The New York Women’s Foundation Honors Two Dynamic Young Women Leaders In Queens, NY   09-17-07     Senator John Sabini and Council Member Helen Sears joins The New York Women?s Foundation® (NYWF®) in honoring two dynamic and visionary women leaders in Queens at its annual Neighborhood Dinner   09-17-07     El Senador John Sabini y la Consejal Helen Sears se unen a la Fundacion de Mujeres de la Ciudad de Nueva York para rendir homenaje durante su cena anual a dos mujeres dinamicas y de gran vision que han dedicado su vida a mejorar sus comunidades.   09-17-07     Celebrating Emerging Women’s Leadership in Queens, NY   07-17-07     The New York Women’s Foundation® Elects Nine New Members to its Board of Directors   05-18-07     Philanthropist Abigail E. Disney Challenges New Yorkers to "Give Until it Hurts"   05-01-07     Whoopi Goldberg, Abigail Disney, Dolores Huerta, Mira Nair Among honorees at New York Women?s Foundation?s 20th Annual Breakfast • 2006   10-20-06     Neighborhood Leaders of Lower Manhattan celebrate at Annual Neighborhood Dinner of The New York Women’s Foundation®   05-11-06     Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Honored by The New York Women’s Foundation® - The NYWF® Announces $1.65 Million in Grants to City Groups to Combat Injustice and Increase Economic Opportunities for Women and Girls   03-03-06     NYWF® Committee for the Future hosts screening of "Red Doors" at Soho House   01-18-06     The New York Women’s Foundation® Names Ana Oliveira as New President and Chief Executive Officer • 2005   10-26-05     Neighborhood Leaders of Brooklyn celebrate at Annual Neighborhood Dinner of The New York Women’s Foundation®   08-23-05     Women’s Foundation Responds to Needs of Low-Income Women and Girls; Begins 2005-2006 Funding Cycle • 2004   10-21-04     New York Women’s Foundation to Honor Women of Queens at Annual Neighborhood Dinner   08-19-04     Women’s Foundation Responds to Needs of Low-Income Women and Girls; Begins 2004-2005 Funding Cycle • 2003   07-05-03     Grants Available for NYC Nonprofits Helping Low-Income Women and Girls   07-05-03     Women Business and Civic Leaders Elected to Board of Women’s Charity   02-24-03     The New York Women’s Foundation Urges Bloomberg to Remember the Survivors   01-15-03     Ann Richards to Emcee Celebrating Women® Breakfast. Playwright and Activist Eve Ensler Honored • 2002   04-26-02     $1 Million in Grants Going to NYC's Community Groups Helping Low-Income Women and Girls   02-18-02     A Forum on Welfare’s end: Where are Women on Assistance Going? • 2001   03-01-01     Many Still in Poverty After Leaving Welfare Concludes Welfare Reform Forum by NYWF®   02-01-01     Women in Low Wage Jobs Demand a Living Wage & Better Working Conditions Public Forum Summaries •  2007 •  2006 •  2003 •  2002 •  2001 Newsletters •  Winter 2008 •  Spring 2007 •  Fall 2006 •  Summer 2006 •  Spring 2006 •  Fall 2005 •  Summer 2005 •  Spring 2005 •  Summer 2004 •  Spring 2004 •  Fall 2003 •  Summer 2003 •  Spring 2003 •  Winter 2002 Press Kit •  Fact Sheet •  Who We Are •  Historical Timeline