Grants to help women achieve economic self-sufficiency

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

WealthSpring Fund, formed to promote the economic self-sufficiency of women in Nebraska, has announced its first grant awards.

The fund was established last year to honor Maxine Moul upon her retirement from the Nebraska Community Foundation. Moul was instrumental in launching the statewide Nebraska Community Foundation in 1993, and she served as its president until 2003.

During the past year, WealthSpring Fund founders and volunteers raised more than $57,000 in pledges and contributions, including $10,000 from the Cooper Foundation to support its first grant cycle awards and $5,000 from Lincoln Benefit Life Co. to sponsor its inaugural grant award event last month.

In 2004, Nebraska ranked first nationally, with 62 percent of married families having both husband and wife working. Today, approximately 67 percent of Nebraska women work outside the home, the third highest percentage in the country. They earn just 71 percent of what men make.

The grants will support programs reflecting the needs of women across the state — training in financial management, job hunting and interview skills, workforce access for women with disabilities, food service management training and quality child care in underserved areas.

Receiving grants ranging from $1,400 to $2,800 are:

* Kinder Haus Childcare Center, Eustis, to buy equipment.

* Friendship Home, Lincoln, for economic self-empowerment training for up to 18 emergency shelter residents affected by partner violence, homelessness and/or poverty.

* REAP Women’s Business Center, statewide, to develop “Bookkeeping Basics for Business Success” training program.

* Adams County YWCA, Hastings, to develop management skills for women in transition, focusing on creating and selling healthy lunches for targeted groups, including athletes, laborers, diabetics and vegetarians.

* Abilities Fund, Plattsmouth, to offer entrepreneurship workshops promoting economic independence and access to resources for women with disabilities.

For more information about the WealthSpring Fund, its founders, its advisory committee or how to become involved, contact the Nebraska Community Foundation at 402-323-7330 or Reggi Carlson at rcarlson@nebcommfound.org.