Women Investing in Shepherd (WISH), a women’s giving circle sponsored by the Shepherd University Foundation, will hold a five-year anniversary celebration on Sunday, April 28, from 4-6 p.m. in Erma Ora Byrd Hall.
The program will include presentations by the 2018 community nonprofit recipients CASA and the Good Samaritan Clinic, and 2018 Shepherd learning project recipients Tabler Farm Initiative and the Catherine Weltzheimer House Restoration project. Rebecca Powers, who in 2003 founded the women’s giving circle Impact Austin in Austin, Texas, will give the keynote address. The reception is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the 2018 grant recipients or hearing the WISH story.
In its first five years, WISH will have awarded $475,000 collectively to nine area nonprofits and nine Shepherd learning projects. Nonprofit projects awarded have ranged from funding a wound care initiative through Panhandle Home Health, to an ADA accessible bathroom for Horses with Hearts, to creating mentoring positions for Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle. Shepherd projects have ranged from a STEM-based conference for middle school girls, to supporting veterans’ services, to the restoration of historic property on campus as an education tool.
WISH inspires, educates, and develops the amazing potential of women’s philanthropy through awarding high-impact grants. Each member combines her $500 annual contribution into a grant pool, which is then divided between the community nonprofit and Shepherd project categories. A one woman, one vote process determines the grant recipients in each category. Membership for 2019 is being accepted until December 31.
To RSVP for the event or to learn more about the organization and becoming a member of WISH, visit https://shepherduniversityfoundation.org/events/wishfiveyearanniversary/ or contact Meg Peterson at 304-876-5021 or mpeterso@shepherd.edu.
