JRF Newsletter Spring 2011 View

Where Do They Go?
M
I Never Gave Up
ost JRF scholars major in
healthcare and education.
Not only do these areas of
study provide jobs around the country,
they also allow scholars to give back to
their communities immediately.
Now we have good news… Bonnie has
a new job! And not just any job, she is
a Prevention Educator at Prevention
Plus, an organization that seeks “to
reduce substance abuse and the social
problems that result from it.” She
works in the community, educating
children and adults about healthy
lifestyles, and provides support and
hope for those who are currently
battling addictions.
B
onnie had a good job. She
worked hard, paid her bills and
took care of her family.
JRF scholars pursue many unique
majors, too, including web design and
interactive media, piloting, baking and
pastry, geology and welding technology.
No matter the major, each woman has
a plan to use her education to improve
the lives of those around her. See the
majors of 2010 scholars in the graph
above.
Then Governor Christie cut $2.7
million from New Jersey’s budget,
eliminating many jobs, including
Bonnie’s. Those who came to the
2010 JRF Annual Dinner heard
Bonnie speak candidly about her life
before and after receiving her JRF
scholarship, including her recent
experiences seeking employment.
Bonnie’s experience has inspired her
to continue her education beyond her
master’s degree and earn certification
as a counselor. Her advice to everyone
currently seeking employment is
to “think and speak positively, with
enthusiasm and eagerness, and be willing
to learn and grow.” Despite being laid
off, she stayed on good terms with
her employer, continued to volunteer,
and strengthened her resume with free
training courses at her local YMCA.
Scholar News: Tina and Tina
T
ina A. recently received a letter from
her Congressional representative
congratulating her on receiving a
JRF scholarship. He said, “This honor reflects
your strong commitment to excellence in being
a role model for others. Your many accomplishments and leadership have earned you great
recognition and admiration in our community.”
And it’s true! Not only did Tina earn
straight A’s last semester, she also volunteered at the Toys for Tots drive. When
she graduates, Tina plans to work in an
elementary school near her hometown – just
another way she will be giving back to her
community.
I
n December,
Tina S.
graduated
with her
associate’s
degree in
Nursing.
She says,
“Achieving a
college degree is the only way for me to
provide better for my family.” Tina is a
role model for her three daughters,
demonstrating the importance of
education and hard work.
www.rankinfoundation.org
Mission: Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund raises funds and awards scholarships annually to
low-income women, thirty-five years of age and older, who are in an undergraduate or vocational training
program and have a vision of how their education will benefit themselves, their families, and their communities.
In working toward these ends, JRF continues the legacy of Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress
and a proponent of peace and women’s and children’s rights.
The Gift of Higher Education
My mother and father worked and
saved so that I could go to college. The
thousands of women who have applied
for Jeannette Rankin scholarships over
the years have not been so lucky.
JRF was founded in 1976 to help adult
women students; in the 35 years since,
the organization has not drifted from
this mission. With the modest $16,000
from the sale of Rankin’s property,
JRF’s program has grown to provide
943 scholarships totalling more than
$1.6 million.
Rankin’s Shady Grove Cottage in
Watkinsville, Georgia, circa 1965.
Who could have predicted the impact
of Rankin’s bequest decades ago?
Laura Bierema, former JRF president,
and her husband Mark Ebell recently
updated their wills. They are including
a bequest to JRF.
Their gift will join
Rankin’s, helping
hundreds more
women change their
lives through higher
education.
A bequest is a promise costing nothing
today that creates a legacy that will give
the gift of higher education to women
who could not afford it otherwise.
My promise this year is to donate
a 2011 scholarship in honor of my
mother and father. I want another
woman to have the opportunity to
pursue her own dreams of higher
education. I am inviting you to join me.
Funding one woman through a JRF
award in 2011 costs $2,500. You
can do it yourself, with your family,
friends, or your civic, business group
or club. Join in celebrating JRF’s 35
years of empowering women through
higher education. If you want more
information on how to make your own
2011 scholarship or on leaving part of
your estate to JRF in your will, please
call me.
Sue Lawrence
Executive Director
706-208-1211
2011 JRF Board Directors at their retreat in January. From left, standing: Ruth Bettandorff, Carol
Kurtz, Lori Tiller, Ray Donovan, Michael Purser, Larry Hill, Heather Broadwater, Jennie Wenger,
Juniper Burrows. Sitting: Brian Brooks, April Robertson, Leslie Lee, Tracy Mathews. NP: Jim Langlois.
Leading the Way
The five women who created JRF are
commemorating the organization’s
35th anniversary by forming a Giving
Circle. Reita Rivers, Heather Kleiner,
Margaret Holt, Gail Dendy and Susan
Bailey have each contributed toward
a $2,000 scholarship. It will be called
the Founder’s Award, and will help a
woman in 2011.
Branan Foundation
JRF got exciting news from the Mary
Allen Lindsey Branan Foundation,
which is managed through Wells Fargo
Philanthropic Services. Our grant
application to upgrade the JRF office
loft with video conferencing equipment
got two thumbs up! The grant will
help JRF headquarters connect and
communicate with constituents across
the U.S.
Unrestricted Gifts
JRF needs help keeping the lights on,
as well as postage, staff, telephones
and typical office expenses necessary
to provide our scholarships. Many of
our supporters understand. JRF friend
Lucy says, “I give unrestricted gifts to
JRF because an adequate operating budget
allows the foundation to grow. JRF has
strong fiscal controls, and the staff and
board exhibit integrity.”
JRF staff from left: Shalondan Hollingshed,
Financial Program Assistant; Bentley Worthy,
Marketing and Development Coordinator; April
Greene, Program Coordinator.
Mobilizing Women for a Better Future: Event Notes
M
aria Britt reached
the rank of
Brigadier General
in 2007. She’s the first
woman to accomplish this
in the history of the Georgia
National Guard.
As keynote speaker at JRF’s
2010 Annual Dinner, Maria
spoke about breaking
barriers and being true to
yourself. It was an inspiring
message that anyone could
relate to, especially our 80
amazing JRF scholars –
women who are overcoming
their own obstacles as they
work to earn their degrees.
It was a wonderful night with
good friends. We hope to see
you this year!
Scholar Profile: Kim
M
y name is Kim, and I am
a first generation high
school graduate, and as
unimpressive as that sounds, I am
very proud of that. Coming from an
undereducated family, I was taught
that the importance of putting in a
hard day’s work was far greater than
getting a good education.
In the past year, my two older brothers,
as well as my dad have gone back to
school and earned their GEDs. My two
younger brothers have recently started
college classes. I am very proud of them.
The event that started all of these
advancements in education for my
family was an accident. In August 2008,
I was driving home when I was hit head
on by a drunk driver. I was trapped
in the car, which caught on fire, and I
had to be cut out. I was air-lifted to the
hospital, where I spent the next three
weeks. I suffered several broken bones,
including my left humerus, bi-lateral
ulna and radius, bi-lateral femur, my
hip, and I lost my calcaneus (heel bone).
Both of my knees and ankles were
dislocated.
I spent 2.5 months in a nursing home
undergoing physical and occupational
therapy. When I finally came home, I
was confined to the bed or wheelchair.
By January 2009, I could stand for
five minute intervals and started
out-patient therapy. I learned to walk
on a treadmill while submerged in a
swimming pool and by July 2009, I was
walking with the help of crutches.
It was then that I decided to return to
school to earn a degree in a field that
I’ve always wanted to work in. So, now
I’m an education major at Santa Fe
and I’m planning to earn my AA and
transfer to a university to complete my
bachelor’s degree toward a career in
secondary education. I want to teach
high school math. My brothers and
dad decided that if I could go back to
school then they could, too.
Before the accident, I enjoyed
volunteering with high school
students. As a teacher, I want to set an
example for them, like I do with my
own children, so that they can see the
determination I have shown and know
that they can do anything.
Battelle Awards
Battelle, an Ohio trust organized
for charitable, educational, and
scientific purposes, donated
$5,000 for two scholarships. Frank
Pasztor, Atlanta Analytical Services
Manager, presents the check to Sue
Lawrence.
Connect with us
Like us on facebook:
facebook.com/jeannetterankinfund
Follow us on twitter:
@rankinfund
See videos on YouTube:
youtube.com/rankinfoundation
1 Huntington Road, Suite 701
Athens, GA 30606
706-208-1211 • rankinfoundation.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Athens, GA
Permit No. 230
JRF’s High Hat Party
Sunday, April 17, 2011 • 1:00-3:00pm
The Georgia Center • Athens, GA
Reserve today!
Thank You Jeannette Rankin Volunteers!
We appreciate the hours of help that volunteers
contribute to JRF. Scholarship applications are rolling in,
and more than 200 volunteers will help us review them.
This past football season, JRF volunteers earned $1,000
by collecting bottles and cans for recycling after two
University of Georgia home games. Here’s a cellphone
snap from our new group of recyclers! Thank you to all
of our great volunteers!
“Education is Expensive, but Ignorance Will Cost Me More.”
– Yuthavy, JRF scholar
What does education cost?
The National Center for Education
Statistics recently published “What
Is the Price of College? Total,
Net, and Out-of-Pocket Prices
in 2007–08” (http://nces.ed.gov/
pubs2011/2011175.pdf ). The study
found that the average total expenses
(including books, supplies, etc.) for
earning a degree ranged from $12,600
at public 2-year institutions to $35,500
at private non-profit schools.
Even using the lowest figure, $12,600
for a two year school, the student pays
about $6,300 annually. In order to
qualify for a JRF scholarship, the
applicant must be low-income, which
for a household of one means earning
$13,958 or less. The cost to attend
school is then 45% of her yearly
income. With no financial aid, a
person would have to live on $7,658
a year.
Scholarships and grants can ease the
financial burden and increase access
to higher education. Data from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that
people with college degrees are facing
unemployment at a far lower rate than
those without. Higher education is
one of the most effective ways out of
poverty.