Education is my door out of poverty
“I have been clean and sober for more
JEANNET
TE
RA
Despite a demanding schedule,
Marilyn is serving as a board member
for a local organization that provides
assistance to low-income and homeless
families in her community. “As a
former client, I am honored serve the
organization that helped my children and
me transition out of homelessness.”
6
2 01
1
97
IP FUND
RSH
LA
Today, Marilyn is pursuing her
bachelor’s degree in sociology and
plans to earn her master’s degree in
social work.
than 7 years. I have discovered new
opportunities, and, for the first time,
cemented a true sense of self-worth and
self-respect.”
1
I
am a 38
year old
single
mother raising
four beautiful
children. I am
also a former
drug addict
Marilyn, 2011 JRF scholar
and domestic
violence survivor. I am not your typical
college student. In fact, some might say
that it is a miracle that ‘someone like
me’ found the path to higher education.
At the age of two, I emigrated from the
Philippines to the U.S. with my mother,
leaving behind a life of abject poverty
for the mere opportunity for a new
beginning.”
OMEN’S S
CH
IN W
O
NK
35
Years
To our Founders
We extend a special message of
appreciation to the five women
who created JRF in 1976.
Marilyn knows that pursuing a degree
will show her children the importance
of higher education.
Who knew what the impact
of your vision, hard work and
determination would be?
“Education is my door out of poverty.
I look forward to helping others build
their own door. I am proof that it is
never too late to change the direction
of your life. I am proud to say I have
created a precedent and firmly believe
it will resonate in the lives of my
children and their children one day.”
This issue of The Rankin File is
dedicated to you. Thank you:
Susan Bailey
Gail Dendy
Margaret Holt
Heather Kleiner
Reita Rivers
JRF Then
JRF Now
One woman
One scholarship awarded
679 women
943 scholarships awarded
$500 scholarship
One-year award
Fewer than
50 applicants
annually
Early awardees were Georgia residents
$2000 scholarship
Renewal Awards
up to five years
Nearly 900 applicants
annually
Any woman who is a U.S. citizen may apply
49 states represented
We couldn’t do it without you
Remembering
Sherrie Ford
Though Sherrie is well known for
running Power Partners, one of the
largest woman-owned businesses in
the U.S., we know her better as an
ardent supporter of her community,
a woman with such strength,
determination and skill that she
inspired people
around the world.
T
here’s no question that without the help of amazing volunteers, JRF would not be here today. For the first 25 years, JRF was a completely
volunteer-run organization. Thank you to everyone who made it possible!
Each year community members step up to help in many different facets of our
operations, and we want to recognize some of their work:
•
•
•
•
More than 1,000 hours were volunteered to help screen, read and select
scholars from a pool of nearly 900 applications.
A new office volunteer program was started and we have people regularly
coming in to help us with tasks that normally get pushed to the back burner.
One volunteer-led project is helping us learn more about the women who
apply for JRF scholarships but aren’t selected.
Spring semester’s interns wrote blog posts, assisted with the High Hat Party,
got in touch with JRF alumnae and lots more.
The Board of Directors has shown incredible enthusiasm and commitment
by hosting parties, joining in application review, sending thank you notes,
helping with the annual audit and so many other things.
So many people
were clearly
changed by
knowing Sherrie
who passed away
earlier this year.
An endowment
scholarship is being established in
her name, to empower other women
to earn their degrees and then go out
into their communities and make an
impact.
“All of us are very sad for having lost
Sherrie Ford, but we are richer for
having her in our lives.”
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
CFC Giving
T
he Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) allows Federal employees to support
our program through payroll
contributions. It’s an easy way to
make a big impact! JRF’s number is:
JRF ED takes a ride with Lilly Ledbetter
S
ue Lawrence, JRF’s Executive Director,
attended the American Association of
University Women (AAUW) Convention
in Washington, DC in June. Presentations and
workshops covered a range of issues affecting
women including equal pay, safe campuses, advocacy
for a national Women’s Museum in DC, women in
STEM fields, Elect Her and more.
During the convention, Sue got to ride beside Lilly Ledbetter, the plaintiff of the
Paycheck Fairness Act. The bill amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 so that the
180 day statute of limitations to file an equal-pay lawsuit resets with each new
discriminatory paycheck. It is the first legislation that President Obama signed
when he took leadership in the White House.
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.
www.rankinfoundation.org
The High Hat Party was a major success
April, JRF Program Coordinator
with Sylvia, JRF scholar speaker
Brian, a JRF Board Director, with his wife Deanna,
their two kids and Frannie Plaksin
Karen Watkins, Sylvia Hannah and Aliki Nicolades
looking positively lovely
T
hank you to everyone who came out
and made the High Hat Party so
much fun. There were fantastic hats,
tasty food, great auction items and a wonderful scholar speaker. After Sylvia spoke, the
audience was compelled to give a scholarship
in her honor, the Friends of Sylvia Award,
which was awarded this year to Marilyn (see
front page). We surpassed our goal this year
and raised over $20k! The event was splendid
because of the awesome people who came and
made it such a festive time
Paige Marchand and Jared Bailey, our
fantastic auctioneer
Support from grantors near and far
W
e sincerely appreciate support from foundations and friends that
share our goal to help women change their lives through higher
education. Thank you!
Anonymous Donor: Though they don’t want to be recognized by name, we definitely
want to thank this donor who gives generously to empower women to be self-suffiient.
Battelle: Frank Pasztor, manager of Atlanta Battelle,
says, “This donation in support of JRF is especially
aligned with Battelle’s support of Science and Technology
education at a national scale.” Battelle donated two
scholarships to help women this year.
Branan Foundation: Their grant to upgrade the loft
Frank Pasztor (left)and JRF Board
Director Michael Purser.
has allowed us to get a computer, projector, and webcam
to communicate with scholars and supporters across the
country, provide trainings and enhance meetings.
Junior League of Athens: “An organization of women committed to promoting
voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through
the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” JLA donated proceeds from their
annual event Bargainza to empower women to have the skills and resources to make a
difference in their communities.
PRBB: “We are a small private foundation whose mission is to empower women to be
a positive force in shaping their families, communities and environment. We believe this
is the point of entry that most affects everything else on the planet.” PRBB donated three
scholarships to help women do just that.
Sunshine Lady Foundation: A strong advocate for our renewal program that allows
JRF scholars to continue receiveing awards for up to five years. SLF has supported us since
2002, and last year offered a challenge that helped us raise more than $170,000.
Shellie and Chanel Noisette with some great
floppy hats
Have you seen
Jeannette?
A JRF volunteer
spotted
Jeannette
Rankin’s statue
on her trip to
Washington,
DC this spring.
Thanks for the
photo, Angela!
Connect with us
Like us on facebook:
facebook.com/jeannetterankinfund
Follow us on twitter:
@rankinfund
See videos on YouTube:
youtube.com/rankinfoundation
Thank you Sally and Mark for hosting this year’s
volunteer appreciation party!
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
News from JRF scholars
“I am currently working as a travel RN and loving every minute
of it! Thank you JRF for believing in me and helping get my
nursing degree.”
“Coming Full Circle”
– Brenda, 2003
JRF’s Annual Dinner Party
Thursday, Sept. 8 • 5:30-8pm
Tate Grand Hall • Athens, GA
Reserve today!
rankinfoundation.org
“I’m in my third year of my family medicine residency. I’ve
wanted to be a doctor since I was a little girl, and now I am.”
– Cindy, 2002
“My new goal is opening a literacy foundation and program.
Lofty, I know, but it was JRF that provided me with strength to
know I still have plenty of life in me to reach my dreams.”
– Marjorie, 2009
JRF scholar success
R
espondents to JRF’s 2011 annual scholar
update survey are doing great – 95.7%
are currently enrolled in classes or
have graduated.
Attrition rates for nontraditional
students are consistently higher than
their traditional peers. For first year
students, the rate is nearly double, 14%
for traditional and 27% for nontraditional.
(Choy, Susan. 2002. Access & Persistence: Findings from
10 Years of Longitudinal Research on Students.)
When nontraditional students have access to support
programs, they are much more likely to complete
their degrees. JRF is a support system for many
scholars – their scholarships show that people
believe in them, and our Program Coordinator,
April, communicates with them regularly.
95.7% graduated or *+,, -. */0oo, “Being awarded this scholarship has shown me
that there are others who believe in me. Your
encouragement has helped me realize that I can
accomplish my goal!”
—Karon, 2010 JRF scholar