In its second year, the University of Tennessee Alliance of Women Philanthropists Board Of Directors has awarded more than $48,000 to four UT programs.
As part of their mission to educate, empower, and inspire women to be philanthropic leaders, the board members of the Alliance of Women Philanthropists have established and funded an annual giving circle. The program supports the instruction, research, outreach, and fundraising initiatives of UT students, faculty, and alumni.
Participants who receive grant funding develop a new project or program or they expand substantially upon an existing project or program. Grant-funded projects and programs promote the spirit of the Alliance by providing opportunities to inspire leadership within the statewide UT community. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000 and are awarded annually to the most innovative applicants.
Selected for funding are:
• UT Chattanooga, Office of Grants and Research and the Graduate School, $4,800 for a mentoring program for women graduate students in research;
• UT Chattanooga, School of Nursing, $7,575 for the purchase of model simulators for students to experience realistic clinical experiences;
• UT Knoxville, Institute of Agriculture, UT Gardens, $18,000 for a project to construct an interactive teaching and learning “kitchen garden.” The program will address educational, social, physical, nutritional, economic and environmental needs of the university and community; and
• UT Knoxville, Institute of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, $18,000 for a study project that will develop a non-surgical sterilization product for pets.
Giving circle grant applications are currently being accepted for 2010. The deadline is Nov. 30, 2009. Students, faculty, staff, departmental units, and student organizations from all UT campuses are eligible.
For an application or more information about the Alliance of Women Philanthropists or the giving circle, visit http://alliance.tennessee.edu/.
Along with grant awards, the UT Alliance of Women Philanthropists also hosted their inaugural women’s symposium, “Making History – Living the Legacy of Women’s Philanthropy” in April which featured keynote speaker Susan Packard, co-founder of HGTV and former president of Scripps Networks New Ventures (view live web cast at http://alliance.tennessee.edu/symposium.html).
A decade ago the UT Alliance of Women Philanthropists was founded to encourage UT alumnae and other women who care about the university to consider making private gifts to support the university’s programs. Membership in the alliance includes women who have given or pledged at least $25,000 to any campus or unit of the university.