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Follow along with the Atlanta Women's Foundation as we work toward our mission to be the catalyst for change that improves the lives of women and girls across metro Atlanta. In our blog, you'll find our latest philanthropic campaign success stories, highlights from community events, insights from our publicly available research reports, and other AWF news.
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Atlanta Women’s Foundation Invests $1.418 Million in Women, Girls, and Families Across Metro Atlanta
Community Investment Celebration at Atlanta City Hall highlights the power of collective action to create opportunity, stability, and brighter futures ...
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Why Suicide Prevention Is a Women’s Issue And What Atlanta Can Do About It
Women and girls face distinct, interconnected barriers that can intensify mental health challenges. AWF’s research identifies where those risks begin, ...
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The Education Gap That’s Holding Atlanta’s Girls Back and What Research Says About Fixing It
Girls in metro Atlanta graduate high school at higher rates than boys in every county AWF studies. Yet where a ...
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Maternal Mental Health in Atlanta: What the Data Shows and Why Mothers Need More Support
One in five women nationally will experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. In Atlanta, poverty, childcare costs, and gaps ...
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The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s Inspire Atlanta Class of 2026 Raises Record-Breaking $803,000
The Inspire Atlanta community impact and fundraising program engages women leaders across Atlanta to advance the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s mission ...
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Mental Health in Metro Atlanta: What We’re Learning — and What Comes Next
Earlier this month, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation brought together nonprofit partners, community leaders, and advocates to share new research on ...
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Women in the Workplace: Why Economic Instability Is Hitting Women First – and Black Women Hardest
The Workforce Is Shifting - and Women Are Feeling It First Over the past year, women have been leaving the ...
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Meet the Inspire Atlanta Class of 2026
The Atlanta Women’s Foundation is proud to introduce the Inspire Atlanta Class of 2026 — 34 women leaders who have ...
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Season of Giving: Why Supporting Women is the Best Investment in the Future
'Tis the season of giving! Every year, the months of October, November, and December are nationally recognized as a time ...
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AWF Impact: A Story of Confidence, Leadership, and Transformation
ATLANTA, November 2025 —At the Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF), we operate as a funder, educator, and connector. AWF creates impact ...
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The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Raises $1.2 Million at “Numbers Too Big To Ignore” Luncheon Featuring Hoda Kotb
Atlanta, GA — The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) raised an impressive $1.2 million to support programs empowering women and girls ...
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World Mental Health Day 2025: How AWF Supports Women’s Mental Health in Atlanta
Every year on October 10, the world comes together to recognize World Mental Health Day, raising awareness of the challenges ...
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Breaking Barriers: How the Yashoda Reddy Education Award is Changing Lives for Atlanta Women
When education meets opportunity, women unlock their power to transform communities. That’s the vision behind the Yashoda Reddy Education Award, ...
Read More Get Excited for Hoda Kotb
On October 29th, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation will welcome one of the most beloved and inspiring voices in American media ...
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The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Awards More Than $1.7 Million at Annual Community Investment Celebration
Investing in the Education, Empowerment, and Economic Mobility of Women and Girls Across Metro Atlanta The Atlanta Women's Foundation Investment ...
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Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s ‘Inspire Atlanta’ Celebrates Unparalleled Success in 2025 Graduation Ceremony
The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) celebrates the completion of its Inspire Atlanta program for the class of 2025, raising a ...
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Beyond the Algorithm: Women’s Voices in the Age of AI
Featuring Dr. Maryam Alavi’s Take on AI’s Role in Career Growth Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work — ...
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Finding Greater Purpose Through AWF’s Inspire Atlanta Program
By Lynn Lewis, Founder of Lunar Real Estate Group, LLC Finding Greater Purpose Through AWF’s Inspire Atlanta Program I’ll never ...
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Hoda Kotb to Speak at Atlanta Women’s Foundation Luncheon
One of America’s foremost journalists, authors, and entertainers, Hoda Kotb, will speak at this year’s Atlanta Women's Foundation (AWF) “Numbers ...
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Fulton County Commission Declares March 8th Atlanta Women’s Foundation Appreciation Day
In recognition of the Atlanta Women's Foundation’s (AWF) dedication to empowering women and girls, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners ...
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Stepping Into the Shoes of Those in Need: The Inspire Atlanta Poverty Simulation
Imagine for a moment that you’ve just lost your job. Your savings are running out, bills are piling up, and ...
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From Inspire Atlanta to Board Chair – Fiona Bell’s Journey
AWF Leadership: Q&A with Fiona Bell, Board Chair Fiona Bell, Director of State Government Affairs at Novelis, joined the Atlanta ...
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Meet the 2025 Inspire Atlanta Class
AWF's New Inspire Atlanta Class Continues to Raise the Bar to Support Women and Girls in Metro Atlanta The ...
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How to Make Your End-of-Year Gift Count!
Today is Giving Tuesday, a global celebration of generosity. Following Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday ...
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2024 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees
The Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award is a special $20,000 grant given annually to one of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s ...
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The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Awards More Than $1 Million at Annual Community Investment Celebration
The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) celebrated its annual Community Investment Celebration on September 24th awarding $1.05 million in grants to ...
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How You Can Inspire Your Women and Benefit Your Company Through Inspire Atlanta
By Kate Pearch, Chief Strategy Officer at Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP and AWF Board Member Kate Pearch (center) at ...
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Being the Change: A Single Mom’s Determination and Journey to Inspire Others
This blog was written by ZsaVette "Zsa" Ellis Eze, an AWF donor, volunteer, and Inspire Atlanta Class of 2023 graduate. ...
Read More Learn More About AWF’s 2024 Numbers Luncheon Speaker Molly Shannon: Catalyst For Change
The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) is thrilled to have actress Molly Shannon headline our 28th Annual Numbers Too Big To ...
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Celebrating 25 Years of Empowering Women and Girls: Reflecting on Our Journey
As we culminate the 25th anniversary of the Atlanta Women's Foundation, we are reminded of the unwavering commitment and dedication ...
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Inspire Atlanta Class of 2024 Graduation
Inspire Atlanta Celebrates Unprecedented Success Another Record-Breaking Year! $577,000 Raised to Empower Girls Impacted by Poverty. Inspire Atlanta Class of ...
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Molly Shannon Announced as Guest Speaker at Numbers Too Big To Ignore Luncheon
The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) announces Molly Shannon as this year’s guest speaker for its Numbers Too Big To Ignore ...
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Changing HERstory: All Girls Forward
Thanks to everyone who joined our Changing HERstory: All Girls Forward webinar. Click on the image below to view the ...
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Leading the Way
AWF Kicks off 2024 with more milestones to celebrate! It's the second half of our 25th year of changing the ...
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2023: AWF Year in Review
As we enter 2024 and hit the midway point of our 25th year as the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, we want ...
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2023 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees
The Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award is a special $20,000 grant given annually to one of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s ...
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Brooke Shields: Spotlight on This Year’s Luncheon Speaker
The Atlanta Women's Foundation (AWF) is thrilled to welcome Brooke Shields — an esteemed actress, model, author, and advocate for ...
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The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Invests $1.1 Million in the Community
ATLANTA, Aug. 29, 2023 – Living up to its mission to be a catalyst for change in the lives of ...
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The Impact of Poverty on Women’s Mental Health
Poverty is a pervasive issue that affects millions of people in the United States — it can cast a shadow ...
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A Donor’s Guide for Charitable Impact
Nonprofit organizations and donors are the world's champions in advancing humanitarian and social justice causes. You, our donors, fuel the ...
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Atlanta Women’s Foundation ‘Inspire Atlanta’ Celebrates 2023 Grads
Record $454,000 Raised to Support Programs for Women and Girls ATLANTA, Ga. – It was a record-breaking year for empowering ...
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Inspiring Impact
Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life; it’s about what you inspire others to do. Since the inception of ...
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The Six women who make the A-Team ROCK!
In 1986, a group of visionary women business owners founded The Atlanta Women’s Fund as part of the Community Foundation ...
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On the Quarter and a Quarter Acre and in AWF history
Maya Angelou speaks at 1998 Numbers Too Big to Ignore luncheon Twenty five years ago, in 1998, at just the ...
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2022 A Year in Review
Before we leap into the New Year, we want to take some moments to reflect on what your support made ...
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2022 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees
The Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award is a special grant of $20,000 given annually to one of our grantee partner ...
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Getting Ready for Rita
AWF is excited to have Rita Moreno Award-Winning Actress, Dancer & Singer speak at our 2022 Numbers Too Big To ...
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Meet AWF’s New Board Members
Last month we welcomed eight new members to the AWF Board of Directors. The new class of board members are ...
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Investing in Women and Girls
By DiShonda Hughes, Chief Mission Officer for The Atlanta Women’s Foundation When I started at The Atlanta Women’s Foundation 22 ...
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Board Service and Beyond
Nancy Halwig Becky Schmitt Michele Sims Mark Wasserman This year we continue our annual tradition of recognizing and thanking the ...
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Why Mental Health
In 2011, The Atlanta Women’s Foundation undertook a proprietary research project entitled Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty in Metro ...
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Proud to Be in a Position to Give Back
AWF’s Inspire Atlanta program strives to develop women leaders who will help affect real change for women and girls in ...
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Career Opportunities in Technology for Single Mothers
This month’s guest contributor is Andrianna E. Hamwright, a graduate of AWF grantee Women in Technology’s technology training program for ...
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Women Achieving Success Through Entrepreneurship
Since the start of the pandemic, most of the news reported gives us a bleak picture about economics, politics, and ...
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2021 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees
This summer, we lost beloved former AWF Board Member, Sue Wieland. She served on the board from 2000 to 2006, ...
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Poem by 2021 Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate
This year, we invited the 2021 Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate, Aanika Eragam, to read one of her poems at the ...
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A Look at Substance Abuse in Women and the Resources to Support Them
Thank you to guest contributor Michelle Giordano, M.S. Community Counseling, with the organization Live Another Day, for educating us on ...
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We Need to Talk About Child Care
When you consider the factors essential to a thriving, modern economy, does child care come to mind? If not, it ...
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Meet AWF’s New Board Members
This month we welcomed five new members to the AWF Board of Directors. The new class of board members are ...
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Economically Empowering Refugee and Immigrant Women
Guest contributor Marjan Nadir, Women's Economic Empowerment Manager at Refugee Women’s Network (RWN), shares the story of Sahar, an Egyptian ...
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Leading by Example
Kristin Adams Cari Dawson Jennifer Hightower This year we have three amazing Board Members whose service is coming to an ...
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Normalizing seeking support for mental health takes collective action
As we are all aware, the pandemic has impacted all aspects of our lives, including on our mental health. That’s ...
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Celebrating Eight AWF Volunteers
Since April is National Volunteer Month, we want to introduce you to eight of our wonderful volunteers and volunteer leaders, ...
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A New Way to Support Mothers
A new addition to AWF’s Women’s Pathway to Success grantee cohort is Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta and we’re incredibly ...
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The Courage to Sit at the Head of the Table – AND yet…
Choosing to challenge any barrier a person faces takes courage. Taking the first step can be the most courageous one ...
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Staff Spotlight: April Castro
This month we are spotlighting the newest member of the AWF staff - April Castro. April joined AWF in December ...
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Georgia Women Bear the Brunt of COVID-19 Pandemic
In recognition of Poverty Awareness Month, this month’s guest contributor is Taifa Smith Butler, president and CEO of the Georgia ...
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Together: Our 2020 Word of the Year
As we close out 2020, AWF’s CEO Kari B. Love shares how AWF and our community of supporters helped to ...
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Holiday Volunteering with AWF Grantees
You can show your holiday spirit this season by helping out one of our grantee organizations. We’ve created a list ...
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Finding Your Voice Through Volunteer Leadership
Education activist Malala Yousafzai said, “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” This month’s guest writer ...
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2020 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees
In 2006, Sue Wieland and her husband John made a $1 million gift to AWF. That generosity continues to be ...
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Volunteer Spotlight: Tonya Cook & Melodi Ford
This month we're highlighting two of our wonderful longtime Numbers Luncheon volunteers - Tonya Cook, MS-HRD, CLC and Melodi Ford. ...
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Commemorating the 19th Amendment
The ratification of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920, represented the culmination of over 70 years of the women’s ...
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Two-Year Results of Economic Empowerment Program
Two years ago, thanks to a $1 million gift from The Coca-Cola Company, we launched our third collective impact grant ...
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Delia Cochran, Inspire Atlanta Facilitator
This month we’re spotlighting AWF volunteer Delia Cochran, who served as facilitator for the 2020 class of Inspire Atlanta. Delia ...
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Providing COVID-19 Health Care for Vulnerable Women and Children
This month’s guest contributor is Community Advanced Practice Nurses, Inc.’s (CAPN). CAPN details the impact of COVID-19 and how the ...
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Communications Internship Fall 2020
We are seeking a Communications Intern for fall semester 2020. Under the supervision of the Director of Communications, the Communications ...
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A Dynamic Duo!
Mother-daughter duo Dr. Shelia Payton and Bethani Payton-Thomas are dedicated AWF volunteers. Dr. Payton, a board certified Chiropractic Physician and ...
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How COVID-19 is Affecting Domestic Violence Survivors
The Center for Pan Asian Community Services is an AWF Promoting Women’s Mental Health & Wellbeing grantee and a recipient ...
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First Round of COVID-19 Grantee Relief Fund Recipients
This month AWF granted $120,000 to six nonprofit organizations for the first round of grants as part of our COVID-19 ...
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Finding Inspiration to Fundraise During a Crisis
When the COVID-19 pandemic began significantly impacting the U.S. in March and leaders started issuing shelter-in-place orders, AWF’s current class ...
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How the CARES Act Impacts Women
Thank you to Kim Hartsock, CPA and Megan Randolph, CPA from Warren Averett for helping to breakdown and explain the ...
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Our work continues: A message from Kari Love
AWF exists to help women and girls thrive, and together during this unprecedented time, we will continue to do what ...
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Women’s History Month 2020 Events
For Women’s History Month 2020, we’ve put together a list of events happening around Metro Atlanta to celebrate. We’ll be ...
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Breaking Barriers
As we close out January and Poverty Awareness Month, AWF’s Executive Vice President of Mission DiShonda Hughes writes about the ...
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Communications Internship Spring 2020
We are seeking a dynamic Communications Intern for spring semester 2020. Because AWF is a small, nimble organization, the Communications ...
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Growing Small Businesses
This month's guest blogger is Sandra Font, director of the ACE Women’s Business Center (WBC). Sandra writes about the work ...
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Latina Leadership Institute
This month's contributor to our blog is Mónica Cucalón, the Managing Director of Economic Empowerment at the Latin American Association ...
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$1.2 Million Impact
In 1986, a group of visionary women founded The Atlanta Women’s Fund as part of the Community Foundation for Greater ...
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Look Inside Inspire Atlanta
We wanted to share what our 2019 Inspire Atlanta class has been up to since orientation in March. They are ...
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With Gratitude.
As June comes to a close, so does The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s fiscal year, which means, we also say good-bye ...
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Changing Lives Changing Generations
With May being Mental Health Awareness Month and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, we wanted to highlight one of our Promoting ...
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Budgeting for Life
This past summer, AWF launched our latest grant program – Breaking Barriers, Building Women: Economic Empowerment Program, which focuses on ...
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Inspiring Women to Lead
In the U.S., March is Women’s History Month and it is an opportunity to celebrate the inspiring women who have ...
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Building Better Futures Through Education
This month we're hearing from Kerry McArdle, Executive Director of Literacy Action, on the importance of adult education and literacy. ...
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Why Women on Board
High-Functioning Nonprofit Board Members Learn What Works – and Utilize Knowledge & Leadership Skills to Make an Impact by Terri ...
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Economic Empowerment
$100. That is the median net-worth for single African American women. For single Hispanic women, it's $120. When a woman ...
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2018 Women in Healthcare
Women in Healthcare presents the documentary film, ANGST. This film explores teenage anxiety and depression- its causes, effects, and what ...
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Upcoming Events
This year's Women in Law will be "A Conversation with Judy Smith", Crisis Management Expert, lawyer, and the inspiration for ...
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The (Mental) Weight of Poverty
“One of the most consistently replicated findings in the social sciences has been the negative relationship of socioeconomic status with ...
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Asset Building Key to Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
As April is National Financial Literacy Month, we want to talk asset building, as an aspect of financial literacy, and ...
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Activate in April!
April is National Volunteer Month and we are bringing to you opportunities to get involved and volunteer with several of ...
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In His Own Words
By: Mark Wasserman, Managing Partner, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP; Co-Chief Executive Officer, Eversheds Sutherland Limited To close out this year’s ...
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Inspire Atlanta: Transforming Women’s Lives through Leadership & Philanthropy
By: Ashley Gravlee, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Novelis Inc. The Atlanta Women’s Foundation is launching a new initiative called Inspire ...
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Paula Goodman: a passionate advocate for women and girls
June is a bittersweet time for AWF because we usually have to say good-bye to Board Members who have completed ...
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Join AWF for a Day of Service
AWF corporate partner Novelis is hosting a home build for a single mother and her two daughters through AWF grantee ...
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A Mother’s Prayer: Treat My Son as an Individual
By: Lauretta Farmer May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The primary efforts of Mental Health Awareness Month are to reduce ...
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Give Your Community A Hand
Being involved in your community will not only connect you closer to your neighborhood, but can also help you transform ...
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Equality vs. Equity
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we wanted to explore the concept of equality versus equity and how ...
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Celebrating Women’s History Month in Atlanta
For Women's History Month, we've pulled together a listing of events happening throughout the metro Atlanta area during the month ...
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Promoting Women’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Exceeds Expectations in Year One
Since 2015, The Atlanta Women’s Foundation has invested $500,000 in the Promoting Women’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Project with the ...
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20 Years of Celebrating Women & Girls
As plans are finalized for the 20th The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Numbers Too Big to Ignore Luncheon featuring Gloria Steinem ...
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There Aren’t Enough Languages to Say "Thank You"
As June comes to a close, so does The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s fiscal year, which means, unfortunately, we also say ...
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Breaking Cycles of Generational Poverty: Positioning Teen Moms for Success
In recognition of May being Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, we invited current AWF grant recipient Families First to discuss the ...
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#PledgeForParity – International Women’s Day 2016
International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also ...
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Increasing Access To Child Care Helps Georgia’s Women and The State’s Economy
At The Atlanta Women’s Foundation, we know that advocacy is one of the most effective ways to combat the sort ...
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