AAUW’s Mission, Vision and Values
AAUW advances gender equality for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.
The AAUW vision is equity for all.
AAUW Values: Nonpartisan: Fact-based; Integrity; Inclusion and Intersectionality. A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, AAUW has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and over 800 college and university partners. Throughout its history, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day – educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW Greater Naples Branch is one of the most active in the state of Florida, with an engaged membership of over 100 and growing.
May President’s Message
As I am composing my final President’s Message of two successive terms, my reflections are thoughtful, poignant, proud, funny, frustrating (a little),happy, sad, and full of gratitude. Having the opportunity to share my thoughts with you each month was my way of connecting on a personal level. Focusing on our mission was my goal.
Our Branch has come through the pandemic and survived with flying colors. Our accomplishments have been recognized and our programs and collaborations have resulted in impressive outcomes. But the greatest accomplishment has been your dedication and commitment to gender equity. We have a lot more work to do and under the competent leadership of our incoming Board, I am confident that our efforts will be successful, our collaborations will be productive, and our Branch will thrive.
Please remember to renew your membership and to register for the Annual State AAUW Meeting on Thursday, May 16 by Zoom. Also, please vote by May 15 on the proposed AAUW Membership amendment. For more information see memberinfo@email.aauw.org.
Thank you for the opportunity to join forces with you…I look forward to seeing you all at
our next Branch meeting in October. Have a wonderful Summer!!
AAUW Greater Naples Branch Served another 250 Local 5th-Grade Girls through its 27th Annual STEAM Girls Count Program in 2024!
Once again, STEAM Program Chair Charmaine Klein led the wonderful women of the AAUW Greater Naples Branch to deliver the annual STEAM program for local 5th-grade girls, called STEAM Girls Count, in 2024. This program is designed to inspire girls to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and to teach them that the arts are part of, and not apart from STEM. Working with Collier County Public Schools and New Horizons, 250 local girls were served in 2024. The Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc. supports the program, which includes:
- Two STEM project kits/experiments to complete at home
- The book, Girls Think of Everything, written and signed by Kathleen Thimmesh, about women scientists and inventors; and
- Access to professionally produced videos of local women in STEAM careers, together with their biographies;
- Safety goggles and feedback forms; and
- Tote bags bearing the AAUW Great Naples Branch logo.
95% of the girls responding said that the STEAM Girls Count Program inspired them to want to learn more about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and STEAM careers.
Click to see the video CCPS produced about our STEAM Girls Count program:
https://video.collierschools.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=9f756f8e-1ebe-4abb-be2f-b17600ecf367
We are deeply grateful to the generous donors for this program who made this program possible. Thank you for investing in the futures of local girls!!
ENGEL&VÖLKERS J. MacGregor/Toxicology Consulting Services –
Kaiser Student Nurses Association Screen Printing Unlimited Anonymous Members of the AAUW Branch
If you are interested in helping the Foundation support this program, contributions may be made by
clicking the “Donate Now” button or by check payable to “Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc,” and mailed to Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc., PO Box 9742, Naples, FL 34101. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 59-3704754), regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Registration No. CH 13573. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA (1-800-435-7352). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
The AAUW Greater Naples Branch and the Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc. Congratulate the 15 Amazing Local Women Awarded 2024 Scholarships!
Academic scholarships have been awarded annually to deserving local women upon the recommendations of the Scholarship Committee for over 20 years.
Fifteen amazing women were awarded $2000 scholarships in 2024. We are proud to award seven scholarships to local women who are age 21 or over, five scholarships to local women pursuing STEM degrees, and three scholarship to local future teachers. These outstanding local women are:
- Maria Hernandez Lopez—McMahon Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund
- Megan Swanson—Friends of Bayview I Scholarship Award
- Kayla Miranda—Dellatorè Real Estate Company Scholarship Award
- Karina Lopez—Scholarship for Women 21 and Over
- Brittany Jarvis—Scholarship for Women 21 and Over
- Anita Herrera—McMahon Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund
- Adelyne Olson—Scholarship for Women 21 and Over
- Alina Zankevich—Laura A. Candris Endowed STEM Scholarship Fund
- Alexis Mathurin—Catherine E. Hackney Tribute STEM Scholarship
- Mallory Poff—Judith A. MacGregor Tribute STEM Scholarship
- Gabriella Nagy—Candris STEM Scholarship
- Denise Garcia Salas—STEM Scholarship
- Lauryn Jackson—Dorothy King Sutton Memorial Future Teacher Scholarship
- Lydia Sears—Dorothy King Sutton Memorial Future Teacher Scholarship
- Valentina Guzman—Future Educator Scholarship
Read about their accomplishments here: 2024 Scholarship Awards.
The scholarship programs, in brief are:
—Scholarships for Local Women, Age 21 or Over:
This scholarship program was created over 20 years ago to assist women returning to college, who typically have little access to tuition assistance, to obtain degrees and achieve greater economic security for themselves and their families.
—STEM Scholarships:
Since the establishment of endowments for such scholarships in 2018, we have annually awarded scholarships to local women of any age pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. These scholarships are designed to increase representation of women in careers in STEM fields where women are under-represented.
—Future Educator Scholarships:
Recognizing the critical need for more classroom teachers, our Future Educator Scholarship Funds were created in 2023 to assist students of any age who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, elementary, or secondary education or a post-bachelor’s teacher credential certificate.
You Can Invest in Deserving Local Women in Our Community!
The Foundation raises funds for scholarships by various means, including individual donations. If you are interested in supporting this effort, contributions may be made by clicking the Donate Now button or by check made payable to “Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc.” designated for the scholarship fund of your choice, and mailed to the Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc., PO Box 9742, Naples, FL 34101. Donations designated for scholarships with no other designation will go into the scholarship fund selected by the Foundation Board on the recommendation of the Scholarship Committee. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law..
We offer a one-time Named Scholarship Opportunity. This is an opportunity for business owners, individuals and families to provide and name a one year scholarship without the responsibility of recruiting or selecting scholarship candidates and without an on-going financial commitment. Click the link for more information: Named Scholarship Opportunity.
The Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 59-3704754), registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Registration No. CH 13573. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMA-TION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA (1-800-435- 7352). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
