Community service programs Supported by the Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc. (“Foundation”)

Scholarships for Local Women
The Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc. awards niche scholarships to deserving local women. Some scholarships benefit women 21 and older needing financial assistance, some benefit women of any age pursuing degrees in STEM fields, and some benefit future classroom teachers. The scholarship funds and eligibility criteria are described on the Scholarships page, https://greaternaples-fl.aauw.net/local-scholarships/

AAUW Greater Naples Branch STEAM Girls Count Program for 5th-grade Girls
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. The Branch served 250 local girls via its 27th annual STEAM program in 2024! For more information, go to the STEAM page, https://greaternaples-fl.aauw.net/steam/

AAUW Greater Naples Branch Janet Martin Welch Reading is Fun!
The Janet Martin Welch Reading is Fun! program works to build a child’s interest in reading. This program entails a presentation to the children and distribution of librarian-selected books at two Title 1 Collier County public elementary schools where a large percentage of each student body is on the subsidized lunch program.  Most of the children do not have books in their homes.  The program is unique in that the children choose their own book from dozens, if not hundreds, of titles.

AAUW StartSmart
AAUW StartSmart is a workshop program designed to help close the continuing gender wage gap by providing women with skills to negotiate their salary and benefits package.  Branch members are trained by AAUW to facilitate the workshops they organize and conduct.

Through its Southwest Florida Women Giving Together Giving Circle, open to
all interested women, the Foundation also contributed to medical and dental
care for Women and Children at The Shelter for Abused Women and Children.

If you are interested in helping the Foundation support these programs, contributions may be made by clicking the “Donate Now” button or by check made payable to “Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc,” and mailed to Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc., PO Box 9742, Naples, FL 34101. You may designate a specific fund or program if you wish.

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). or clicking here. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

About Janet Martin Welch:

Janet Martin Welch, loving wife, sister, friend, mother and grandmother, passed away on January 4th at age 77.  Born in 1945 to Lowell and Bella Martin in Chicago, she grew up in Metuchen, NJ and met her husband, Bill, at the New Jersey Shore.    

Janet and Bill were married in 1967 and spent 55 years as deeply in love as when they first met as teenagers at the beach.  Janet is survived by Bill, her children Dana and Scott, three grandchildren: Hayden, Lowell and Asha and her brother, Jeff.   

Janet graduated magna cum laude from Bucknell University, and earned her Masters’ of Library Science from Rutgers University.  She maintained dear school friendships throughout her life.

After Bucknell, Janet was a school librarian, worked at SUNY Albany, North Country Community College and teamed up with her father on library studies around the country.  

For nearly 20 years, she was Director of The Rochester Regional Library Council, and Janet served in multiple leadership positions at university, public, school, and corporate libraries.

Always a forward thinker, Janet was an early advocate of information technology in libraries.  Before most had the internet in their homes, Janet partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Senator Hillary Clinton and many others to put computers with free internet access into New York libraries.

Janet was appointed as New York’s State Librarian in 1996 where she served until her retirement in 2008. She was the first woman to serve as State Librarian in the 200 year history of the library. Famously, Janet had her official portrait hung directly across from Melvil Dewey, inventor of the Dewey Decimal System and a legendary chauvinist.  She wanted Dewey’s portrait to forever face the woman that eventually replaced him.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, Jan oversaw efforts to collect and preserve artifacts from the World Trade Center at the New York State Museum. Other accomplishments during her tenure included a major renovation of the Research Library, enhancements to the Talking Book and Braille Library, and important additions to the State Library’s collections.

Janet’s accolades include the American Library Association Award for Nationwide Library Legislative Success and Improvement of Library Services for the American People, and NYLA President’s Award for development and leadership of the nationwide Public Awareness of Libraries Campaign. In June 2005 she was honored by the American Library Association for her outstanding work in supporting and strengthening library services in New York State.

She didn’t slow down in retirement, traveling to dozens of countries with Bill on adventures around the world. A relentless activist, Janet volunteered as a literacy tutor for local schools in Naples, was an active member of the American Association of University Women and fought for issues that she was passionate about, most notably women’s rights.

Janet will be remembered not only for her many professional accomplishments, but for her deep friendships and generosity.  Whether in Rochester, Richmond or Naples, her door was always open and her home filled with warmth. She will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the AAUW fund in her honor or to your local library. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the AAUW fund in her honor (below) or to your local library  

The Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation
P.O. Box 9742
Naples, FL 34101
Attn. Janet Martin Welch Reading Is Fun! Sustaining Fund