The Mass.ED Fund just completed its annual meeting in August and welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors:

• Ava Glaser- Market America
• Beth Harper-MacDonald, Crittenton Women’s Union
• Jacqueline McCarthy – Coffee News of Massachusetts

We used our recent name change as the catalyst to begin a new era for the Foundation. We invited one of the Network’s founders, Susan Hammond of scHammond Advisors, who facilitated the day’s activity along with several guests, who gave up a day of work to bring their creative minds and thoughts to help share in our newdirections and vision:

• Janet  LaBerge – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
• Jacqueline Collins – Partnering for Performance
• Darlene Calcagno – Cuisine By Darlene & Downtown Women’s Group

The Foundation thanks all of these people who donated their time to help us think out of the box, and with Susan’s direction we now have a Master Plan in place to continue to work on for the next year or two to help propel us to the next milestone.  We have been getting some very interesting positive comments from the community as the need is very great so Watch Us Soar!

Thanks to everyone who donates to this worthy cause as you, too, all have a stake in the outcome: and you do make a difference in people’s lives!  Following is a letter received from Heidi M. DeCourcey who was unable to attend the scholarship event but wanted to share her thoughts with all of you.

Re:  Scholarship
presentation  June 23, 2011
Dear Mrs. Johnson:
I would first like to say that I am honored and appreciate that I was picked to be a recipient of the SSWBN Educational Foundation Scholarship but I am sorry to say that I will not be able to attend the presentation due to that I will be in school that evening and could not get the night off from my class.   I am regretfully sorry that I will not be able to attend this wonderful event.   I would have enjoyed to thank everyone for their contributions and kindness to make this scholarship possible for us.

I have had a very busy schedule this summer, I am currently taking three night classes at Curry College and a EMT course at EMS Academy during the day.   I will start my Nursing program this fall at Cape Cod Community College, and I will graduate in 2013.  Also, I will continue to finish my bachelors in psychology with a minor in sociology and concentration in heath psychology in the spring of 2012.   On top of this I am a single mother of two sons ages 12 and 9 and work 40 hours, the 11pm-7am shift at Jordan Hospital Emergency Room as a clinical attendant. Again, thank you for your awarding me this scholarship:  it will be so helpful in my journey in my education.

Sincerely,
Heidi M. DeCourcey

The Massachusetts Educational Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of women over 35, enabling them to transition to a more rewarding career, by providing scholarships for education. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of IRS regulations.

The Massachusetts Educational Foundation is broadening its scope of awareness to raise awareness throughout the areas we serve.  The by-laws state that our work is from the middle of the state of Massachusetts all the way to the east coast:  we decided that it would be far more efficient to accomplish our mission in these areas with a change in our name.

Please remember that our roots will always be the SSWBN as our history reflects our early beginnings together.  Rest assured that your generous donations for scholarships will continue to be distributed to worthy recipients each and every year.

We are thrilled to announce that the winner of the Red Sox Raffle was Kenneth Puliafico! Kenneth and his family were thrilled to win the prize of the 4 Red Sox tickets for the game on July 7^th, the hotel room, and $150 cash!  He bought his ticket from Lori Cook at Bryantville Deli in Pembroke.  Lori Cook is a past Learning Lottery winner and a great supporter of the Foundation.

We would like to reach out and thank those who helped with the Red Sox Raffle.  First, to Ellen D’Isidoro who helped bring the idea to a reality in working closely with our Board.  Also, our ticket sellers:  Mercedes Aza of Roomscapes, Ava Glaser of Marketamerica, Eileen Hayes (past SSWBN Board member) of US Boston Capital Corp, Lauren Dupre of Timeless Antiques and Paula Lind of O’Donoghue Insurance … to name a few.  And of course a huge THANK YOU to all who purchased raffle tickets!    As a result of these combined efforts this was the single biggest fund raiser in the history of the Massachusetts Educational Foundation!

As awareness grows in the areas we cover, our mission is not only well received but definitely needed.  We are moving forward at lightning speed to grow our Foundation with the addition of new Board members and Team members to reach new heights.  If you have an interest in finding our more about The Massachusetts Educational Foundation and how you can help make a difference in people’s lives, then please contact me at 617-842-3464.

Enjoy the summer!

Veva Johnson
President

By the time this article appears, Celebration! will have taken place. We hope you attended and got to meet our always deserving scholarship recipients, because that’s why the Massachusetts Educational Foundation exists. We are consistently moved by the incredible stories that we hear from our candidates. After our application review and interview process there were four incredible women who stood out above the rest. We hope you find their stories as moving as we do and support the cause into the future.

Donna Taylor, who currently studies at Urban College of Boston, juggles care-giving for her mother, with being a single parent of a teen-age daughter and a full time job, and then going to school at night. Aside from bettering herself and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, she is striving to set an example of independence and strength for her daughter.

Diane O’Neil, whose passion for working with children in need inspired her to a career in Educational Social Work, once she receives her Bachelor of Arts degree from Lesley University. With two adult children and one grandchild, she is passionate about having a career that can affect the quality of family life. By making a difference in the lives of needy children she hopes to make the world a better place.

Heidi DeCourcey is realizing her long-time dream of becoming a nurse, by attending Cape Cod Community College for an Associate Degree in Nursing. During her initial pursuit of a business degree in paralegal studies, she found herself drawn to medical cases, finding close links between the ethics of medicine and law. So even though she’s a single mother of two young boys, she works the night shift in order to attend school during the day.

No easy task!! Lastly, Madeline Santiago-Nova re-assessed her life goals after losing a job as an administrative assistant. A single mother of two, she has developed self-confidence as she pursues her certification at Bunker Hill Community College to become a licensed social worker and a medical interpreter for Spanish-speaking patients.

With your help, we will be able to continue to make a difference in the lives of these women who, in turn, will be undoubtedly be making an impact on the world. For more details on each of their stories, please go to our web site. (link to http://www.edofma.org)

The Massachusetts Educational Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of women over 35, enabling them to transition to a more rewarding career, by providing scholarships for education. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of IRS regulations.

Reserve your seat now for the April 28th Breakfast, sponsored by the Board Members of the Educational Foundation.  You don’t want to miss our fabulous speaker Ja-Nae Duane.

Who is Ja-Naé?  She is strategist, artist, creative economist, and author of How to Start Your Business with $100 Ja-Naé Duane, has been featured in dozens of media, including the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Classical Singer Magazine, The Boston Globe, and Business Week.  Mostly recognized for her diverse skill set and unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for our global community, Ja-Naé was nominated as one of New England’s “Most Innovative Leaders of 2007.”  She is CEO of Wild Women Entrepreneurs, CEO of Ja-Naé Duane Ventures, Co-Founder of the Massachusetts Artist Leaders Coalition, and Founder of The Leaders.  Ja-Naé is also a professional opera singer, social media strategist, and a faculty member at Northeastern University

Whew!  What a ride Ja-Nae will take us on!  She plans to bring copies of her book to sell at the breakfast, for those you would like to purchase a signed copy.

Learning Lottery Deadline:  April 21^st.
As a member benefit of the SSWBN, the Educational Foundation has established a $250 grant for continuing education of its members to assist them to stay competitive within their field or to expand their horizons.  Many professionals are required to take CE credits for licenses or to maintain certifications, and what a great opportunity this is to help you reach your goals.  We will be accepting applications from now until April 21^st.  The drawing will take place at the April 28th breakfast.  Go to our website to download the application and for more information: www.sswbnedfund.org

Scholarship Applications Deadline:  May 6th
Once again we look forward to reaching out to the community and requesting applications for our annual scholarship.  This scholarship benefits women aged 35 or greater, who are trying to change their lives through education as a means to a life-long endeavor embarking on a new career, bettering the community around them and making a difference.  Although applying can be a lengthy process, we do need everyone’s help in spreading the word.  You would think that it is easy to give away money.  Well, it’s not!

We never know where the applicant’s information will lead us, but it starts with the application and then turns into a wonderful journey — like a great book that you cannot put down.  What stories unfold are waiting for us all.

I want to share with you a recent letter (see below –  presented in its unedited form) that we received from a 2010 scholarship recipient.  It is quite long and I just could not shorten it, as it would lose the impact resonating within it.  The whole letter will be posted on our websitewww.sswbnedfund.org

WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Veva Johnson , President  – SSWBN Educational Foundation

Letter to the Educational Foundation

From Yinghong Mei
2010 Scholarship Recipient
Physical Therapy Assistant Student
Bay State College

Self Statement
In September 2010, with the support of South Shore Women’s Scholarship Fund, I had a rare opportunity to transfer my life;  I was enrolled into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Bay State College.  After one semester’s hard-work, I am pleased to find that I love this profession even more than before.  I am confident that I will continue to grow and eventually become a successful physical therapy assistant.  Last semester, I overcame several difficulties such as the long distant of transportation to school, the lack of time for study and practicing due to family responsibilities; I finished thirteen credits with Bay State College GPA of 3.25. Most importantly, I learned that the true meaning of being a healthcare professional student is to learn to help people but not only to work for grades.

I was aware that I would attend a full-time program and the school location was not close by, so I would need support to help take care of my son. I arranged a reliable daycare for my son and also had two of my very close friends to be my backup; In order to guarantee enough time to study; I requested a new working schedule that fit my study schedule. I worked twenty four hours straight every Saturday and one evening shift during weekdays so that I could go to school in the day time during the weekdays. With my friends and my coworkers’ support, I successfully started my classes.

The purpose of learning to become a PTA is to learn the skills and to help others. My strategies cannot be just relying on hard work, memorizing like before. I had to think like a physical therapist assistant. I needed to make connections between the knowledge and practicing and try to utilize them. I should continue to find out how to improve my skills to better service my future patients.

Because the limited time I had, I had to think of a way to allow time for practicing the skills. However, I did not think I should spend too much time staying in the lab in school because I had to take care of my son. As I had realized, the purpose of studying the physical therapist assistant program is to empower myself to help people, then I had to first help my son because those early years of development are crucial for him. Fortunately, one of my PT co-workers gave me a very good idea. She suggested that I should buy a life-size doll and use it as my practicing partner while being home.  This idea worked very well, by practicing at home, I did not have to stay in the lab until late. I could come home earlier to help my son with his homework and chat with him about his school and his friends; making sure everything was okay with him. At the end of the semester, I got my good grades; my son had met expectation for all aspects in his first grade curriculum.

The second semester will start soon, I feel confident and I believe if I continue with good studying strategies and a positive attitude, I will continue to do well. I appreciate that I had the support of the South Shore Women’s Scholarship Fund and many individuals, which include my teachers, my advisor, my coworkers, and my classmates. With all I have learned in my education thus far, I know I will have another successful semester at Bay State College. I am hoping that I will continue to have those supports. I look forward to graduate so that I can contribute to the community as a physical therapist assistant.

Each year the Directors of the Education Foundation join together to sponsor a breakfast meeting for the SSWBN. We are responsible for the program and guest speaker, and this year’s a dynamic speaker to inspire us all!

Our main speaker for the morning was Ja-nae Duane. Listening to her describe her many careers and explain how making the right choices can evoke positive changes in one’s life was motivating and exciting. We are looking forward to reading her book How To Start Your Business With $100 which was sold at the event.

Raffle tickets to attend the SSWBN Celebration in June and the 20th Anniversary Gala next fall were sold to benefit the scholarship fund. Also, raffle tickets where made available for a Red Sox package which includes 4 box seat tickets to the July 7th game, a voucher for one night stay at the Holiday Inn in Brookline (1 mile from Fenway) and $150 cash for food and incidentals. The raffle is planned for June 24 and tickets will continue to be available until that date through our Board of Directors. All proceeds from these raffles are put toward scholarships for women who are changing or advancing their careers.

As a reminder, scholarship applications are still being accepted for this year – deadline is May 6, 2011. More information and forms are available on the website sswbnedfund.org – check it out today. And don’t forget, our recipients are very deserving and your donation means so much to them as they move their careers forward. On-line donations are always welcome – and you can call me directly at 781-659-0900 if you want to purchase a raffle ticket to win a chance to go see the Red Sox!

Sincerely,

Phyllis Wenzel

Be sure to complete a written list and make sure that you have receipts and/or proof of payment of each donation.  Proof of payment of your donation is a requirement in order to include it in your taxes for the year.  Perhaps you charged the donations on your credit card or added them to a debit purchase when buying groceries or other items.  When you donate clothing to a non-profit, you can obtain a receipt from the organization and then assign an estimated value to the items donated.  This is your estimate, not an estimate by the charity. Consult your tax preparer on any items such as stock donations or valuable collections that you may have donated.  They require specific documentation not included in the required proof of payment and lists described above.

As you strategize other tax based decisions for the upcoming year, please consider the SSWBN Educational Foundation, Inc. in your plans for 2011.  Please note that all donations to the SSWBN Educational Foundational, Inc. are tax deductible to the extent of the IRS Regulations.

I find that the decision to donate is not necessarily based on the fact that you may be eligible for a tax deduction.  Most of the time, it is due to the generosity of your soul and the hope that you can make a difference in someone else’s quality of life.  These feelings are compelling reasons to give.

Each year, all of us consciously and unconsciously decide how we are going to give to the many non-profit organizations who solicit us for donations.  Some people divide their donations among many deserving groups, while others donate to one organization and many select a few.  One very important hope is that we all would like to give to an organization that spends as much money on the recipients as possible.  In that regard, the SSWBN Educational Foundation is an organization that has very low overhead and a very high percentage of the donations are made to the scholarship recipients.  We have a formal application process and award as many scholarships as possible based on the funds available.

Many people have given to the Foundation over the years and we all are truly appreciative of the donations.  The lives of each one of the scholarship recipients have changed thanks to funding for education that the Foundation has provided.  Each year, we are touched by the individual stories of the women who apply.  Our own lives are greatly enhanced by the knowledge that we have made this advancement possible.

Please consider that your donations go directly to the women who work night and day to achieve a lifelong dream of education.  Start your giving early and give often!

Thank you kindly,

Elizabeth A. Pineault

By the time this article appears, Celebration! will have taken place. We hope you attended and got to meet our always deserving scholarship recipients, because that’s why the Massachusetts Educational Foundation exists. We are consistently moved by the incredible stories that we hear from our candidates. After our application review and interview process there were four incredible women who stood out above the rest. We hope you find their stories as moving as we do and support the cause into the future.

Donna Taylor, who currently studies at Urban College of Boston, juggles care-giving for her mother, with being a single parent of a teen-age daughter and a full time job, and then going to school at night. Aside from bettering herself and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, she is striving to set an example of independence and strength for her daughter.

Diane O’Neil, whose passion for working with children in need inspired her to a career in Educational Social Work, once she receives her Bachelor of Arts degree from Lesley University. With two adult children and one grandchild, she is passionate about having a career that can affect the quality of family life. By making a difference in the lives of needy children she hopes to make the world a better place.

Heidi DeCourcey is realizing her long-time dream of becoming a nurse, by attending Cape Cod Community College for an Associate Degree in Nursing. During her initial pursuit of a business degree in paralegal studies, she found herself drawn to medical cases, finding close links between the ethics of medicine and law. So even though she’s a single mother of two young boys, she works the night shift in order to attend school during the day.

No easy task!! Lastly, Madeline Santiago-Nova re-assessed her life goals after losing a job as an administrative assistant. A single mother of two, she has developed self-confidence as she pursues her certification at Bunker Hill Community College to become a licensed social worker and a medical interpreter for Spanish-speaking patients.

With your help, we will be able to continue to make a difference in the lives of these women who, in turn, will be undoubtedly be making an impact on the world. For more details on each of their stories, please go to our web site. (link to http://www.edofma.org)

The Massachusetts Educational Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of women over 35, enabling them to transition to a more rewarding career, by providing scholarships for education. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of IRS regulations.

With the leaves rapidly disappearing from the trees and the fall transition well underway, it’s both an exciting yet challenging time for the Board of Directors of the Educational Foundation. The ongoing success stories of our recent scholarship recipients, and our newly awarded Learning Lottery grant to an SSWBN member at the October breakfast have motivated us to get into fundraising gear so we can continue our work and give out even more next year.

Join us for our second annual Holiday event at The Derby Street Shoppes on November 30^th.  Everyone had so much fun at last year’s event, and since it’s the official beginning of the Holiday Season, why not join us from 5:30 – 7:30pm for some networking, raffle prizes (your ticket purchases are donations going directly to our scholarship fund), and free coupons for special discounts at the shops?  You can even take a horse drawn carriage ride, finish off the evening shopping at Derby Street Shoppes … then come back to have your gifts wrapped.  What a great jump start to your holiday shopping — and you’ll be supporting women in need at the same time!  The event is free to attend, although we suggest a $10 donation.  Register now online.

We take great pride in supporting the Massachusetts Conference for Women at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, this year on December 9^th.  We plan to have a booth there next year. In the meantime we believe it to be a worthwhile event and thus we are participating as a “Supporting Organization.”  With that, we can offer our friends and colleagues a specially discounted registration rate of $125 per person when you register online by November 5^thusing code MATSU2. It promises to feature some amazing speakers and participants.  We hope you can attend!

Please be on the lookout for our annual appeal letter.  We know times are tough, but in turn they are even more challenging for the women over 35 out there who are trying to improve their lives by changing careers while juggling school, families and jobs.  Some of our recipients this past year expressed to us that they were so grateful, as ours was the only scholarship that would accept their application. Most of the other scholarships available are targeted to young people still in their college years, or just beyond, for continuing education. The need is evident, and we depend on your support to build up our funds again so we can stay focused on our mission. We want to be able to provide just as many, if not more, scholarships and grants next year, and we need the support of all of you to do so.  We appreciate all donations of all sizes — none are too big or too small.  They are tax deductible to the extent of IRS regulations, as we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You can donate any time on our web site.

Watch for additional exciting announcements.  We’ll keep you informed via e-mail when you sign up to receive our e-newsletter on our web site. )

The SSWBN Educational Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of women over 35, enabling them to transition to a more rewarding career, by providing scholarships for education. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of IRS regulations.

I am also thankful for the time and means I have to dedicate to the Educational Foundation.  I have not always had the ability to donate great amounts of money to the Educational Foundation;  however I am well aware that my donation, no matter how small or large, contributes to the future of women in transition, women who need support to achieve personal growth, accomplish their career goals and realize their dreams.

Feng QingWang

One of those women is Feng QingWang.  I had the distinct pleasure of sitting with Feng QingWang at the scholarship award ceremony that took place at the SSWBN Celebration event in June 2010.  Feng and her 10 year old daughter, Ying, attended the meaningful event.  Having been in the marketing field in her native country of China and wishing to change her focus to fulfill her love of children, she applied to Urban College’s (Boston) Early Childhood Education Associates Degree Program.

Once accepted Feng knew she had to find ways to fund her dream.  She completed the Educational Foundation scholarship application, met all of the requirements and was interviewed by the Educational Foundation Scholarship Committee.  We awarded her a $1000 scholarship.  Without this scholarship, Feng would not have had the means to attend Urban College full time.

I was so fortunate to hear her appreciation, feel the joy and listen to her ultimate dream to continue her education, obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and open her own daycare facility.  Feng is determined to set a fine example for her daughter and to shape the future of our children!

When you are going through your Holiday giving list, do consider what the folks on your list need.  I mean, how many pairs of gloves does my 90-year-old mother truly need?  I do give gifts to the children on my Holiday list, but prefer to give solely donations for the adults.  I am of the mind (and age) that if I want it or need it, I will buy it if my budget allows — and I believe many adults feel the same way.  I give a card with a personal note telling the recipient that a gift was made to the Educational Foundation to help deserving women fund their education, transition their career and reinvent their lives.

Your donation to the Educational Foundation goes directly to fund scholarships whichempower women to reinvent themselves through education. On behalf of the Educational Foundation I thank you for your generosity and giving to the Educational Foundation for your loved ones this holiday season.

Visit our website to donate on line at http://sswbnedfund.org/donate-now/ or send a check to SSWBN Educational Foundation, Inc. 531 Pleasant Street, South Weymouth, MA  02190

Barbara

Barbara A. Case, Board of Directors, – Educational Foundation
Vice President- Investments
Moors & Cabot Investments
617.314.0345
bcase@moorscabot.com

A message of Thanks:

Returning to school as an adult has been both extremely rewarding and very challenging. The financial constraints can sometimes be difficult to manage, and the demands of maintaining a student work load can feel overwhelming. That’s why it is very meaningful to have my hard work recognized and rewarded by the SSWBN Educational Foundation. I truly appreciate your support, not only from a financial perspective, but also from the viewpoint that it demonstrates your faith in me to accomplish my goals. As a woman going into a non-traditional career field, I appreciate having the support of other women, and remain dedicated to my goal. Thank you all so much, and I look forward to exceeding your expectations.

Lynn Desmarais, 2009 Recipient