About Us
History
The Women’s Fund was founded in late 2003 to fill a gap in strategic funding directed toward women and girls in Monterey County. The Women’s Fund is a field of interest fund at the Community Foundation and a member fund of the Women’s Funding Network.
Accomplishments
Some highlights from the Women’s Fund:
- 2004: Funded the publication of First Glance – the first separate research report on women and girls in Monterey County (link to PDF)
- 2007: Partnered with El Pajaro CDC to develop the first education and micro-loan program for women in the county, the Women’s Business and Education Loan Program (WBELP)
- 2008: Established the WBELP loan fund at 1st Capital Bank with the support of Cal Coastal Rural Development Corporation
- 2008: Launched the Girls’ Health in Girls’ Hands Action Research Project (GHGH) with funding from The California Endowment
- 2009: Completed the planning phase of the GHGH and presented findings to key community decision makers
- 2009: Made the first micro-loan to Kathleen Green, Stone Green Studios
Leadership
The Women’s Fund is governed by the Board of the Community Foundation and supported by the Women’s Fund Leadership Council. The Leadership Council provides strategic direction to the Women’s Fund in collaboration with the Community Foundation Vice President of Community Engagement. This dynamic volunteer group is comprised of local community leaders in business, education, health and social services.
2010 Leadership Council
Vivian Brennand
FSS Program Coordinator, Housing Authority of the County of Monterey
Ann Brown
Rancher
Kim Bui-Burton
Library Director, Monterey Public Library
Joan Crenshaw
Information Technology Specialist, Defense Manpower Data Center
Karen Csejtey
Executive Director, Leadership Monterey Peninsula
Wendy Elliott (Chair)
Attorney/Consultant
Ronda Eubanks
Community Volunteer
Jeri Gattis
Community Volunteer
Felicia Perez Kausin
VP Business Development/Mortgage Officer
1st Capital Bank
Kate Daniels Kurz
Founder & Executive Editor, TheWIP.net
Konny Murray
Community Volunteer
Cathy Schlumbrecht
Senior Vice President, Comerica Bank
Traci Townsend (Chair-Elect)
Project Manager, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte
Jacqueline Wolf
Freshman, Monterey Peninsula College
Confirmed in Compliance with National