AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Community Foundation last night hosted more than 1,000 community members for Keyholder’20, the annual fundraising event for the Women’s Fund. The evening featured a keynote by Ziauddin Yousafzai, co-founder of The Malala Fund and author of Let Her Fly, and the event raised over half a million dollars to build a stronger, more equitable Central Texas by investing in women and children.
In celebration of Ziauddin and Malala Yousafzai’s work on behalf of girls across the world, the Women’s Fund gave out five Raise Your Voice Awards at Keyholder’20 – a first for the organization. Local middle and high school changemakers were invited to apply for the awards by submitting projects that tackle issues related to women and girls in their community.
Recipients of the awards included students from the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Westwood High School and Westlake High School, as well as former UT Student Government President Alejandrina Guzman.
“We were thrilled to welcome Zia as our keynote speaker this year to share his passion for equality and education for women, which is a significant issue across the world as well as right here in the Austin area,” said Marjorie Clifton, Keyholder’20 Chair. “With the Raise Your Voice Awards, we are excited to support young advocates in Central Texas as they speak up, take action and create change.”
Held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Keyholder’20 convened influential business and philanthropic leaders for networking and conversation around the needs of women and children in Central Texas and beyond. In addition to revealing the winners of the Raise Your Voice Awards, the Women’s Fund announced that a total of $300,000 will be granted to local organizations through its 2020 grant cycle.
“Through the amazing generosity of this community, the Women’s Fund will be able to award our largest grants to date to support local nonprofits that are making Austin a better place for women in Central Texas,” said Meagan Anderson Longley, Vice President of Community Impact at Austin Community Foundation. “For 2020, we will once again distribute grants in our four impact areas of Housing, Child Care, Education and Unintended Pregnancy Prevention, as well as offering a new Emerging Nonprofit grant opportunity for organizations that are in the process of building resources to scale their impact.”
During the 2020 grants cycle, the Women’s Fund will award 2-year funding opportunities for the first time, committing $50,000 in 2020 and $20,000 in 2021 to each of the selected grant partners in the Housing, Child Care, Education and Unintended Pregnancy Prevention categories. The Emerging Nonprofit grant will provide up to $15,000 in 2020 and up to $5,000 in 2021 to the selected partner.
Applications for the 2020 grant cycle are open through noon on February 14. For more information on the Women’s Fund grant opportunities and to apply, click here.
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