YWCA is on a Mission!
YWCA IS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.
But did you know it has been evolving in this mission since 1858 – over 150 years!
Jen Wanisko is the Empowerment Center and Development Director at the YWCA Bethlehem. Among her many responsibilities Jen oversees the TechGYRLS afterschool STEM program (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math), a recipient of a Community Grant Award from Morning Star Rotary. They launched this program in 2007. Directed to girls in grades 3 to 5, it fully supports the national focus on STEM for the education of our students. TechGYRLS is an afterschool program which meets 2 times per week for a seven week course which focuses on teaching computer coding using Scratch. This is a free software program developed by MIT to help children learn in a stimulating, very friendly atmosphere. Think of ‘Legos on a PC’ with extensive drag & drop capabilities. Students take to the program very quickly with tremendous enthusiasm. It unlocks their creativity and empowers them.
The YWCA targets students from the more challenged schools (Donegan, Fountain Hill, Lincoln, Marvine and William Penn) to provide a wonderful learning experience for these students. Funding derives from various sources such as grants, scholarships from organizations, etc. Another source to be considered if you have a business affiliation, is the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. The program offers corporations tax credits for donating to organizations that provide low- and middle income families’ private school and prekindergarten scholarships as well as organizations that support such programs. Think of it as an opportunity to keep funds in the local community instead of sending them to Harrisburg to disappear.
The Rotary Four Way Speech Contest
Club level was held Wednesday evening in the Bethlehem City Hall Rotunda. Our own Abigail Burnett, a Freedom High School senior student took home the honors. Abby’s speech focused on the importance of learning foreign languages as a means of lowering cultural barriers among peoples of the world. Her message resonated strongly with all present and is right in line with Rotary values. Thanks to Ben Tenaglia and Charlie Walter from the Downtown Club for organizing the event.
Abby will compete next in the Region competition on March 19, a Saturday morning. Everyone is welcome.
Save the DATE!
Morning Star Rotary will provide dinner at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering at the Church of the Nativity on March 24. Watch for the sign-up list at Thursday’s meeting or contact Janet Kolepp agjanetk@gmail.com . Hope to see you there!
Please join us on March 10th when Ramona Harris of Silver Crest Insurance Inc. will talk to us on a relevant topic to many of us – Medicare. See you then!
If you would like to learn more about either Bethlehem Morning Star or Rotary International, please contact Ron Searfoss at rsearfos@ptd.net or 610-504-1460.
Be a gift to your world!
President Ron
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