The Minerva Foundation for BC Women inspires and empowers women and girls to reach their full potential by creating opportunities and offering programs through trusted partnerships in the areas of education, leadership development, economic security and safety.
OVERVIEW
The head office and administrative centre for the Minerva Foundation for BC Women is located in Vancouver with two branches in Victoria and Prince George. Each branch has a local operating committee chaired by a member of the Minerva Foundation Board of Directors. The local operating committee is responsible for running the programs and events in their regions. They do not maintain a physical office in the branches as they rely on the Vancouver office for administration support. Marie Nygaard is the current chair of the Prince George branch. This branch is also known as the Northern Branch because its territory stretches throughout northern British Columbia.
Marie Nygaard, Chair
Prince George Branch
Minerva Foundation for BC Women
250.962.5323
or marie.nygaard@northernhealth.ca
In the Northern Branch, the Minerva Foundation supports innovative projects aimed at providing opportunities for girls and women in the following three priority areas:
EDUCATION
Since 2001, approximately $175,000 has been awarded to 35 women attending universities and colleges within the mandate of the Branch, including University of Northern British Columbia, College of New Caledonia and Northern Lights College.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The Minerva Foundation hosts two leadership development programs in Northern BC: Learning to Lead™ North and Follow a Leader™. Program participants are drawn from throughout northern British Columbia and represent a cross-section of geographic, cultural, social and disciplinary diversity.
- Learning to Lead™ at the University of Northern British Columbia provides 15 grade 11 students, 15 emerging leaders and graduate students with the opportunity to be mentored by 15 accomplished women community leaders each year.
- The Follow A Leader™ program takes place annually in Prince George. Each year, 5 emerging leaders are paired with 5 accomplished business, government, academic and community leaders for a series of workshops and leadership-shadowing so that program participants can observe leadership skills firsthand.
SAFETY
A feeling of safety is basic to our emotional and physical well-being yet many women and children do not live and work in safe environments. This severely limits their productivity and self- sufficiency. The Minerva Foundation is addressing safety education initiatives by awarding community grants to support women-centered organizations with their existing community programs.
Recent Northern BC grant recipients include the Canadian Red Cross and the NIL/TU,O Child & Family Services Society.
To raise funds for northern programs, the Northern Branch of the Minerva Foundation conducts an annual fundraising event called All About Girlfriends™. It is a volunteer-driven event that attracts business women and community leaders from the community to a fun, social evening filled with networking opportunities and a collaborative appreciation of the mission, mandate and values of the Minerva Foundation.
For more informtion on how you can help
open doors, create confidence where none
existed, and act as a conduit to success,
please contact:
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