Building Community

We are very pleased to announce that the Minerva Foundation for BC Women has won two awards for the Minerva Helping Women Work™ program:

The BC Career Development Award of Excellence is presented by the Career Management Association of BC to honour inspirational leadership and excellence in career development in the Minerva Helping Women Work™ Program.

2006 Prism Acknowledgment Award ‘Celebrating Excellence and Business Achievement Through Coaching’ is presented by the Vancouver Chapter of the International Coach Federation for outstanding integration of coaching in the Minerva Helping Women Work™ Program.

The Vancouver Chapter of the International Coaching Federation has partnered with the MHWW™ program to provide professional coaching as a component of the program. A revolving team of certified ICF Coaches generously volunteer their time and expertise to each group of protégés.

As a single parent and mature student, I have often wondered if others thought that I was wasting my time and resources on a venture meant for younger women – women who had not made the mistake of marrying and having children with the wrong person. Winning your award has put that thought to bed for me.

I went to school because I love learning, because I have a dream to become a doctor, and because I wanted my children to know that making mistakes doesn’t mean having to spend the rest of your life hiding and feeling ashamed. We all have a right to pursue our best selves, and I thank the Minerva Foundation with all my heart for acknowledging the journey I have made thus far, and for providing other women like me the opportunity to pursue their dreams. The acknowledgement your organization has bestowed upon me has lit my insides with a quiet pride that I have not felt in a very long time.

Chandra Lebovitz, 2009 Harrison/Buitenhuis award recipient