Affiliate Funds
Women’s Fund
Investing in opportunity and equality to empower the women and children of Lorain County through education, grantmaking, and philanthropy.
History of the Women’s Fund
Established in 1991, the Women’s Fund invests in opportunities and equality to empower the women and children of Lorain County through education, grantmaking, and philanthropy.
Over thirty years ago, a few Lorain County women were concerned by the lack of financial support given to programs specifically designed to meet the needs of women even though women were more likely to suffer from many of society’s injustices, including underemployment, sexual assault, domestic abuse, and single parenting issues.
Many of these same injustices continue today. The Women’s Fund is dedicated to building an endowment that supports women’s and children’s programming, educates the public about the problems facing today’s female and juvenile populations, and drives philanthropic endeavors geared towards solving those obstacles.
$249K
in grants and scholarships
1991
empowering women since
Our Mission
To invest, support, and empower the women and children of Lorain County through education, grantmaking, and philanthropy.
Change the Cycle
In 2021, Women’s Fund launched Change the Cycle, a concerted effort to solve Period Poverty or the lack of access to affordable menstrual products. “Families struggling with food insecurity rarely have the funds to keep the family fed and even less to purchase hygiene supplies, especially for young, developing teens,” states Susan Bartosch, Director of External Affairs for Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.
Volunteers are needed to host Period Product Supply Drives throughout Lorain County at workplaces, schools, libraries, churches, or through civic organizations such as Girl Scout troops or sports teams. Once collected, products will be distributed to individuals, local non-profit organizations, and schools through a partnership with the United Way of Greater Lorain County. Additionally, any monies raised will help purchase supplies in bulk for pennies on the dollar.
18%
of women in Lorain County live below the FPL
1 in 5
low-income women and teens report missing school or work
Help Us Change the Cycle
If you are interested in hosting a period product supply drive, please contact the Women’s Fund at 440.984.7390 or womensfund@peoplewhocare.org.
If you are an individual in need of period supplies, please visit one of the following locations or call 211 for more information.
| Lorain County Public Health | 9880 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria |
| Elyria Public Library – Central | 211 Second Street, Elyria |
| Elyria Public Library – South | 340 15th Street, Elyria |
| The Nord Center | 6140 South Broadway. Lorain |
| Pathways Enrichment Center | 2505 North Leavitt Road. Lorain |
| Vermilion Public Library | 5680 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion |
Women’s Fund Grant Program
Application Opens: August 1
Application Deadline: September 1
Board Decision: October
The Women’s Fund is a permanent endowment that encourages endeavors that are developed by or benefit women and children. The Women’s Fund grant program provides funding to non-profit organizations, informal groups of women, or emerging grassroots organizations where 100% of the clients benefiting from the grant funding are women and children.
Click Here to ApplyQuestions about the Women’s Fund?
Women’s Fund Advisory Board
- Michelle Barb, President
- Elizabeth Bosela-Bullock, Vice President & Change the Cycle Chairperson
- Katelyn Gonzalez, Secretary
- Linda Kerekes, Treasurer & Development Chairperson
- Jennifer Cupar, Governance Chairperson
- Leslie Pavlich, Community Engagement Chairperson
- Danielle Benham
- Adeline Dascoli
- Kateryna Karelina
- Katie Krueger
- Cyndi McCabe
- Cynthia McGuire
- Michelle Moore
- Ebony Smith
- Laura Malone, Staff Liaison
161
grants awarded
