March CEO Blog

“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” – Serena Williams 

Spring is within reach, and I am feeling grateful to be out in the community, attending engaging and compelling programs and events as we all begin to reemerge from winter. This month has been incredibly inspiring as we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Throughout our community, women and girls are lighting the way. Let us honor them by supporting their businesses, providing mentoring, supporting their causes and initiatives, and celebrating their successes.   

Here at the Community Foundation, we are fortunate to be surrounded by many passionate women who are deeply committed to improving our community. Our Women’s Fund recently launched the Change the Cycle initiative, a concerted effort to solve “period poverty” —which is a lack of access to affordable menstrual hygiene products for people who need them. While period poverty is a national concern, its effects are seen in Lorain County.  

One of the highlights of spring is the Cleveland International Film Festival, and we are proud to sponsor the film Daughter of a Lost Bird. This documentary offers another story from the perspective of women by introducing us to Kendra, an adult Native adoptee, born in 1980 at the cusp of the enactment of the Indian Child Welfare Act, and her journey to reconnect with her birth family and discover her Lummi heritage. The film takes us on her journey of reunification with her birth mother, who is also adopted, showing us how they navigate their identities, learn more about their culture, and build their relationship as strong, resilient women. 

We look forward to seeing this film and hope you join us in checking it out as well as the dozens of other compelling films at the festival. 

Our deadline for students applying for scholarships recently passed, and once again, we had a robust number of students seeking support. We intend to provide critical access to mentors through Lorain County Scholars Connect and financial support for post-secondary education and trade school opportunities for Lorain County students. Our goal is to award over $500K, and we need your support to ensure that these opportunities are available to ALL Lorain County students. Please consider making a gift to this important cause.  

Finally, our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine that are fleeing their homes under unimaginable circumstances. We hold them in our hearts and hope for a more peaceful, just world. 

In gratitude,  

Cindy Andrews