In 2017-18, we distributed $53,000 from the Wildflower Fund (Wildflower Run registrations, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations) in support of education and equity for women and girls. Funds raised were allocated to the following:

Provide scholarships to high school girls graduating from Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD) schools.

Some of our 2018 Scholarship recipients at the Wildflower Run with Dr. Kathleen Rose, President of Gavilan Community College

Provide “Re-Entry Scholarships” to local women reentering college after a gap in their education.

Re-Entry Scholarship recipients, L-R: Michele Castro, Anita Alvarez, Diana Zapata Cohoa

Provide “Lauren Jenkins Healthcare Profession Scholarships” to college students from the Morgan Hill area who are pursuing a degree in a healthcare profession.

Provide supplemental Keeping In Touch (KIT) grants to previous scholarship recipients to support them as they continue in their field of study.

Sponsor a college student from Morgan Hill to participate in NCCWSL (National Conference for College Women Student Leaders).

NCCWSL is an annual national leadership conference for college women. Funding includes travel expenses plus conference registration.

NEW in 2018: Provide funding and mentorship for local teens to host an all-day Future Women Leaders Conference, open to local high school and college students.

Conference attendees (with student organizers in the front)

Provide Community Action Grants to local non-profit organizations for projects whose goals are consistent with AAUW’s mission.

Support Girls Engaged in Math and Science (GEMS), a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) after-school enrichment program.

GEMS is sponsored by AAUW Morgan Hill and consisting of monthly field trips, lectures, and other programs. GEMS is free and open to all girls in the Morgan Hill Unified School District in grades 8 through 12.

Sponsor a local speech competition as part of Speech Trek, a state-wide AAUW program.

First, second, and third place winners each received cash prizes. Our first place winner also went on to win the state contest.

Provide scholarships to send MHUSD Middle School students to Tech Trek, an AAUW-sponsored one week math and science summer camp at Stanford University for middle school girls.

2018 Tech Trek Campers helping at the Wildflower Run

Provide an additional lump sum grant to the Tech Trek camp at Stanford University.

Uses may include extra capital needs such as technology upgrades or additional enrichment such as more field trips.

Sponsor branch participation in the Leadership Morgan Hill class of 2018.

Offer to local high school students a “Lauren Jenkins STEM Workshop”.

This workshop is funded through individual donations in memory of AAUW member, geneticist, and GEMS founder Dr. Lauren Jenkins and offered in collaboration with Anaerobe Systems.

Underwrite national AAUW priorities. These include graduate fellowships for women, community action grants, pioneering research, public policy advocacy, legal advocacy, and leadership programs.

Add to our “Morgan Hill Wildflower Run Research and Projects Grant Endowment.” This $75,000 endowment was established in 2014, to be funded by proceeds from the Wildflower Run. When completed, the endowment will support community action and career development grants.

Another branch endowment, the $100,000 Blaine/Cate Endowment for Graduate Fellowships (#1802) was completed in 2001. It funds an annual graduate or postgraduate fellowship.

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