AAUW Morgan Hill actively supports our local community, both as an organization and as individual volunteers, Our members have created and implemented local programs for girls and women, in addition to supporting AAUW California and national AAUW programs at a local level. The branch also provides grants, recruits volunteers, co-sponsor programs, and provide publicity for local non-profit organizations. Branch support is conditional upon the organization’s goals being consistent with AAUW’s mission: AAUW advances gender equity for women and girls through advocacy, education,and research.

We are proud to have recently (March 2019) received recognition from the Morgan Hill Unified School District for our “outstanding support of gender equity and education for women and girls in our community” and our commitment to MHUSD.

Civic Engagement

We take a lead in engaging Morgan Hill’s citizens in the democratic process and in taking action on AAUW’s Public Policy priorities. Go to Civic Engagement for details and examples of the following:

Community Action Grants

The success of our annual Wildflower Run enables us to now provide multiple grants of up to $1000 each to local non-profit community organizations, for projects whose goals are consistent with AAUW’s mission. Applications are due in the fall  for grants issued for the following year. Click here for past recipient information, guidelines, and an application form. AAUW member contact is Susan Rife.

Friends of the Morgan Hill Library

AAUW Morgan Hill co-sponsors the annual Silicon Valley Reads guest speaker program at the library. The branch also publicizes other Friends of the Library events. For more information go to Friends of the Library; AAUW member contact is Carol O’Hare.

Great Decisions

This is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. It provides background information and policy options for the the eight most critical issues facing America each year and serves as the focal text for discussion groups across the country. The Morgan Hill members of this organization meet monthly for eight months of each year to discuss a specific international topic. AAUW member contact is Joanne Rife.

KIVA Team Morgan Hill

KIVA provides micro loans in developing countries. with special focus on education. Go to KIVA Team Morgan Hill for more information and/or sign up with Team Morgan Hill on the KIVA website. AAUW member contact is Margaret McCann.

Know The Score (Title IX Compliance)

This nation-wide study, coordinated by AAUW, assesses equity in high school sports and compliance with Title IX regulations. For more information go to Know the Score. Several years ago, the Morgan Hill branch of AAUW worked with the local high schools on an assessment of local compliance with Title IX. For details of local compliance and contact information for local Title IX coordinators, go to the Title IX page of the MHUSD website. AAUW member contact is Joanne Rife.

Lauren Jenkins STEM Workshop For High School Girls

In memory of long-time AAUW Morgan Hill member Dr. Lauren Jenkins, our branch has presented several STEM workshops for high school girls. Topics include agriculture, engineering and microbiology. AAUW member contact is Mary Cox

Leadership Morgan Hill

AAUW Morgan Hill encourages our members to expand their contributions to–and leadership within–the Morgan Hill community. Each year we sponsor branch member participation in this community leadership development program. For more information go to Leadership Morgan Hill. AAUW member contact is Janet McElroy.

Local Scholarships

AAUW Morgan Hill annually provides one of the largest numbers of scholarships in Morgan Hill, second only to the Mushroom Mardi Gras. Scholarships are provided to high school graduates (from Sobrato, Live Oak, Central, and the Adult Community School). Scholarship are also offered to local women returning to college after a break in their education, and a special Lauren Jenkins Healthcare Scholarship is designated to college students pursuing a degree in a healthcare field. Finally all previous AAUW Morgan Hill scholarship recipients have the opportunity to apply for subsequent grants until completion of their undergraduate degree. AAUW member contact is Donna Dicker.

Morgan Hill Historical Society

AAUW Morgan Hill provides docents for the Morgan Hill House and Historical Museum at Villa Mira Monte. The branch also publicizes Historical Society events to members. For more information go to Morgan Hill Historical Society. AAUW member contact is Kathy Sullivan.

Speech Trek

This is an AAUW California sponsored annual speech competition. Locally we offer the competition to all high school students attending Morgan Hill schools. The Speech Trek program creates a forum for students to gain exposure to gender equality issues and to develop their communication skills. The contest involves high school students writing and delivering a persuasive speech at a local branch meeting. The top three competitors in the state advance each year to a state-wide competition (and our branch has had two students advance to the state level). Go to Speech Trek. AAUW member contact is Joanne Rooney.

South Valley Science & Engineering Fair (SVSEF)

The South Valley Science and Engineering Fair organizes an annual science fair. SVSEF’s mission is to promote youth engagement in STEM through both community outreach and providing a safe, inclusive, juried competition for 6th – 12th grade students in Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and San Martin.  For more information go to SVSEF. AAUW member contact and lead event organizer is Susan Oldham-Fritts.

Teen Leadership: Women’s Advocacy Clubs & Young Women Leaders

A branch member provides advice to the Women’s Advocacy Clubs (WAC) at Live Oak and Ann Sobrato High Schools. WAC is committed to promoting equality on campus and in the community through educating people on the power of words and defying societal expectations to empower women to reach their full potential as strong contributors to the world around them. AAUW also guides these clubs along with a chapter of Girl Rising (and Oakwood School) in creating and implementing an annual Young Women Leaders Conference each spring. AAUW member contacts are Mary Patterson and Joy Safakish.

Morgan Hill Wildflower Run Research and Projects Grant Endowment

This endowment, established in 2014 and completed in 2019, was funded through some of the annual proceeds from the Wildflower Run. Now completed, it will fund community action and career development grants. Another branch endowment, the Blaine/Cate Endowment for Graduate Fellowships (#1802) was completed in 2001. It funds an annual graduate or postgraduate fellowship. (For more information on this and other national AAUW priorities, go to National AAUW Programs.)