Sunday, July 12, 2009

By DIANE LEDERMAN

The Sunday Republican

EASTHAMPTON - Earlier this year, the Amherst-based social change organization MotherWoman co-wrote legislation that would require medical providers to screen for postpartum depression.

It was just one of the missions the group undertook with grant money from The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts. With another grant this year, the work will continue. "I just feel so grateful to them," said Melanie R. DeSilva, executive director. "It is partly because of their (financial) support." But it's also about "their caring. ... they deeply care about the success of MotherWoman."

MotherWoman is the kind of organization the Women's Fund is looking to help, said Carla M. Oleska, executive director of the fund. It helps bring about social change.

This year, the Women's Fund increased its awards by 160 percent, distributing $260,000 in social change grants to 23 organizations in the fourWestern Massachusetts counties. But that still does not meet the demand, Oleska said. The organization received $1.3 million in requests from 62 organizations. The women's fund "is based around the whole idea when we pool our money we can do so much more."

"We may not give the largest grants," but she said they help organizations in other ways in what she called "capacity building."

"We keep improving their own capacity to carry out their mission." The women's fund organizes brown bag lunches, workshops, conferences and other networking opportunities. "We bring grantee organizations together. You've got to work together," she said.

Some of the grants awarded are multi-year grants such as the grant to Girls Inc. of Holyoke, which according to a statement, was awarded because the organization "inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold by providing them the opportunity to develop and achieve their full potential through a wide array of programs."

"They have wonderful results," Oleska said.

Suzanne L. Parker, Girls Inc. executive director, said the award will help the agency's operating budget following state cuts.

She also praised the additional support the agency provides. "They provide an amazing amount of resources ... It's wonderful to have that kind of support," she said.

DeSilva said she's "incredibly honored to have received this grant for the second year in a row."

MotherWoman, which is about 2½ years old, is also the umbrella for the local chapter of the national political organization MomsRising.

In 2007, DeSilva said, the organization received a $3,500 grant to help build the organization, and they were able to use that along with matching funds to hire a fund-raising consultant. Since then they have tripled their revenue, she said. "With an investment of their dollars ... we could do extraordinary things."

Being such a young organization receiving money from the fund, "it increases our credibility in the community tremendously. I love those women. They work so hard. "A lot of foundations have cut back on their grant giving." She appreciates that this organization hasn't. "It's such a gift; it's going to translate into (improving) the lives of women and girls in the Pioneer Valley.

Here are the 21 other agencies funded this year. The Women's Fund does not provide grant amounts:

Safety and Freedom from Violence; The Gray House; HAP, Inc.; Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts; Russian Community Association of Massachusetts; Square One, Step Forward/Step Ahead - Elms College; Walaalo Somali Sisters Collective; Weston Rehabilitation Associates Inc.; Womanshelter/Compañeras; YEAH Network, all of Hampden County.

The Care Center; Enlace de Familias de Holyoke/Holyoke Family Network Inc., both in Holyoke.

Flying Cloud Institute; Helen Berube Teen Parent Program; Girls Inc. of the Berkshires; all of Berkshire County.

Franklin County Community Action.

Treehouse Foundation, Safe Passage, both in Hampshire County

Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts; New England Learning Center for Women in Transition; Victim Rights Law Center; all four counties.

http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-21/124...