Women’s History Month and Dare to Dream Breakfast

Thank you to EVERYONE who came out for our Dare to Dream breakfast!

Our annual Women’s History Month and Dare to Dream Breakfast was held at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club on a brilliant Thursday morning, March 20. This annual event brings women from throughout the county together to honor our new Dare to Dream Grant winners, our Elaine Bromfield Memorial Scholarship recipient, and this year our annual Girl Grant recipient. This year’s theme was Celebrating Women of Courage, Character and Commitment and we were proud to have Dr. Mary Ann Biggs, a long-time educator and local community activist, as our speaker.

Eight of our grant and scholarship recipients were able to attend the breakfast and share with us their dreams and hopes. Those in attendance were Holly Goode, Kathy McLendon, Nastassia Lee, Meagan Augugliaro, Kristie Brown, Devin Higginson, Barbara Jennings and Katherine Davis. Each recipient shared a little of her story and what she hoped to do with the grant which was most inspiring. Pam Price, a 2012 Dare to Dream grant recipient, spoke about how her life has evolved since receiving the grant and how the grant helped her find her way. In her words from a follow-up email, “I was truly honored to speak and it was an especially inspiring group this year. It reminded me of when I first found you guys and encourages me to keep moving toward my goals.”

Our deep gratitude goes out to all our Gold Sponsors – Lord Fairfax Community College, Beth Medved Waller, Inc – Team Waller, Shenandoah Confections, Old Fox Counseling, Susan O’Kelly and anonymous donors. We also wish to thank Betty Showers of Front Royal’s Fussell Florists who always donates the speaker’s bouquets, Shenandoah Golf and Country Club who served up a delicious breakfast buffet and all the businesses and individuals who donated wonderful items for our silent auction: Blake and Company Hair Spa, Beau Monde Boutique, Dominion Health and Fitness, Tres Bella Day Spa, Cheryl Langlais, Peter Meyer, Nan Hathaway and Rosalie Norem and a special thank you to Elaine Faucher who created and donated the floral centerpieces. Many others helped create this event and donated financially towards our sponsorship goal.

Our continued thanks to United Way of Front Royal/Warren County without whose assistance our grant program would never have come this far. To the Max and Bella Black Foundation, the Zunka/McNeal family, the friends and family of Elaine Bromfield and many other generous individual member donors, we extend our deepest thanks for the generous financial support that keeps these grants and the scholarship available to women year after year.

THANK YOU ALL! We couldn’t do it without you.

In this newsletter, you will find a complete listing of the 2014 grant and scholarship recipients as well as a segment of the inspirational talk Mary Anne Biggs, our guest speaker, gave at the breakfast. Thank you all for making a difference in women’s lives.