Fund Awards $24,000 in Grants to 5 Groups

An organization that encourages young women to study math and science and a program that links young women with mentors in the business world are among the recipients of a total of $24,000 in 1996 Women’s Legacy Fund grants.

Established in 1995 by local philanthropists, the fund awards grants to Ventura County organizations and programs that promote the needs of women and girls.

From a pool of 34 organization proposals, the fund’s 10-member grants advisory committee picked five programs.

“It was quite a challenge,” said Kate McLean, president of the Ventura County Community Foundation, which administers the fund. “All of [the grantees] addressed the issue of building self-esteem in girls and women.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley will receive $5,000 for Operation Smart, a program to encourage up to 500 girls from 7 to 16 to study math and science. The fund will also give $7,000 to Las Sonadoras, a program run by the city of Ventura that links young women from 14 to 25 with mentors who are female business owners to encourage the young women to explore career opportunities.

Interface, Children Family Services of Ventura County will get $5,000 to provide support and counseling to teenage students at Rio Mesa High School and Gateway Community School who are pregnant or raising children.

Another $3,500 will go to El Centrito de la Colonia to provide computer training to about 100 girls and women in Oxnard’s Colonia neighborhood. The fund will also give Planned Parenthood $3,500 to promote self-esteem and communication among parents and their daughters through its Parent and Teen Empowerment Project.

A reception honoring the 1996 recipients is scheduled July 22.