2019 Wagy Awards Recap:

Each year the Kansas City Branch, through its Nettie Irene Van Der Veer Wagy Fund, awards grants to local social service and cultural organizations for projects that support AAUW’s mission. In 2019, 20 organizations submitted letters of interest. All were worthy of support. The following received grants at the annual awards and holiday luncheon on December 6:

Angel Eyes – Career Development Program helps single mothers attain higher education. The Wagy grant will be used for the purchase of an Employment Readiness Online Assessment Tool.

Girl Scouts – Camp Fury, a high-adventure career exploration camp with local Fire and Police Departments with the aim of giving girls an immersing experience in public service careers where women are under-represented. Wagy funds will cover two scholarships and supplies for the program.

KC Care Clinic – The grant supports supplies for colonoscopies and endometrial biopsies for 60 low-income and uninsured women with abnormal Pap tests.

MADI – Provides job-training skills and employment assistance in the commercial garment market while producing over 1,000 pairs of undergarments each year that are donated to area shelters. The Wagy grant will purchase commercial sewing machines and a cutting table.

UMKC Foundation – The grant pays for four girls to attend the 2020 Madam President Camp. The Camp teaches girls ages 10–13 leadership, public speaking, negotiation, campaigning, and other skills for effective civic political participation.

All who attended enjoyed a delicious lunch at Café Trio and hearing the stories of the amazing work done by these grant recipients. If you would like to make a donation for next year’s Wagy grants, please make your check payable to AAUW Wagy Fund/Amer01, and mail to: GKCCF (Greater Kansas City Community Foundation), Attn: Kelli Doyle, 1055 Broadway Blvd., Suite 130, Kansas City, MO 64105.

Empowering Working Women in Kansas and Missouri

Learn to negotiate your financial future through an AAUW Work Smart Salary Negotiation Workshop!

Whether you are negotiating for a new job or an earned raise or promotion, in every workshop you will gain confidence to:

  • Identify and articulate your personal value
  • Develop an arsenal of persuasive responses and other negotiation strategies
  • Conduct objective market research to benchmark a target salary and benefits

Why is negotiation so important? AAUW’s research on the gender pay gap shows that, one year out of college, women are already paid significantly less than men. Women who work full time take home 80 cents for every dollar a full-time male worker is paid. And over a lifetime, those lost potential earnings add up.

Women who negotiate increase their potential to earn higher salaries and better benefits packages. By negotiating fair and equitable salaries, you’ll be better able to pay off loans, buy the things you want and need, and even save for retirement.

A Collaborative Initiative

AAUW, the Women’s Foundation, and Kansas City’s Mayor Sly James launched the first phase of an initiative to empower 1 million women to successfully negotiate salary and benefits and close the gender pay gap in both Kansas and Missouri. The initiative will begin in Kansas City, where the overall gender pay ratio for the Kansas City metro area is 79 percent (a 21 percent gap).

In 2017, median annual earnings for men in Kansas were $49,267 compared to $37,931 for women — an earnings ratio of 77 percent, or 42nd out of all states and the District of Columbia, according to the most recent census data. In Missouri, median annual earnings for men were $47,436 compared to $37,339 for women — an earnings ratio of 79 percent, or 34th out of all states and the District of Columbia. And for many women, the pay gap is wider. This initiative will build momentum to close these gaps.

Reentry Woman of the Year Awards Brunch – Apr 20

You’re Invited!  SATURDAY, APRIL 20 / 9:30 AM-NOON

UNITY VILLAGE DINING ROOM / 1901 NW Blue Parkway, Unity Village, MO

This annual event taking place in the dining room at Unity Village is hosted by AAUW-KC Northland and presented by the InterBranch Council (IBC). Scholarships are awarded to women who best exemplify the courage, effort and perseverance to return to the classroom after an absence of five or more years. Come and hear their inspiring stories!

The cost is $25. For reservations, mail check (payable to AAUW-KC Northland Branch) by April 9 to Cela Sullivan, 4341 Northwest Briarcliff Lane, KCMO 64116. Donations for brunch costs for award recipients and Reentry scholarships are welcome! For more details, contact Cela at 816-797-8685 or cel1777@sbcglobal.net.

2019 Scholarships for 100 High School Girls

Since 1931, the Kansas City Branch of AAUW has honored outstanding high school senior girls. College scholarships up to $1,000 are awarded annually. To be eligible, students must submit an application and essay by March 15, 2019, and be a current student of one of the following area schools: Central Academy of Excellence, East High School, Northeast High School, Southeast High School, Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, Ruskin High School, Center High School, and Grandview High School.

Please share this scholarship/application link with eligible students: AAUWKC100HSGIRLS2019APP

2017 Wagy Awards Recap:

The Wagy Awards & Holiday Luncheon took place on  December 2 at the Grand Street Café.  This year’s event marked our 20th presentation of the Wagy Awards, which gives funding to local community organizations for their work in advancing education and equity for women and girls. A total of 85 awards have been presented and $225,575 in Wagy funds have been provided over the past two decades, including this year’s five recipients and awards totaling $10,000.

The 2017 Wagy award recipients and programs:

• Episcopal Community Services – Nourish: Turning the Tables Empowering Women through Culinary Training

• Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri – STEM Girls Outreach Program

• The Family Conservancy – Directors Leadership Academy

• Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City – The Appointment Project: Equitable Representation of Women on Civic Boards and Commissions

• Fractured Atlas – Rightfully Sewn Seamstress Program