By Bevin Theodore
When I first learned of the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, I was moved by the mission of combining philanthropy, advocacy and volunteerism to positively impact the lives of women and children in the Lehigh Valley. I was particularly inspired by the scholarships that are awarded each year to women working toward degrees in the fields of health and human services, and I knew I wanted to be involved in selecting the outstanding recipients who would be recognized for their efforts. For nearly four years, I have had the privilege of leading the scholarship committee as we reviewed applications, interviewed candidates and awarded 10 scholarships to deserving women. While I love working with this dedicated group of women who share my passion for education and giving back, my greatest joy has come from reaching out to the winners and hearing their overwhelming responses of gratitude that strangers cared enough to donate time and money to help them realize their dreams.
I was immensely fortunate to be able to attend college as a traditional student. I lived on campus, had the opportunity to take as many classes as I wanted each semester, participated in a wealth of extracurricular activities and pursued internships that led me to a career in my desired field. No one else depended on me, and everything I was juggling was directly related to being a student. But many women are not afforded this same experience. They realize the importance of attaining a college degree, but have neither the funds nor the support to make it a reality. The women who apply for our Women’s Leadership Council scholarships have perfected the delicate balancing act of attending work, going to school and raising a family all at the same time, often with little or no help. Now that I am a mother to two young children, I realize the immensity of this task and how badly these women must fight for their own education. The scholarships, while not a large sum, relieve a bit of the burden, while also making these women feel that someone is noticing their hard work. By championing their successes and lending a helping hand when they need it most, we are creating new leaders who also believe in the WLC mission and will go on to give back to others who need support. Since research has proven that a mother’s education is one of the greatest defining factors of her children’s future success, this program is also benefitting the next generation.
Our committee has now taken our commitment to educating women beyond scholarships, supporting a GED program through ProJeCt of Easton, and pondering a multitude of literacy and work support programs, in an effort to expand our reach and touch as many lives as possible, all while supporting the community goals of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Going forward, I embrace the opportunity to continue this humbling work, which allows me to combine my enthusiasm and resources with those of a larger group of women that is also focused on creating a strong, healthy, well-balanced community.