By advocating the collective power of encouragement, diversity, equity, and inclusion, women can literally move mountains.

As November came to an end, the WEDC Foundation celebrated its 20th Anniversary through its annual fundraising event, Women Honoring Women.

Women Honoring Women recognizes prominent women in the community who have created a legacy by overcoming obstacles and serving as an inspiration to others. The event and sponsorship funds that are generated help to support the WEDC Foundation Scholar Program.

The Scholar program was developed to help to empower women in North Alabama to achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families by investing in their pursuit of higher education through mentoring, financial assistance, and professional development.

In its first year, the Foundation celebrated with just one scholar. Since that time, the number has grown significantly. “Through the generosity of our sponsors, the WEDC Foundation has been able to support more than 190 scholars,” said Jennifer Linton, WEDC Foundation Executive Director.

The Scholar program is open to women who live, work, and attend school in Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan counties. When a Scholar participates in the WEDC Foundation program, she gains access to a host of professional development tools.

Having a support system is key to successfully facing and overcoming the challenges that life often provides. Helping young ladies become economically mobile, self-sufficient, and well-rounded career women. It is a much-needed work-force development anchor in the community.

To help scholars succeed, the Foundation hosts regular workshops to help Scholars navigate the school year and beyond. From business etiquette to self-care, resume building to finances, the workshops provide scholars with the tools and skills to not only become a confident employee, but also a future leader.

Women sharing resources and offering support to benefit the lives of other women is an integral part of the WEDC Foundation’s Scholar Program.

As part of the program, the Foundation assigns a mentor to work with the Scholar (also referred to as a “mentee”). Mentors are interviewed, selected, and then assigned to scholars who are following a similar career track.

Graduating Scholar Charnee Anderson works at Thrive Alabama and is the mother of three boys, one of whom recently started his freshman year at college. Her Mentor, Maike DeMaria is the owner of Capabilitix and teaches Health Care administration and Ambulatory Care management at Athens State University.

“My experiences with Miss Maike have been very inspirational and supportive,” said Anderson. “She has been there a lot of the times, even when I cried.”

For DeMaria, becoming involved in the Scholar program was a no-brainer.

“I was invited by Joni Green (CEO of 5Stone) several years back to Women Honoring Women,” said DeMaria. “It was so amazing. At the point where they were talking about the Scholar program and I was like, ‘I’m older, I have all this experience, I would love to share what I’ve learned over the years.’ I also wanted to learn from these young ladies in the program because I believe the mentor is always a mentee, as well. For me, it’s a privilege to be a mentor.”

“If I think about Charnee, I’m so amazed,” said DeMaria. “I was only her mentor for six months, but I knew her from workshops from before, and she was always so eager to learn. Knowing what she had to go through to get where she’s at right now, that is so amazing.”

Scholar applications will be available online starting in January. Mark your calendars, next year’s Women Honoring Women will be September 15, 2022. For more information: www.wedcfoundation.org.