Future Dreams
Last week I was speaking with Kathy Browning about the fundraiser we are going to be doing for the International OlderWiserWomen’s Day month long celebration. It involves raising funds to send at least one woman on a midlife adventure! Very exciting stuff. I was telling her of my dream for The OlderWiserWomen Foundation.
I realized that though I’ve verbalized it to several people, and have even written it as one of my goals, I’ve not shared it with the OlderWiserWomen community at large. So here it is.
First, my why – the reason I want to do this..
It is not uncommon for women in their middle and later life years to have a major transition. For example, perhaps she was married for a number of years, supporting her husband, and now he’s gone for whatever reason. She is perhaps left without outside job skills (if she can find a job given her age), without a means of support, retirement, etc. She’s needs some assistance to get back on her feet, get her life together. Perhaps she wants to build a business, go back to school, or even to just be able to see someone to help her through the transition.
Briefly, my vision is that the OlderWiserWomen Foundation would be able to help women in this type of situation and more. It’s more of a grass roots effort with donors giving not only their dollars, but time, skills and resources as well. The woman who has benefited from the services of the OlderWiserWomen Foundation would then turn around and assist the next woman.
Talking about this with Kathy brought it home that I need to get started on this now, and not wait any longer. There is no reason not to start today.
Thus begins my quest for assistance in pulling together a non-profit organization. People who have done this before and can offer good sound advice, legal assistance if that is necessary, people who are committed to this type of projects to be board members, and those who have expertise and are wiling to be advisory board members. And while I am indicating my intention to have this foundation come to fruition, I’ll also request the presence of the perfect executive director and other officers that are needed.
To date, I know of no other organization that devotes itself to the needs of older women in transition. It would be an honor to have The OlderWiserWomem Foundation be the first.
Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomenâ„¢
