Women have long been at the forefront of philanthropic endeavors. St. George City Lifestyle recently caught up with four area nonprofits to discover meaningful ways to connect and create impact.
Southern Utah Ladies Society
The Southern Utah Ladies Society, established in 2020, believes it is important to stay in touch and to have fun, and in turn promote a healthy, happy life and a vibrant community. The group focuses on fundraising and service projects in the southern Utah region. Vice president, Debbie Heger, discusses more of what they are about.
What is your mission?
The Southern Utah Ladies Society is a nonprofit organization of volunteers dedicated to giving back to our communities. We raise money for various needs, providing enrichment for our communities. Through our work together we form enduring relationships.
What are some of the accomplishments of your organization?
We have raised money for the Washington County School District Foundation, P.A.W.S., Hope Reins Healing, Neighborhood Connection, Girls On The Run, Blue Butterfly House, Memory Matters, B.A.C.A., RSQ Animal Rescue, One More Chance C.A.T.S. and the NICU at Intermountain Hospital—AngelEye Camera System.
How would someone go about joining your organization?
Visit our website, SouthernUtahLadiesSociety.com, and go to the About Us section for a membership application.
Anything else that you would want people to know?
We host enjoyable and affordable fundraising events targeted primarily at underfunded organizations that add critical value to our community. In 2022 we raised more than $47,000 for organizations in our community. In addition, we have donated hundreds of items and volunteer hours to worthy, local causes. We invite our members to volunteer monthly as a group with different organizations in our community.
Legacy of Literacy
The Assistance League of Southern Utah is completely run by its nearly 100 volunteers allowing it to focus its funds towards programs that it feels are most beneficial to adults and children in need in the community. Vice President of Membership, Kay Miner, answers a few questions about their organization.
What is your mission statement?
The Assistance League of Southern Utah is an all-volunteer organization focused on ameliorating the suffering of our community's most vulnerable children. Our mission is to transform the lives of children and adults through our volunteer community programs. Our vision is that if essential needs are met in our community, families will flourish.
What are some of the accomplishments of your organization?
We are part of a national organization, and our chapter was formed in 2008. To date, ALSU has provided more than 14,000 homeless and oppressed youth with books, dental supplies and a basic school wardrobe. Working in collaboration with our local retail community, we are able to provide the most for the least cost. This year alone we purchased new shoes and clothing for 914 children. We are currently in our literacy phase of the program and will be donating books as well as reading with elementary-age children.
How would someone go about joining your organization?
For more detailed information or to join our organization go to our website alofsu.org.
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women started its Utah branch in 1982 and has worked to further the cause of equality. Part of one of the oldest nationally organized women’s groups in the country, the AAUW provides advocacy and education programs to help with gender equality. Locally there are over 100 members and the largest branch in the state. Pat Dalpiaz, one of four executive committee members, answers a few questions.
What is your mission?
Advancing gender equity through research, education and advocacy for women. We are affiliated with AAUW National, which has over 130,000 members.
What are some of the accomplishments of your organization?
Provided Educational Programs for students in Utah through scholarships, the E-Smart program and the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders program. We have raised funding over an eight-year period of over $220,000 of scholarship money for 220 students in Utah who were financially challenged to attend college. Smaller fundraisers combined with Our Gala, “A Night of Inspiration,” has always been a fundraising success for our organization and the community. The E-Smart program is for 8th graders and includes a 4-day overnight stay on the UTU campus to encourage younger women to overcome their fears of STEM subjects. The NCCWSL program is for students who exhibit leadership skills on campus and want to further their talents by going to Washington, D.C. and learning how to impact their school and community.
We are also working on mentoring our scholarship winners through a program called “Mentor in a Minute,” which matches the students face-to-face with each of our members.
How would someone go about joining your organization?
Go to our website AAUWstg.org and follow the prompts.
Women’s Influence Network
The Women’s Influence Network focuses on “powering change with heart” at home, in organizations and in communities, thus creating WINfluencers. Essentially, by taking action to cultivate and amplify women’s influence makes someone a WINfluencer. Shirlayne Quayle, Co-founder and Board Chair for WIN answered a few questions regarding the organization.
What is your mission?
Connect agents of positive change to cultivate and amplify women's influence and shape a vibrant community.
What are some of the accomplishments of your organization?
We have hosted the annual Ignite Your Influence, southern Utah's premier women's conference, since 2017; pivotal support through mentoring, and networking for several local women-owned startup businesses, monthly WINfluencer Circle events to share personal and professional development, and networking, for women in southern Utah, connect with statewide efforts to move the needle for girls and women as a partner with the Utah Women and Leadership Project and the new Bolder Way Forward initiative (Dr. Susan Madsen), act as a hub for women to connect to each other and resources that help them cultivate and amplify their individual and collective influence.
How would someone go about joining your organization?
Attend an event, sign up for our newsletter at womensinfluencenetwork.org, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @womens_influence_network.
Anything else that you would want people to know?
We envision a world equally influenced and powered by women, and embrace Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s definition of power: the ability to affect change, with purpose. Guided by our core principles of love, connection, growth, and abundance, we value authenticity above ego, collaboration above competition, connection above agenda, courage above comfort, compassion above criticism, "power of," above "power over."
“We host affordable fundraising events...for underfunded organizations that add critical value...” Debbie Heger, VP, Southern Utah Ladies Society.
“Our vision is that if essential needs are met in our community, families will flourish,” Kay Miner, Legacy of Literacy, VP, Fund Development
“Smaller fundraisers, combined with our gala...have always been a success,” Pat Dalpiaz, AAUW executive committee member.
“We envision a world equally influenced and powered by women,” Shirlayne Quayle, WIN Co-founder.
