Who are we?
The Erie Branch of AAUW is an eclectic mix of women of all ages. We are college graduates, holders of associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. We are teachers, professors, and administrators in all levels of education, business owners and managers, accountants and IT specialists, artists and musicians, writers and entrepreneurs, social workers, and master gardeners. Some of us are retired but most are active in the profit and non-profit workforce throughout the Erie area.
What do we do?
Founded in 1902, the Erie Branch has a long history of community involvement and support in ways large and small. In accordance with our mission to empower women and girls, we support community education in various ways, doing so by sponsoring various events to raise the funds necessary to support our efforts. In the early years, our Holly Trail was enjoyed by hundreds, if not thousands, of Erie residents every winter. In the mid-seventies, we joined with the Erie Public Library and the Friends of the Library to help launch the Great American Book Sale, now in its 40th year.
In celebration of its 100th Anniversary, (2003), the Branch provided the concept and an initial grant of $5000 to support the construction of the AAUW Environmental Educational Pavilion at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. Additional funding was provided by DCNR and the Erie Community Foundation, through a grant to the Presque Isle Audubon Society.
In recent years community education and action grants have been awarded to Gannondale, The Erie Neighborhood Art House, The Erie Art Museum, Nurturing Hearts, the Girl Scouts, and Perseus House. Most recently, in partnership with Edinboro University, we have sponsored Tech Savvy, a one-day workshop for young girls and their parents held in the spring, designed to introduce them to careers in various fields related to science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. This activity is also supported by grants from AAUW National and the generosity of a number of local sponsors. Our third Tech Savvy workshop is tentatively scheduled for May 6, 2017.
Annual fundraisers are planned to support our community education/action programs and our scholarship fund. In the last 10 years, we have awarded nearly $50,000 in scholarships to deserving women, non-traditional students enrolled at local colleges and universities, who have returned to college to complete their education. Our annual fundraiser for scholarships, Lunch & Literature: a Conversation with Three Authors, is held in September of each year and features award-winning writers.
AAUW's Mission
Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.
AAUW's Value Promise
By joining AAUW, we belong to a community that breaks through educational and economic barriers so that all women have a fair chance.
AAUW's Diversity Statement
In principle and practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or class.
AAUW Funds
AAUW Funds is the national organization's umbrella for a variety of funds in support of graduate studies, teachers and activists in local communities, women at critical stages of their careers, and those pursuing professions where women are underrepresented. Included are: The Legal Advocacy Fund, Public Policy Fund, Educational Opportunities Fund, Leadership Programs Fund and the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund.
Locally, the Erie Branch maintains the Adella B. Woods Scholarship Fund for Erie County women students and Community Education Grants for various education projects throughout the Northwest Pennsylvania region.
