Arizona Business and Professional Women's Foundation

Arizona Business and Professional Women's Foundation promotes the advancement of Arizona's working women through scholarships, research, and education. Scholarships are awarded to women 21 years or older who are attending a community college in Arizona to acquire better job opportunities.

The Arizona Business and Professional Women's Foundation was founded in 1989, by the Arizona BPW Federation to support the financial needs of women seeking educational opportunities to improve their job opportunities.

The first meeting of the new Foundation Board of Trustees was held on October 14, 1989 in Casa Grande. Hank Barnes, past state president, was the first Director and trustees were Muriel Lothrop, Nancy Guy, Dean Simmons, Beryl Burk, Phyllis Childress, Lynda Crowell, Nancy Oliver, and Kay Williams. Clara Page and Sandra Rogers were on the Board representing BPW/Arizona. Its mission became promoting the advancement of Arizona's working women through SCHOLARSHIPS, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH. The foundation supports this goal through tax-deductible contributions and ongoing fund raising projects.

The first Foundation Scholarship was established in 1990 in honor of past National President, Dr. Dorine Chancellor. Members of the Arizona BPW Federation provided initial funding for this scholarship. This was a pilot project at five community colleges: Cochise, Eastern Arizona, Mohave, Northland Pioneer, and Rio Salado. The scholarship was further developed to provide an opportunity for BPW units and individuals to sponsor additional community colleges.

In 1991, Trustees Muriel Lothrop and Hank Barnes conceived the idea of publishing a book with the dual purpose of recording and preserving the history members of the Arizona Federation of Business and Professional Women and their contributions to the culture and public service in the communities where they lived and worked. Proceeds from the sale of these books still provides scholarships to working women in Arizona. There are three volumes in this series of books called Women Who Made a Difference.

Through the spring of 2007, the AZBPW Foundation has awarded $104,000 in scholarships. In 2004, the Foundation raised the yearly scholarship awards from $500 to $1000 each to be in line with rising tuition costs and to meet our mission of making a difference for working women.

Testimonials

How AZBPW Foundation is changing the future

Comments from our scholarship recipients

I am a twenty-three-year-old single mom who is committed to completing a college education. This scholarship allows me to attend school while continuing to work part-time and spend as much time as possible with my son.

I would like to thank all of you at the Arizona BPW Foundation. Being a single parent and a full-time student, I can't tell you how much this award is appreciated.

Thank you for helping me attend college. It was a blessing that was given to me. I will try to make you proud of me. Thank you again.

Thank you so much for thinking of me this semester. I received the letter you sent and I am at a loss for words. This is a very nice thing that Arizona BPW Foundation has done for me.

Thank you for the Arizona BPW Foundation Scholarship. I am honored to be a recipient this year. I was accepted into the Radiology Technology Program at Arizona Western College and will begin my classes this summer. After two years of intense and exciting study, I will graduate in May, 2008 and be able to receive my license as a Technologist. Returning to school is a challenge and the Radiology program is expensive, however I am confident the financial sacrifices I make now will benefit my family and community...Sara

I cannot express enough gratitude for your generosity. The scholarship that I have been awarded will bring me a step closer to living out my dreams. I have always had a desire and determination...now you have made this possible for me. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than to care for our elderly and for those who need nurture and care. I am satisfied with all I have accomplished in my life and I am looking forward to what I have yet to conquer. I want to thank you for the positive influence that you have had in my life as well as in my children's lives...Claudia, Nursing Student.