NAUW Inland Branch

The mission of the National Association of University Women is to serve women, youth and the disadvantaged in our communities and in developing countries by addressing educational issues, advancing the status of women's issues, and strategically partnering with allied organizations. On June 27, 2009, at the Sierra San Antonio Medical Plaza in Fontana California, a new branch was chartered and 18 ladies were inducted into the National Association of University Women Inland Empire Branch. 

In order to address educational issues, our first educational project was to adopt and support a sight impaired class at the Dona Merced Elementary School in Rancho Cucamonga, CA becoming the first group to ever adopt a sight impaired class at this school.  We provided classroom volunteers, tutoring, and library cataloging as well as donated school supplies and equipment for the classroom. The children were delighted with our participation. Other tutoring  we have provided or participated in include:

•  "Launching Young Readers" program at Bethel AME Church in Fontana, CA 
• "Read Across America Day" at Magnolia Elementary School in Upland, CA
•  Tutorial program at the Jim and Judy Watson School of Education, California State University, San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA.
• Claremont After School Program, better know as (CLASP) through the Claremont Unified School District, Claremont, CA.

These programs helped underperforming students with the Common Core standards and resulted in improved reading and math skills.

Given the high cost of higher education, our members have committed to assisting students in the Inland Empire by awarding scholarships each year. Since our inception we have awarded approximately $20,000 in scholarships to deserving students in our communities. We are proud to have followed our last group of six scholarship recipients through their years of college by giving them a renewable scholarship each of their four years of attendance. We recognize by being available and supporting students in college adds to their success rate to graduate.

The Inland Empire Branch participate with national and local social and economic programs that effect our communities. Homelessness has become a major problem in our communities. In order to help families struggling with homelessness, our Branch actively supports The Foothill Family Shelter which serves  homeless families in our communities.  Each year we give Thanksgiving baskets and grocery gift cards to the shelter. We have also given monetary, food, clothing and toiletries donations to the shelter. Other organizations supported are Habitat for Humanity and Disabled American Veterans. 

One of the highlights of our service to the community was our ability to participate in the Just Beginning Program (Incarcerated Teen Parenting Program) formerly known as the Baby Elmo Program developed and administered by The Youth Law Center along with Georgetown University. It is a structured visitation program which allows incarcerated teen parents to maintain contact with their children and provide them with the ability to improve their parenting skills.  Our branch donated books for the teen parents to read to their children during visits and toys for the children to take home. This program has transformed the behavior of some of the most hard to reach kids.  It has given them a real purpose in life and a vision for the future.