This year’s Friendship Breakfast was yummy and educational.

by Kathy Garfinkle

Fremont Branch members assembled for our Friendship Breakfast at Home Town Buffet on Saturday, May 17, 2014.

Members enjoyed the delicious scent of yummy traditional and ethnic breakfast cuisine and the warm welcome of AAUW friends as they arrived.

Fremont Branch members listen attentively as speaker Helene Carr talked about AAUW Funds.

After visiting over a relaxing repast in our own private room, the highlight of the morning began with the introduction of our guest speaker. Helene Carr on the AAUW-CA Board of Directors, led us through the “Maze of AAUW Funds” in order to simplify things for us.

The Funds Overview included Educational Foundation, Legal Advocacy Fund, Public Policy, Eleanor Roosevelt and Leadership. These programs have a global effect on all our lives. She reminded us that all donations to AAUW Funds are tax deductible.

Helene is very passionate about the remarkable work that is accomplished with AAUW Funds. AAUW played a major role in presenting the documentary film about sexual assault in the military “The Invisible War”. The director, Kirby Dick, was a speaker at our AAUW convention. AAUW will be giving strong support to his next film that addresses the issue of bullying. The Eleanor Roosevelt Fund provides money for research. The National Conference of College Women is sending two girls to Washington D.C. for four days of leadership training.

AAUW Funds, said Helene, do remarkable work and have tremendous impact on the lives of women and girls.

All of these programs have a tremendous impact on the lives of women and girls. Women today have opportunities for careers in science and technology that were unimaginable in previous generations. We can continue to create opportunities for women and girls because AAUW is unified in mission and has provided us with a pipeline to the White House.

“Why should I care?” asked Helene.

“When you see the faces (of the fellowship recipients), you really care.” She went on to tell us how very inspirational these women are and how very hard they work.

This was just a brief overview of the extensive AAUW Funds program. Those attending showed a great interest in the topic and several had questions. There was a suggestion that we might want to continue with additional programs on AAUW Funds. We left feeling the warmth of friendship and the inspiration of our mission.