The Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Association, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting Island women through networking opportunities, will stop operating as of Jan. 1, the organization’s director said in a joint press release this week. To continue to foster their mission of empowerment, the organization is donating some $100,000 to the continuing education nonprofit ACE MV to support women and girls seeking continued education.
“It’s incredibly exciting,” said ACE MV executive director Sam Hart. “It’s a great honor to continue the legacy of [MVWA’s] work.”
ACE MV provides licensure programs and courses in education, health care, technical training and business for Island adults. Mr. Hart said ACE MV, which is based in Vineyard Haven, currently has an annual budget of about $320,000, and the donation will make a big difference.
“This is a huge shot in the arm from that perspective,” Mr. Hart said. “It really allows us to be more responsive to the needs of women and children in the community.”
MVWA president Rachel BenDavid said the leaders at the association had come to realize that the opportunities they provided for many years were no longer needed with modern social media and the online networking environment. She said when her organization’s leaders were looking for a way to pass on their resources, ACE MV quickly came to mind.
“We felt we wanted to donate our assets to something that’s really growing,” she said. “They’re providing opportunities to Islanders.”
MVWA was formed when Women Empowered and Creative Entrepreneurs with Opportunities (CEO) merged in 2017. Women Empowered was founded by Kaye Flathers in 2000 to help connect women to mentors and teach valuable life skills.
The new program at ACE MV will be called Women Empowered through Continuing Education. Support for women seeking higher education could come in the form of tuition assistance, childcare, supplies, transportation and mentoring opportunities, Mr. Hart said.
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