{"id":10379,"date":"2026-09-23T15:49:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T19:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedwaysem.org\/?post_type=impact_story&p=10379"},"modified":"2026-09-23T15:49:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T19:49:53","slug":"powerful-purses-bring-grants-to-washtenaw","status":"publish","type":"impact_story","link":"https:\/\/unitedwaysem.org\/es\/impact-stories\/powerful-purses-bring-grants-to-washtenaw\/","title":{"rendered":"Powerful Purses Bring Grants to Washtenaw"},"template":"","class_list":["post-10379","impact_story","type-impact_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-women-united"],"acf":{"details":{"featured_image":10470,"quote":"We appreciate United Way\u2019s commitment to systems change work.","citation":"Margy Long, director of Washtenaw Success by 6 Great Start Collaborative","topic":[293],"program_theme":false,"button_text":"Read More"},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_impact_story_hero","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_impact_story_hero":{"kicker_text":"Power of the Purse","heading":"Powerful Purses Bring Grants to Washtenaw","summary":"The 2025 Power of the Purse grantees share their impact in Washtenaw.","image":10470,"cta":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"United Way for Southeastern Michigan\u2019s annual Power of the Purse is a stylish celebration featuring a curated purse auction, great food and drinks that creates lasting support for women and families throughout the year. \r\n\r\nSince its inception Power of the Purse has raised more than $450,000 for the advancement and economic stability of women, girls and families in Washtenaw County. \r\n\r\nLast year\u2019s grantees included Amigos de verdad<\/a>, Foundations Preschool<\/a>, Mexiquenses Unidos de Michigan, The Women\u2019s Center<\/a> y Washtenaw Success by 6 Great Start Collaborative<\/a>. \r\n\r\nRead on to see how funds impacted families through each grantee...

FRIENDS IN DEED<\/h3>\r\nAt Friends In Deed, the Power of the Purse grant funded their Circles<\/a> program. This 22-month program empowers residents to break the cycle of poverty through financial education, career development, mentorship and friendship.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe have 19 leaders, people who are working to get out of poverty and towards stability,\u201d said Jazmeen Fortune, Circles coach and process control analyst at Friends In Deed. \u201cThe Allies are the people who walk alongside them, as part of their support system and social capital, to help them make connections and utilize tools and resources to meet their goals.\u201d\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nOne mother of four was struggling with student loan debt. In Circles, her Ally helped with student loan forgiveness and restructuring her plan. Now, she\u2019s made her last student loan payment and moved on to a new goal: paying off her car.\r\n\r\nShe was shy and reserved when joining Circles, but that soon changed.\r\n\r\n\u201cSince joining, she has found a new sense of confidence,\u201d said Jazmeen. \"She feels like she has someone who's rooting for her, someone in her corner and she honestly described him as a light in her life.\u201d\r\n\r\n\"\"","right_rail_type":"none","stat":{"title":"","abstract":""},"image":null,"callout":{"text":"","abstract":""},"":null,"settings":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

FOUNDATIONS PRESCHOOL<\/h3>\r\nOn the verge of quitting her job, one Washtenaw mother was preparing to risk homelessness because she couldn\u2019t afford childcare.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe know female caregivers are more likely the person that will step down to watch children,\u201d said Carrianne Ausmus, Development Manager at Foundations Preschool. \u201cEven though she didn\u2019t get paid enough working in early childhood education, it was her passion and she didn\u2019t want to leave.\u201d\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nThanks to the 2025 Power of the Purse grant, Foundations Preschool provided this mother with a scholarship and additional assistance to ensure she kept her job while her child was enrolled in care.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe grant was used specifically so female caregivers could continue their education and pursue employment opportunities,\u201d said Carrianne. \u201cNow, she\u2019s happy to continue doing what she loves while her child achieves milestones.\u201d","right_rail_type":"none","stat":{"title":"","abstract":""},"image":null,"callout":{"text":"","abstract":""},"":null,"settings":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_image_grid","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_image_grid":{"rows":[{"images":[{"image":10457,"override_caption":false,"caption":""},{"image":10455,"override_caption":true,"caption":""}]}],"force_aspect_ratio":false,"lightbox":false}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

MEXIQUENSES UNIDOS DE MICHIGAN<\/h3>\r\nAt Mexiquenses Unidos de Michigan, the Power of the Purse grant was distributed as financial assistance to 37 families and over 180 individuals in crisis.\r\n\r\n\"It came at the best moment it could,\u201d said Maria Militzer, head of development at Mexiquenses Unidos de Michigan. \u201cOnce the summer or the sunny days are over, the hotel or service industry gets slower, so low-income families, especially immigrant families start losing wages.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe financial assistance provided paid for basic needs expenses in families experiencing separation because of incarceration, immigration enforcement or hospitalization.\r\n\r\n\u201cFor our families, the grant meant survival and stability during crisis,\u201d said Maria.\u00a0\u201cIt's maintained their dignity and hope.\u201d","right_rail_type":"none","stat":{"title":"","abstract":""},"image":null,"callout":{"text":"","abstract":""},"":null,"settings":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_promo","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_promo":{"":null,"title":"\"It came at the best moment it could...\"","abstract":"\u2014 Maria Militzer, head of development at Mexiquenses Unidos de Michigan","links":null,"button":"","button2":"","image":10467,"reverse":false,"color":"navy","id":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

THE WOMEN\u2019S CENTER<\/h3>\r\nAt the Women\u2019s Center, Power of the Purse funded their Soundings program<\/a>, allowing Washtenaw women to receive mental health services regardless of their ability to pay.\r\n\r\n\u201cFor individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, experiencing financial hardship or navigating a period of transition, the cost of traditional therapy can put consistent care out of reach,\u201d said Jaye Sciullo, development director at The Women\u2019s Center. \u201cSoundings helps close this gap by creating an accessible pathway to high-quality mental health support before challenges escalate into more serious crises.\u201d\r\n\r\nIn 2025, The Women\u2019s Center served 800 women and families with more than 10,000 counseling appointments, 150 of those individuals received services through Soundings.\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nThe grant also strengthened their therapist training model by supporting the infrastructure necessary for volunteer therapists to supervise master\u2019s-level social work and professional counseling interns.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe Power of the Purse investment had a dual impact: increasing access to affordable mental health services today, while helping prepare the next generation of mental health professionals to meet the community\u2019s growing need for care,\u201d said Jaye.","right_rail_type":"none","stat":{"title":"","abstract":""},"image":null,"callout":{"text":"","abstract":""},"":null,"settings":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_image_grid","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_image_grid":{"rows":[{"images":[{"image":10470,"override_caption":false,"caption":""},{"image":10471,"override_caption":false,"caption":""}]}],"force_aspect_ratio":false,"lightbox":false}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

WASHTENAW SUCCESS BY 6<\/h3>\r\nAt Washtenaw Success by 6 Great Start Collaborative, the Power of the Purse grant funded the Trusted Parent Advisor Initiative<\/a>; training parents with the Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) model to support 128 families and 309 individuals.\r\n\r\n\u201cCOFI Training empowers moms to see themselves as leaders, gives them a sense of a community that can support them in setting goals and taking action to make positive change,\u201d said Margy Long, director of Washtenaw Success by 6 Great Start Collaborative. \u201cWe appreciate United Way's commitment to systems change work.\u201d\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nTrusted Parent Advisors go into the community to talk with families about early childhood programs and resources they may be eligible for. The additional training allows them to maximize their impact.\r\n\r\n\u201cBecause of the COFI training, I feel good about myself,\u201d said a Trusted Parent Advisor. \u201cI know I can do whatever I put my mind to, and the support was amazing.\r\n\r\n\u201cI have learned patience, staying consistent and presenting in front of groups.\"\r\n\r\nInspired to support Washtenaw women? Buy your ticket today<\/a> for Power of the Purse and join us for an unforgettable evening Nov. 4 from 5:00 \u2013 7:30 pm at Washtenaw Community College.","right_rail_type":"none","stat":{"title":"","abstract":""},"image":null,"callout":{"text":"","abstract":""},"":null,"settings":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_our_impact","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_our_impact":{"header":{"title":"More stories like this...","abstract":"","link":""},"dynamic_population":false,"version":"1","topic_filter":[],"program_theme_filter":[],"layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"version_4","story_col_1":3492,"story_col_2":3158}]}}]},"yoast_head":"\nPowerful Purses Bring Grants to Washtenaw - United Way for Southeastern Michigan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Last year\u2019s Power of the Purse grantees included Friends In Deed, Foundations Preschool, Mexiquenses Unidos de Michigan, The Women\u2019s Center and Washtenaw Success by 6 Great Start Collaborative. 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