The Abby Foundation
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  Twenty-seven years ago, a small group of women in Chicago’s South Suburbs found a recipe to help their neighbors - women and children in need... From 1985 until today, the Abby Foundation’s mission has remained constant: raise money and distribute it to established nonprofit organizations, who apply for a grant that help women and their children and fund scholarships for both young women and returning women.

In its early years, Abby women asked friends and neighbors to join them at focus groups which eventually grew into formal luncheons. It was a simple recipe; spend a little time and money and help a neighbor. The first luncheon raised $2,000 that was quickly donated to two established domestic violence shelters, the Crisis Center for South Suburbia and the South Suburban Family Shelter. Purchase tickets for our August 17th Women Together luncheon.

2010 Women Together LuncheonA board of directors and a membership component were soon formed and as luncheon attendance grew, breast cancer awareness joined domestic violence prevention as Abby beneficiaries. At the same time, a scholarship program was initiated, helping women reach their potential through scholarships.

The Abby Foundation is again offering scholarships to women who need assistance to attend college next fall, either as graduating high school seniors or women returning to college. We are able to offer $1,000 scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students attending a four-year college/university and $500 scholarships to those attending a two-year community college. Minimum GPA requirement is 3.0/4.0. Applications for the 2012 scholarships are due March 1, 2012. Recipients will be announced in April 2012.

New athletic scholarships will be awarded in 2012 for Athlete of the Year. To apply for an athletic scholarship, print the scholarship application and submit (must be post marked) no later than March 12, 2012. Abby Athlete of the Year 2012 - Scholarship Application Form - PDF Application - WORD Document Application.

Abby’s original 20 members became almost 100 in 2009 and the board of directors hopes to continue growing that membership so that more nonprofit organizations will receive financial help. In its 27 years, the foundation has distributed more than a million dollars through its programs.

Membership is easy: Donate $100 per year for an individual membership to the foundation and attend the luncheon which features a keynote speaker, a raffle, an exhibit area for local businesses and nonprofit organizations, an informational program book that contains an A to Z listing of organizations. Business memberships are also available and include a business listing in the program book and ticket to the Women Together luncheon.

Abby’s success since 1985 has been strengthened by the support of the South Suburbs’ local newspaper, today’s SouthtownStar. The newspaper has yearly covered Abby’s story with both editorial content and regular advertising space.

We invite you to click through our website and learn how YOU can help your neighbors.

Quick Links:  Scholarship Application  I  Grant Application  I  Woman of the Year Nomination  I  Women Together Luncheon
 
 
2010 The Abby Foundation

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