Women's Foundation of Minnesota Receives Ann Bancroft Award

The Women's Foundation of Minnesota, Minneapolis, is among four recipients of the eighth annual Ann Bancroft Awards, presented by the Ann Bancroft Foundation, Plymouth. The annual awards honor four outstanding recipients - a girl, woman, individual and organization - for their accomplishments and support of girls and women. The other 2004 award recipients are Tsione Wolde-Michael, Amy Klobuchar and Nina Rothchild.

The Women's Foundation of Minnesota's award is in the "Organization" category, which recognizes a Minnesota organization or corporation that encourages and supports the achievements of girls and women. For 20 years, the foundation has been one of the leaders in the international women's philanthropy movement, supporting economic, social and political equality for women and girls by providing resources and a vital voice to their cause.

The foundation was founded by people who believed that too many of the needs of girls and women were falling through the cracks, and that philanthropy needed to do more to address those needs. A study conducted in the 1980s showed that less than 3 percent of Minnesota's philanthropic dollars were going to projects that specifically addressed the needs of women and girls. In response, the foundation began operations in 1983 to raise money and distribute it to organizations working to advance economic, political and social equality for women.

To date the foundation has contributed more than $6 million to more than 600 statewide programs through its Social Change Fund. This fund helps provide long-term solutions for women in four critical areas: promoting human rights, guaranteeing women's health, ending violence and creating economic justice. The foundation supports diverse communities of women, distributing funds throughout the state - in urban, suburban and rural areas and on American Indian reservations - and to a wide variety of ethnic and immigrant groups.

The foundation has also launched a five-year, $3 million initiative called girlsBEST, a grantmaking and public awareness project focused on building the economic power of girls. Developed in response to the foundation's own research showing that Minnesota isn't doing enough to invest in girls, the girlsBEST (Girls Building Economic Success Together) project funds programs that prepare girls, ages 10-18, to flourish in tomorrow's world. The foundation made an upfront commitment to focus on low-income girls and to invest at least two-thirds of its girlsBEST resources in Greater Minnesota communities. Today, the initiative is funding 13 girl-led organizations across the state.

The Ann Bancroft Awards exemplify the spirit of explorer and educator Ann Bancroft, whose leadership and personal and historic achievements have inspired all people to take on new challenges. Bancroft organized and led the first all-woman expedition to Antarctica, becoming the first woman to reach both Poles across the ice. In 2001, Bancroft and Norwegian Liv Arnesen became the first women in history to cross Antarctica's landmass, and in spring 2005 they will attempt to become the first women to cross the Arctic Ocean.

Recipients of this year's Ann Bancroft Awards will be honored at a gala event on April 7, 2004, at the Hilton Minneapolis and Towers. The event will include entertainment by the Twin Cities Gospel Choir and a keynote address by Ann Bancroft. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Ticket information for the event can be obtained by visiting the Ann Bancroft Foundation's Web site or by calling 763/541-9363.

Proceeds from the event will further the efforts of the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support girls and women to realize their highest dreams and potential. The foundation endeavors to live this mission by recognizing individual achievement and by promoting initiatives, which inspire courage, risk-taking, integrity and individuality in girls and women.

The lead sponsors for the Ann Bancroft Awards are: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Robins Kaplan Miller & Ciresi LLP, Imation, RBC Dain Rauscher, AVHQ, KARE 11, The Business Journal and Roth Graham/Thomas Design Group. Other sponsors include Excel Bank, Medtronic, Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, Women's Foundation of Minnesota, Sir Speedy of Fridley and Time Warner Cable.

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