News & Events

Valentine Foundation grantee SOWN awarded a US Administration on Aging Grant

The Supportive Older Women’s Network (SOWN) is one of 14 agencies nationally to receive a Community Innovation for Aging in Place grant from the US Administration on Aging. SOWN’s project, “Growing Healthy Lives Together,” will provide:

• Healthy Diner lunches
• First Fruit healthy snacks program
• Computer workshops
• Healthy living coaching
• Volunteer ambassadors
• Support groups

Service will be implemented in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities in Philadelphia. For more information, contact Marypat Tracy, Direct Service Supervisor at mptracy@sown.org.

Pamela Bryer, a Valentine Visionary Leader, Writes Opinion Piece on Healthcare

Pamela Bryer, Executive Director of the Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County (MCHC), and Valentine Visionary Leader, is keeping the health care issue in the public eye. Ms. Bryer recently wrote an opinion piece on access to health care for uninsured pregnant woman, infants and children that was published in the Chester County Daily Local. In the piece she states that Pennsylvania is one of 43 states facing budget shortfalls in the coming year. In acknowledging that tough choices lay ahead, she urged state officials to prioritize subsidizing health insurance programs such as Medicaid and CHIP, as well as the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Ms. Bryer encouraged readers to let their legislators know how important access to health care is to all, and reminded everyone that MCHC is on the front lines in the battle to support the most vulnerable members of the population.

SOWN

We are proud to report that the Supportive Older Women’s Network (SOWN) was awarded “The Distinctive Service to the Community Award” by the Alfred and Mary Douty Foundation. SOWN is an advocacy-oriented agency that is dedicated to helping senior women cope with complex age-related issues.

Most recently, The Valentine Foundation supported SOWN’s “Older Women Voters Count Project” which helped older women in the Philadelphia area access their right to vote. Congratulations to the staff and volunteers at SOWN which is celebrating 25 years of service in Philadelphia.

Pureland Pictures

We are excited about Pureland Pictures’ documentary film, “All of Us.” This powerful, eye opening documentary film was broadcast nationally on the Showtime Network on December 1st, World AIDS Day. The film investigates the social factors that put African American women at the greatest risk for HIV/AIDS and exposes the common power struggle all women face in the bedroom. “All of Us” has been screened across the country, and has sparked a broader discussion of the changing face of HIV/AIDS.

Grantee In The News

The Institute for Safe Families -- a previous grantee -- has been getting a great deal of media coverage for its "Campus Dating Violence Prevention Project."

With funds provided by theValentine Foundation (along with the Claniel Foundation), this project looked at the prevalence of dating violence on three college campuses in Philadelphia, and also examined whether students knew and/or utilized campus resources. The final report has attracted national attention, and the Principal Investigator for the project has been interviewed on NPR, ABC News Radio, and the CBS News with Katie Couric, among many others.

We are proud to have provided key assistance for this important project that has brought visibility to the critical issue of dating violence and what to do about it.