ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
25-117
IN THE COUNC IL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 3, 2023
To recognize the contributions of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation and to declare
October 11, 2023, as “Washington Area Women’s Foundation Day” in the District of
Columbia.
WHEREAS, the Washington Area Women’s Foundation celebrates its 25th year as
an impactful organization working for economic prosperity of women and women of color in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, the Washington Area Women’s Foundation was founded in April 1997
by Washington women who saw the need to address equity and advance economic empowerment among women and women of color in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, an invitation for afternoon tea soon became a movement that
revolutionized the philanthropic sector and our community, ultimately transforming into what we know today as Washington Area Women’s Foundation. The WAWF has 3 impactful
programs that support women and girls in the Washington Area; and
WHEREAS, the foundation hosts the Early Care and Education Funder’s Collaborative
(ECEFC), to advance early care and education and connects funders and facilitates learning, action, and philanthropy. The ECEFC funds advocacy and grassroots organizations to increase the quality
and capacity of and access to early care and education in the Washington, D.C. region; and
WHEREAS, women, girls, and gender-expansive youth of color are at a higher risk for safety
concerns across the nation and, more specifically, in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas, with girls 16 to 19 years of age being four times more likely to be victim-survivors of rape, attempted
rape, or sexual assault; and
WHEREAS, the WAWF supports numerous organizations through the Stand Together Fund,
launched in 2020 which is a catalyst for fostering a safer environment for this vulnerable population and focuses on physiological aggression perpetrated by an intimate partner and sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNC IL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Washington Area Women’s Foundation Recognition Resolution of
2023”.
Sec. 2. T he Counc il determines to acknowledge and honor the Washington Area Women’s
Foundation for dedicated support and action toward the advancement, safety, and economic
inclusion of women, and those of color in the Washington Area, and in recognition of its 25th
anniversary declares October 11, 2023 to be “Washington Area Women’s Foundation Day” in the
District of Columbia.
Sec. 3. T his resolution shall take effect imme diately.