Disability EmpowHer Network Receives $112,200 from Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation 

July 16, 2024 - Disability EmpowHer Network was recently awarded a two-year $112,200 grant from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) to support its work of empowering transition-age girls with disabilities in the EmpowHer Camp program and extended alumni network.  

 

Disability EmpowHer Network is a national organization led by and for girls and women with disabilities. EmpowHer Camp is Disability EmpowHer Network’s yearlong multi-stage skill-building, mentoring and leadership program for transition-age girls with disabilities. EmpowHer Camp brings a diverse group of girls with disabilities together to camp with successful disabled women mentors in the Adirondacks for a week to learn disaster preparedness, survival, independent living, and leadership skills. The next summer, the girls reunite in Washington, D.C. to explore how they have grown as leaders. During the year between the first trip and the reunion trip, participants work on a community impact project with the help of their mentors. After completing the program, Disability EmpowHer Network supports graduates for 6 years or until they are employed, whichever is later. This is a life-changing program for participants, their families, and disabled women mentors.

 

The two-year funding from MEAF will ensure that Disability EmpowHer Network can provide the graduates of EmpowHer Camp with ongoing support, resources, and community through the development of an expanded alumni network. Through this network, the organization will continue to empower graduates as they pursue continued education, employment, leadership opportunities, and more!

 

Stephanie Woodward, Executive Director of Disability EmpowHer Network said, “We are so proud of our graduates and their impact on their communities already. Our team is eager to provide them with ongoing support as they transition to adulthood, continue their leadership journeys, and pursue new opportunities. We are grateful to Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation for recognizing the value of this continued support for our camp alumni.”

 

“We are proud to support the work of Disability EmpowHer Network” said Kevin Webb, Senior Director, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. “It is impressive to see the growth of the girls with disabilities from the time they attend camp until they reunite in DC to present the community projects they developed with their mentors. EmpowHer Camp excels at empowering the next generation of disabled women leaders.”

 

Disability EmpowHer Network launched its first EmpowHer Camp program in August 2021. In a few weeks, the current class will graduate after their reunion trip in Washington, D.C. bringing the total number of program graduates to twenty-five disabled young women and nonbinary people. Then the fourth EmpowHer Camp class will start their year-long leadership journey during a wilderness camping trip in August. 

 

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, based in the Washington, D.C. area, was established in 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S. group companies, which produce, sell, and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial, and professional electronics products. The Foundation has contributed more than $26 million to organizations that are empowering young people with disabilities to lead more inclusive and productive lives. To learn more, visit www.MEAF.org.

 

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Contact: Sophie Poost at Sophie@DisabilityEmpowHerNetwork.org