Scholarship Fund for Women

The first project and concern of the women who gathered in 1980 to begin a local AAUW branch was to provide substantial scholarships to be awarded annually to deserving Tehachapi High School girls. The founding group hoped that more girls from this community enroll in and complete a four-year college education. This purpose has been enthusiastically supported each year since that time. The committee studies and selects recipients from among many applicants.

In 1988, the Scholarship Fund for Women began awarding scholarships to women of the community who, after following other pursuits, demonstrated a desire to return to college to earn a degree.

A program to award junior high school scholarships was begun in 1993. Recipients are selected who exhibit a positive school and academic attitude, participate in math and science activities both in school and out, and demonstrate overall excellence in school performance.

Education Foundation

The Educational Foundation provides fellowships for graduate and postgraduate students, gives research and development grants, community grants, and special grants from the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund to teachers wanting to upgrade their teaching skills. Branches throughout the nation contribute to the Foundation, which is the largest private source of grants for women in the world.

Contributions to EF make a difference in the lives of women and girls. The Tehachapi Mountain Branch is a strong supporter of EF and ranks among the top branches in California in per capita contributions. Many branch members contribute at least $100/year and become members of the Century Club. Memorial and Honorary Gifts are often made to EF. A special event is held each year to raise additional funds. Save Mart Scrip another profitable funding source. Anyone interested in applying for a grant or fellowship, or donating to the Foundation should contact EF Co-vice-presidents.

Legal Advocacy Fund

The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund was established in 1981, and became a permanent arm of the Association in 1983. The Legal Advocacy Fund's approach to eliminating sex discrimination in academe is multidimensional. The Fund works to achieve equality for women in higher education by offering assistance to women faculty, staff, and students who have grievances against colleges and universities, by supporting sex discrimination lawsuits, and by recognizing innovative efforts to improve the climate for women on campus.

$ave Mart $crip

AAUW has been involved with the Save Mart/Food Max Supermarkets in a fund raising program for the past several years, and we have collected a substantial amount of money during that time with no cost to our members. The stores, in the Spring of 2005, instituted a new program, called the S.H.A.R.E.S. Card. Each member who participates in the program will have a card with their name and AAUW printed on the card. AAUW gets 3% (monthly deposited to our E.F. account) of whatever has been put on the card that month. If you shop at Save Mart, check the Breeze for information on how to get your own card and then be sure to use it when you shop.