Like many of you, we suffered a loss in 2020 – one of our directors, Robin Johnston, passed away late in the year. Robin was a graduate of Hamline University, in St. Paul Minnesota, magna cum laude, and of Brown University where she received a Masters’ degree in Sociology. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Robin practiced law in a number of private law firms and was for a number of years the Senior Medical Center Counsel at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center. Robin later established her own law firm concentrating in the representation of health care providers and other non-profit institutions.

Vale Robin and thank you for your service to TIAW.

On a happier note, late last year we entered into a relationship with Grameen America. Grameen America is dedicated to helping entrepreneurial women who live in poverty build business to enable financial mobility. Founded in Queens, NY, in 2008, Grameen America builds on the legacy and proven model of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus. His revolutionary but simple idea that all people can lift themselves out of poverty through their own entrepreneurial spirit has dramatically altered how the world views global poverty.

The impetus to find an American partner in our Microcredit work came from one of our greatest assets – the women who have been at the heart of TIAW for many years, and who refer to themselves as “The Old Girls Club (TOGC).” These are long-term TIAW members and many former directors/officers who have remained life-long friends and still get together once a year because their friendships became so strong. TOGC approached the Board late last year with a desire to fundraise in the name of our Founder Mandy Goetze, as a way of celebrating her in our 40th year. I am delighted to announce that the significant funds raised by TOGC have now found their way to Grameen America, where they will make a difference to women in the Camden/Trenton area of New Jersey. To the women of TOGC, and to our VP Microcredit, Amanda Fitzgerald (who worked tirelessly to support this sensational initiative) – our sincere and lasting thanks!

While much of the world is still suffering through the worst of the pandemic, Australia is remarkably back to a form of normal life – allowing us to have the first of our revitalised Global Cities events here in Sydney on International Women’s Day (March 8), https://events.humanitix.com/tiaw-global-cities-sydney-iwd, with proceeds going to our microcredit fund. We’ll share the day with you on our social media platforms and in the next newsletter – along with the details about our amazing sponsor for this event.

I look forward to the day when all of us can gather in safety once more – but in the meantime, stay safe and be well.

Donna Meredith
President
TIAW

Empowering Women; Changing the World