With the center, women who’ve lost financial support from separation, divorce, death, or disability of a spouse can self-sufficiency.
Grants of $10,000 from the Investors Foundation and Roma Bank Community Foundation will help maintain programming at the Women’s Opportunity Center located at the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties.
Women who have lost financial support as a result of separation, divorce, death, or the disability of a spouse seek greater self-sufficiency and better opportunities by working with the WOC.
“The Women’s Opportunity Center is committed to help women gain economic self-sufficiency through education, job readiness, networking, outreach, referrals and emotional support,” said Cathi Rendfrey, the WOC’s director. She said the WOC also promotes awareness of women’s rights and issues through public advocacy.
The WOC applied for the grants from the Investors and Roma Bank Community Foundations, which support non-profit organizations that enrich the diverse communities served by Investors Bank. Roma Bank became part of Investors Bank in December 2013.
Rendfrey said the WOC serves approximately 200 to 250 women each year with a number of free services, including workshops, career counseling and training opportunities.
“The grants from Investors Bank are a big help to us,” Rendfrey said. “This money will enable us to provide training, free workshops, so many things.”
Rendfrey also said the WOC often will make small grants to individual women to assist them in going to college, or for essentials.
“Many of these women are not on welfare and do not qualify for assistance programs, but may need help in paying for books, or turning the electric back on, or to pay back rent. The grants from Investors can go a long way in helping our women get back on their feet,” Rendfrey said.
On the day Angela Venti, Investors Bank assistant vice president and Marlton branch manager, presented the grant checks to the WOC, the women were working on vision boards in a workshop.
“The WOC is empowering women not only to envision what they can do with their lives,” Venti said, “but they are giving them the skills and tools to make it happen. Investors Bank is committed to helping women achieve their goals and support their families, further strengthening our communities.”
In addition to providing help with resume writing, interviewing skills and job searches, the WOC offers workshops on financial planning, family law, career development and computer training, as well as workshops on self-confidence and self-esteem.
The WOC also provides a small food pantry and a “closet” where the women can find professional business attire that will enable them to have the confidence to pursue job opportunities.
The women served by the WOC can stay in the program as long as they need to, according to Rendfrey.
“We do follow-up as well, to be certain they have everything they need to continue on their path to economic self-sufficiency. Sometimes it is important to just know that they are not alone,” Rendfrey said.
