Thanks to a generous gift from Lyda Hill Philanthropies, Texas Women’s Foundation awarded $638,844 to 29 Dallas/Fort Worth nonprofit organizations* to increase usage of the IF/THEN® Collection. The IF/THEN® Collection is the world’s largest free resource of authentic and relatable photos, videos and biographies celebrating diverse, contemporary women in STEM careers and roles. All nonprofits and schools can use the IF/THEN® Collection for free for non-commercial purposes to highlight and elevate these STEM role models in order to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers.
In November 2020, organizations applied for the grants through the IF/THEN® Fund at Texas Women’s Foundation and received these awards in early 2021. Then, these nonprofits used the grants to creatively use the IF/THEN® Collection assets to increase the visual representation of women in STEM and inspire the next generation of STEM pioneers in North Texas. Examples include printing banners and posters, updating marketing materials, including assets in programming and more.
Lyda Hill, founder of Lyda Hill Philanthropies, said, “I’m pleased to partner with Texas Women’s Foundation to reach thousands with positive female STEM role models. The IF/THEN® Fund at the Texas Women’s Foundation establishes a new collaboration between the two organizations that advances gender equity for today’s young girls and builds future equity and leaders across North Texas.”
She added, “The goal is for girls everywhere to see STEM as exciting, relevant and cool, and seeding the visual world around us with images of relatable women is key to making this happen… Because IF she can see it, THEN she can be it.”
Saki Milton, founder and executive director of the GEMS Camp and a grantee, remarked, “Texas Women's Foundation continues to find innovative ways to support historically marginalized girls with quality programming in all areas. The new IF/THEN® Fund will help the GEMS Camp and other nonprofits provide girls with diverse STEM career role models in a creative, visual way. We are honored to receive this reward.”
The GEMS Camp used its grant to support more than 300 high school girls of color through a program called BLING!, a STEM Pathways Institute that teaches networking skills and STEM related lessons using the IF/THEN® Collection at virtual and in-person gatherings.
“The Perot Museum of Nature and Science's Whynauts series represents the future of creative exploration,” said Dr. Linda Silver, the Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer of the Perot Museum. “Students engage the inspirational world of science at home or in the classroom, meeting real-life scientist heroes and discovering their possible science futures today. We are deeply grateful for the vision and support of Texas Women's Foundation and Lyda Hill Philanthropies that have helped make The Whynauts possible.”
Designed to help build tomorrow’s workforce, the complimentary series – with dialogue in English and Spanish – is expected to reach 250,000 students this year in classrooms, nonprofit organizations and homes across Texas.
IF/THEN® seeks to further advance women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers. Rooted in a firm belief that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models, IF/THEN® is designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers by:
(1) funding and elevating women in STEM as role models,
(2) convening cross-sector partners in entertainment, fashion, sports, business and academia to illuminate the importance of STEM everywhere, and
(3) inspiring girls with better portrayals of women in STEM through media and learning experiences to pique their interest in STEM careers.
Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Texas Women’s Foundation president and chief executive officer, added, “Whether the outcome is a girl embarking on a STEM career with role models to guide her path, the introduction of STEM in a way that ignites curiosity and ambition among students who haven't previously considered STEM careers, or elevation of the representation of women in STEM, Texas Women’s Foundation is honored to partner with Lyda Hill Philanthropies IF/THEN® Initiative to collaborate in advancing gender equity for today’s girls and tomorrow’s STEM leaders.”
IF/THEN® Collection
The Collection is part of the IF/THEN® Initiative, a national effort sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies® to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers while creating a culture shift in how the world perceives women in STEM. The Collection features 125 female STEM innovators selected by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Lyda Hill Philanthropies® to be AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassadors, all serving as high-profile role models for girls. More information can be found at https://www.ifthencollection.org/
About Texas Women’s Foundation:
Texas Women’s Foundation is Transforming Texas for Women and Girls, empowering them to build stronger, more equitable communities. One of the world’s largest women’s foundations, the Foundation raises funding from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support more than $7 million in investments that advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through groundbreaking research, advocacy, grants and programs. Since inception in 1985, the Foundation has invested $57 million in women and girls, including $43 million since 2011. The Foundation’s statewide research on issues affecting women and girls provides decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Its advocacy, grantmaking and innovative programs support solutions that help Texas women and girls thrive. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the gender lens investing movement and has deployed 100 percent of its assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a gendered impact portfolio that yields strong financial returns and social benefits to women and girls. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now
# # #
*Grantees:
A Chance to Learn/Motivated Mom
Beacon Hill Preparatory Institute
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County
Communities In Schools Dallas Region Inc.
Dallas Afterschool (DAS)
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Society Inc.
Dallas Zoological Society
Design Connect Create
Fort Worth Zoological Association
Friends of Solar Prep
Frontiers of Flight Museum
GEMS Camp
Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
Girls Inc. of Tarrant County
Jubilee Park & Community Center
Junior Players Guild
National Math and Science Initiative
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Readers 2 Leaders
REAL School Gardens DBA Out Teach
Shared Housing Center
TalkSTEM
TeCo Theatrical Productions Inc. DBA Bishop Arts Theatre Center
United to Learn
Uplift Education
Young Women's Preparatory Network
Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School/Dallas ISD Foundation