Our Mission and Purpose Women’s International Center [WIC] was founded in 1982 as a non-profit education and service foundation [501c3] with the mission to ‘acknowledge, honor, encourage and educate women’. Since its inception WIC has fulfilled its purpose in many ways. Beginning in 1983 the LIVING LEGACY AWARDS began to ACKNOWLEDGE, HONOR and ENCOURAGE WOMEN. For twenty-four years we have brought hundreds together to celebrate the accomplishments and positive and lasting contributions of women -- in so doing many now know, understand, appreciate, and hopefully incorporate the gifts women have given to improve the world. Likewise, we have gathered some of civilization’s great and generous women and men whose deeds have genuinely benefitted humanity. The list reads like a ‘Who’s Who of global innovators and humanitarian benefactors -- please review the complete list of Living Legacy Award Honorees listed in the program --amazing. To further WIC’s worldwide outreach, our award-winning information and education web site www.wic.org is filled with women’s remarkable deeds, accomplishments, legacies and history -- including short biographies of more than 150 LLA recipients. As well, our Internet site directs the reader to hundreds of sources providing vital information about economic, medical, emotional, psychological and ‘Safe Houses’ for those needing professional assistance. We also provide direct Internet links to hundreds of other valuable organizations specifically geared to help and improve the lives of women. WIC is deeply involved with the women in Africa and South America through our foreign assistance programs by providing educational and safety information and economic resources to refugees and displaced women. We work directly with national and local refugee organizations. We have been fortunate to assist scores of women adapt and adjust to living in the United States, to receive economic, medical, and personal safety help. WIC also has assisted many of these women in need to receive academic acceptance and gainful employment. In addition, we have directly assisted in preparing these individuals to improve their English and prepare to gain U.S. citizenship. We have provided thousand of dollars in charitable gifts to non-profit organizations offering assistance and/or safe houses for battered or homeless women and have proudly presented many thousands of dollars in Sisterships (scholarships) to scores of girls and women since 1983. Women’s International Center’s motto is ‘Education through Communication.’ Certainly, we love and live what we do.
Graphic Design by Jean Pierre Prieur at Bionic Sisters Productions Brief History and A Look Towards Tomorrow Since October, 1982, Women's International Center, has demanded excellence of itself, and since 1983 has publicly honored excellence in others. On October 6, 1982, at her fiftieth birthday celebration, Gloria Lane, received a telephone call from her physician. He told her she was 'officially' diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. With destiny staring her in the face on that fateful night, Gloria made a critical decision. She could give in to her illness, or she could make it work for her. Obviously, she chose vision over the victim mentality. On that day, Women's International Center was founded. The motto of the concept was and is "Education Through Communication". The mission remains steadfast, "Acknowledging, Honoring, Encouraging and Educating Women". Contacting her already established power base (Gloria was a college teacher and an often booked speaker on the San Diego women's organization meetings circuit, and had been an entertainment agent and publisher), she shared the power of her dream, and many rapidly became active advocates. In less than three months Women's International Center acquired its [501 c 3] nonprofit status, secured an office with a volunteer and paid staff, developed a women's library and a small art gallery, which quickly allowed courses, seminars and workshops to begin and flourish. Many of San Diego's social and community leaders soon became members, enthusiastic volunteers and generous financial supporters. The message, the mission and the power base rapidly grew. It continues. By October, 1983, it was determined to establish an award to further fulfill WIC's stated purpose: "acknowledging, honoring, encouraging and educating women". Thus, in honor of International Woman's Day, the first annual Living Legacy Awards Presentations took place on March 8, 1984, at the historic Hotel del Coronado. From that glorious beginning to this day, over one hundred of the world's exceptional contributors and humanitarians, from presidents to movie stars to scientists to athletes to business, political and military leaders and people from all walks of life have accepted the Living Legacy Award. Thousands of dollars of scholarships have been given to mature women who also want to grow. Today, Women's International Center reaches thousands, perhaps millions, through the global network on the Internet. WIC went 'on-line' in May, 1995, and we are already linked to scores of other on-line women's groups, worldwide. In early 1996, we will begin Women's International Center's Global Townhall on the Internet which will open its windows on the Web, offering interactive meetings with the world's most informed and powerful women. WIC will continue to grow. The Living Legacy Awards will bring more legacies together from all lands. More women will be educated and empowered. The Center will be built. |
The Vision "Thinking globally, acting locally,
The goal of Women's International Center is to build the Women's International Pavilion, a living tribute to the significant contributions women have made to humanity. The Pavilion will be built in San Diego County and will provide an international center for all the world to view and appreciate the great works of women. It will feature an accredited institute, library, performing arts center, galleries, tribute halls and archives-in a setting of magnificent gardens where performance and creativity will reign supreme.
Friends of the Poor - Nigeria. Founded in 1982, Friends of the Poor is a nondenominational service organization that works in partnership with relief workers in various parts of the world to provide necessary funds, material goods, medicines and food to aide in the alleviation of poverty and suffering. In 1998, Jean Colarusso, President of Friends of the Poor, began organizing the first of many missions in Africa. Because of the growing needs in Africa, Friends of Africa was established in 2006 as an additional focus to the mission of Friends of the Poor. The current project of Friends of the Poor-Africa is to provide funding and supplies to build the Dr. William Kupiec Academy for Girls.
http://www.friendsofthepoor-africa.org/
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