Our Priorities
Gender Equity & Economic Security
AAUWPT/UWF provides money for educational grants starting at the pre-school level and we offer tutoring for kids at the Chimacum elementary schools. We also provide tuition support for Tech Trek, a STEM program for middle school girls, and we offer a variety of educational grant opportunities for women and girls in high school, college and graduate school.
Preparing women and girls for higher paying jobs will ease student debt and allow for a more secure financial future.
Scholarships and Tuition Support for Women and Girls
In May 2024, our Foundation, UWF, awarded $126,400 in scholarship and educational grant monies and awards to 43 local women and girls.
This amount was an all-time high for UWF.
Our scholarships and educational grants help local women and girls reach their educational goals.
Many of our recipients return to East Jefferson County to work as Teachers, Veterinarians, Counselors and Nurse Practitioners.
We support Tech Trek and in 2024, provided $16,000 of funding for Tech Trek. Tech Trek is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), summer learning program for Middle School girls. Contact: techtrek@aauwpt.org or visit the state website: techtrek-wa.aauw.net for more information
Educational Grants
AAUW PT partners with the Chimacum, Quilcene and Port Townsend school districts. We understand that equity in education needs to start early. Our educational and community grants are distributed locally to projects that relate to our mission of gender equity and economic security.
2024 Educational Grants
$21,000 to the Chimacum School District to fund tuition support to local families with children 3 - 4 years old for Pre-school attendance. Students who attend pre-school enter kindergarten with high social, emotional and physical readiness.
$1,500 to support intercession activities at Port Townsend High School during school breaks.
$400 to purchase supplies for our Tutors in the Chimacum school district. Our tutors help kindergarten through fourth graders tackle math and reading skills.
Support for Tech Trek. Funding for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), summer learning program for Middle School girls. Contact: techtrek@aauwpt.org for our PT branch or visit the state website: techtrek-wa.aauw.net.
2024-2025 Community Grants
AAUW PT reviews requests for grants from our Port Townsend Community. These grants are related to our mission but are not designated for on-going operational funding sources.
$1,000 for Care Provider Appreciation. Local licensed In-Home day care providers were honored for the work they do supporting working mothers, and mothers continuing their education.
$1,000 to support the Port Townsend High School Food Pantry.
$100 for Chimacum non-educational tutoring expenses.
$1,000 grant to The Nest/Owl 360. Support services for at risk youth.
Fact: American Women hold $929B or two-thirds of the nation’s student debt.
—UNWomen.org
“Chimacum’s early learning options for three- and four-year-olds set our children and families up for success. We are proud of the work our amazing primary school team does to engage our community and ease students into school life—one filled with play, deep learning, and skill building. AAUW’s grant goes a long way towards subsidizing our part-time preschool for children not quite ready for a full day at school. We are happy to have many tools in our early learning tool kit.”
—Dr Scott Mauk
Superintendent, Chimacum School District
Fundraising
We host public events throughout the year as a way of earning money to support our giving campaign for local scholars, and to fund other educational and community-based projects:
Home & Kitchen Tour: Our April 2024 H&K Tour was a record setting success. We raised $28,000 in ticket sales, $6,700 in donations/Sponsorships, for a grand total of $34,700.
Silent Auction: We raised $9,300 to support community grants.
RecognizING Local Women
Woman of Excellence: Each year our community nominates and celebrates a local woman of excellence. AAUW PT presents the Woman of Excellence Award to an East Jefferson County Woman who has contributed significantly to the local community through paid or volunteer work. This award is unique to our branch.
2025 Woman of Excellence - Caitlin Harrison, Workforce Development Manager, Jefferson Healthcare. Caitlin is a PT High School graduate who after attending college, and a successful career in business, returned to Jefferson County. Caitlin was also a UWF scholarship recipient. Caitlin has positively contributed to our community through leadership, service and mentoring. She has created programs, secured grants, and built relationships between healthcare and education entities locally and statewide, to cultivate tomorrow’s healthcare workforce
Scholar Spotlight
Fact: If Women were paid the same rate as men, the poverty rate would be cut by 50%.
—UNWomen.org
Cameron Botkin received the Virginia Wolf Endowed Scholarship in the amount of $8,500.
Cameron paused her university education, while she and her husband raised, and home schooled their 4 children.
Cameron is a school administrator at Chimacum Junior/Senior High School. To finally realize her long held dream of being a teacher, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, with a teacher certification.
Cameron is an amazing role model!