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Pressroom:
Innovative
Non-profit Benefiting Low-Income Women Receives Over $200,000
in Funding from the Ms. Foundation and Numerous Local Funders
5/07/01
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Oakland,
CA - Women's Action
to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), a private, non-profit organization
based in Oakland was recently awarded a three-year grant from the
Ms. Foundation for Women, as part of its Collaborative Fund for
Women's Economic Development. This multi-year grant, totaling $150,000,
will help WAGES continue its work of empowering women to start and
run their own business cooperatives.
WAGES
has successfully created and replicated women-owned cooperatives
in the Bay Area since 1995, and is currently providing technical
assistance to two environmentally safe housecleaning enterprises:
Emma’s Eco-Clean in Redwood City and Eco-Care Professional
Housecleaning in Morgan Hill.
From 1999 to 2000 Emma’s Eco-Clean profits increased by 350%
and the 12 owners earned between $11-$14 per hour – much higher
than the industry standard wage. Through WAGES innovative programs
women gain valuable business skills, earn a living wage, preserve
their own health and the health of their clients, protect the environment,
and help educate their communities about the advantages of ecologically
safe cleaning.
In
addition to generous support from the Ms. Foundation WAGES has also
received the following grants for programs and operations in 2001:
California
Wellness Foundation $10,000
City of Redwood City $1,500
Comerica Bank $2,500
Rosenberg Foundation $50,000
Skoll Community Fund $10,000
Zellerbach Family Fund $80,000
With
this generous funding from area funders and the Ms. Foundation for
Women WAGES plans to identify and train even more Bay Area women
to participate in its business start-up programs. In addition, WAGES
is working on a website and a bilingual training manual so that
others can learn about cooperatives and environmentally ecologically
sound cleaning.
Women’s
Action to Gain Economic Security: (510) 272-0564
Press
contact:
Rachel Gonzalez
510-272-0564
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