Joan Collins Publicity Inc. Funds Community Projects Geared Toward Girls and Women

To celebrate a 40-year business anniversary, Joan Collins Publicity, Inc., Madison, requested proposals from area nonprofits with projects tailored to female entrepreneurship, career enhancement, and building self-esteem and confidence.


 


Joan Collins Publicity Inc. has given $40,000 to programs ranging from a running program for young girls to learn healthy habits to a business growing organic sprouts to provide income for area farmers. The Madison Community Foundation assisted in the selection process.


 


$5000 gifts have been distributed to:


 


Wisconsin Youth Company: To help fund a girl’s club for 15 minority students from low income families in the Elver Park neighborhood to operate a vending and food service business at the park during the winter. Girls in eight through eleventh grade will experience achievement, self-empowerment, and entrepreneurship.


 


Wheels for Winners: Twenty middle school aged girls from low income families will learn bike safety and bike mechanics, will receive a recycled bicycle and will hone their skills to volunteer to teach other participants. Volunteers from the Bike Federation of Wisconsin teach the mechanical skills. In addition, 200 needy Dane County children will receive recycled bikes the girls have helped to repair. The goal is to heighten awareness of recycling, promote bicycling as an economically sustainable form of transportation and promote the positive impact of community service and volunteering.


 


Atwood Girl Neighborhood Power: Girls, ages 11 through 17 will create a business to sell posters, cards, mugs and other products that carry positive messages and poetry they will create, centered around the theme of addressing fears, positive attitudes and dreaming big. They have created a business plan and will be mentored in small business development and leadership.


 


Friends of Troy Garden: Two female farmers at Troy Community Farm will start at business growing and selling organic spouts to sell to area retailers and restaurants with the goal of producing 230 pounds of sprouts a week, year-round. The goal is to become a model of sustainable urban agriculture, teach interns and high school students, and provide income for area farmers.


 


Girls on the Run: Volunteers will start a new program in a low income neighborhood for girls in third through eight grade to teach self respect and a healthy mind and body lifestyle, with a 5K run after the 12 week season. The purpose is to build confidence among young girls, set goals, and choose healthy lifestyles, while eliminating the focus on skinny starlets and model beauty.


 


A Fund for Women: To help support programs that provide innovative solutions that directly affect girls and women of all ages in the Greater Madison area as determined by a grant selection committee. The Fund for Women, a component of the Madison Community Foundation, has provided more than $450,000 to projects in the last 13 years.


 


Elizabeth Barnes Mentor Fund: A donor-advised fund at the Madison Community Foundation in honor of Joan Collins’ journalism professor and college mentor.  Annually, interest from the fund will be used for projects supporting girls and women.


 


Joan Collins formed Joan Collins Publicity, Inc., a 1964 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism, started her firm in 1966. The firm promotes and publicizes Wisconsin-based tourism attractions, as well as businesses and nonprofits ranging from financial institutions to elder care.