American Womens Group Donates £15K to 3 Local Charities

Thanks to their successful fundraising efforts over the past eight months, the American Womens Group of Berkshire and Surrey (AWBS)was able to donate a total of £15 000 to three local charities at their recent general meeting on May 4th.
Representatives from the charities: Sebastian’s Action Trust, Berkshire East and South Bucks Womens Aid, and WAMDSAD (Windsor and Maidenhead District Sports Association for the Disabled) were on hand to receive their cheques and provide AWBS members with a brief presentation on their respective charities.

Vice-president of Philanthropy for AWBS, Susan Daniels, presented Sebastian’s Action Trust with a donation of £10 000.  AWBS has worked closely with Sebastian’s Action Trust over the past three years, rasing over £25 000,  to help them realise their dream of creating a purpose-built Holiday House for children with life-limiting illness, and their families.  AWBS members hope this year’s donation will be used in the construction of a special outdoor playground at the Holiday House.
AWBS further donated a grant of £2500 to both Berkshire East and South Bucks Women’s Aid and WAMDSAD.  The AWBS funds will be used to help Women’s Aid provide refuge for local families fleeing domestic abuse, and in the case of WAMDSAD, will provide sporting opportunities to local disabled children and adults, including 6 athletes WAMDSAD hope to send to the 2010 London ParaOlympic Games.  
Each year, AWBS seeks to help a diverse variety of local causes and understands many charities are suffering from both a lack of government funding and decrease in personal donations.  According to Daniels, “We regard our philanthropic activities as the ‘heart’ of our organisation and as such are committed to helping local charities realise their very worthy goals.’  She continues, “We also like to provide practical support to our charities in addition to financial awards, and many of our members roll up their sleeves and become ‘hands-on’ volunteers.”
Founded in 1981, AWBS currently has a membership of 350 women and men from North America who currently reside in the Surrey and Berkshire area.  The group’s activities centre around the principles of international goodwill and contribution to the local community.