Celebrate Women’s Equality Day!

This Friday, August 26, U.S. women, and all U.S. citizens, have something to celebrate: Women’s Equality Day! Why is this day important?

It all Began in Upstate New York

In July 1848, at the Seneca Falls Convention in upstate New York, women’s rights activists, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton (pictured left) and Lucretia Mott, met to discuss women’s rights and other issues. At the end of the convention, twelve resolutions were adopted calling for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women. This convention gave strength to an often dangerous struggle by women to secure the right to vote. After seventy-two years they were successful and on August 26, 1920 Congress voted in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote. Supporters of the 19th Amendment were jubilant but many felt it was only the beginning for women’s rights.

Women’s Equality Day Resolution & the Equal Rights Amendment

In 1971, during a time of national push for adopting the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), Rep. Bella Abzug, Democrat from New York, introduced a Congressional Resolution to designate August 26 Women’s Equality Day. It easily passed and encouraged supporters in their fight for passage of ERA. View the Resolution.

The ERA was first introduced in 1920 after the passage of the 19th Amendment but has yet to be adopted. It passed Congress in 1972 but to supporter’s dismay failed to meet the 1982 deadline for ratification by the states. For more background, watch this video of Gloria Steinem reflecting on the Women's Rights Movement.

Creating Opportunities for Change at United Way

The women who fought for voter rights at the turn of the century felt that education of women was essential for their equality and advancement. At United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, through donor support we fund education projects that help children and youth achieve their potential. These include projects that specifically address educational challenges for girls. To learn more and join us in this work, visit our website.

Test your knowledge of the struggle for women's right to vote by taking the NWHP Women's Equality Day Quiz.

Will you be participating in any Women's Day activities this year? If so, let us know by commenting on this blog post or on the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Facebook or Twitter pages.

Portland Non-Profits Scramble to Prevent Increase in Homeless Families after Federal Budget Cuts

The statistics are telling. In the metro area, over 550,000 people live in poverty, including 17,500 seniors. Many of those experiencing poverty work minimum wage jobs that just don’t provide enough income to cover the basics like food, rent and utilities. As a result, 30% seek monthly food assistance just to get by. Unemployment, evictions and rising costs for basic needs mean that more of our neighbors, coworkers and friends are living on the edge – some for the first time in their lives.

Thanks to our donor’s support, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is able to respond. In collaboration with local agencies, United Way’s Community Relief Fund helped stabilize almost 60,000 families in crises in 2011.


United Way’s Community Relief Fund supports local agencies working to fill the gap but many of these agencies also rely on another funding from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). EFSP, a collaboration between the federal government and non-profits like United Way, has provided regional funding for agencies that serve families in crises for 28 years. This year the Portland metro area’s $1.3 million in funding from EFSP was cut, leaving local agencies scrambling to provide emergency services to area families. You can help!

Here’s what you can do!!

Contact Congress: urge them to take action to reconsider their funding cuts to this vital program that provides for those most in need of support.

Tell Your Friends: Share this blog post through Facebook, Twitter and email.

Stay in Touch: Sign up for our email newsletter and stay informed.

Donate to the Community Relief Fund: Your donations will make a difference!