Six years ago in 2014, Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation (GWPF) made the decision to host a 5K Charity walk in Washington, D.C. The purpose was to raise awareness, inform and educate the American public on the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), and its presence in the United States.
In the last two years the organization announced and opened registration for the Walk To End FGM in the month of May. However this year they decided to get a head-start, and open registration and fundraising in the first month of the year. This October 19th , GWPF will be joined by several of its partner organizations and supporters on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the 6th time; they will make their voices heard by letting the excisers and traditional societies know that the practice of FGM has no place in the United States and neither in the rest of the world.
Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation is encouraging walk participants to form teams and join in the fundraising efforts to support FGM survivors and at-risk girls. The proceeds from this year’s Walk To End FGM will support the Lisa C. Bruch Scholarship Fund to educate girls in West Africa, who have either already experienced FGM or are at risk of it. The scholarship fund was named in memory of the late Lisa C. Bruch who left this world in December 2018. Lisa was a dedicated Board Advisor and Donor of GWPF. She believed that only through education, the practice of FGM would be discontinued.
In order for girls in West Africa to be eligible for the Lisa C. Bruch Scholarship, they must maintain a certain grade point average, and their parents must guarantee that the girls will not undergo FGM. If a girl has already undergone FGM, and she has a younger sister who has not undergone FGM, the parents will be expected to agree that the uncut daughter will be protected from FGM, in order for the older daughter to be considered for the scholarship. This scholarship fund is a way to help discourage the continuation of the practice of FGM. Just as in previous years, the three teams that raise the most amounts will be presented with first, second and third prizes.
Effective this Friday, February 1st the registration site will be live and ready for your registration and the setting up of your teams. You will receive an automatic discount if you register early and take advantage of the “early bird special”. To be a part of the event, register at https://www.globalwomanpeacefoundation.org and click on “Register to Walk”. Get involved and participate by choosing one of the following.
- Form a team and invite others to join your team and help raise funds
- Join a team that is already formed
- Register as an individual participant
- Register as a virtual participant and help raise funds (if you are unable to attend)
- Sponsor a team or an individual participant or sponsor the event
- Be a Partner Organization with Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation in the Walk to End FGM
- Register as a volunteer
You have the ability to create and manage your own personal page, share your photos, goals and get sponsors. If you would like to sponsor a participant, visit the site for more details at http://www.globalwomanpeacefoundation.com. If you have further questions, please contact info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org Sponsors can submit their contributions online by credit cards on the sponsored participant’s personalized page found on the registration site. The sponsors will need to select the names of the sponsored participants.
Even if you have never fundraised before, the available materials and strategies will make it easy for you to solicit and collect sponsors from friends, family, colleagues, co-workers, neighbors, and others. Experience has shown that it is not only possible, but enjoyable, to set and reach your goals. Sample letters will be provided on your personal fundraising page center, that explains the programs which the walk-A-thon supports and you will be surprised to see how quickly friends, family, and co-workers will respond to your request to help this much needed cause. Just remember to make it personal as well, as you want them to know that they are sponsoring YOU and YOUR efforts! And, as many companies offer charitable donation matching programs, make sure to ask your sponsors to check with their employers, as it will help you meet your goal even more quickly.
Volunteers Needed – Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation is in search of volunteers for their 6th annual Walk To End FGM in the nation’s capital on Saturday, October 19, 2018. Volunteers’ responsibilities are: Arrive early, set-up, on-site registration, t-shirt and bag distribution, oversee donations, supervision of the tables, coordinate pre-walk ceremony, seat speakers and guests, coordinate photo-ops and pre-walk interviews. All volunteers will have free registration for the walk. If you are interested in being a volunteer for the Walk To End FGM send an email to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org and put in the subject line, “Volunteer”. You may also call with questions to (703) 832-2642.
Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. As such, your donations and registration fees are tax deductible to the maximum extent required by law.
Comments and questions to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org or call (703) 818-3787
