A History of Philanthropy

Our Mission: Business and Professional Women of Orlando Education Fund is a not for profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships for women’s educational opportunities.

Our Values: We believe in supporting women in all aspects of their lives and strive to help women achieve their professional aspirations. Toward that end, our scholarships support women seeking formal education, professional certifications or vocational training.

Our Goals: BPW women know how to raise money, and we seek to contribute fundraising dollars directly  to women’s scholarships.

 


Our History

In the 1960’s, women across America were seeking career opportunities and equality.   A group of Orlando women recognized the need to establish an organization that would serve as a beacon for the working women of Central Florida. 

With the force of American’s oldest working women’s organization, Business and Professional Women USA, that small group of Floridians established BPW/Orlando.  Today, BPW Orlando continues to serve the professional, political and philanthropic needs of Orlando women. www.bpworlando.org

But the group didn’t stop there.  In 1965, the BPW women of Florida banned together and established an education foundation that purchased and built on-campus homes for young women to reside while attending college.  BPW Orlando women dedicated their support to the BPW UCF Scholarship House, a lower cost option for women attending the University of Central Florida.  www.educationfoundationbpwfl.org

Today BPW/Orlando continues to be the driving force behind mentoring and providing for the young women of the BPW UCF Scholarship House. 

In 2007, several BPW/Orlando executive members decided that BPW Orlando women needed more flexibility in providing for women’s educational needs.   The dream of an annual fund raising gala was born.   The monies raised at this annual event would secure the financial future of the BPW UCF Scholarship House, and provide a means for expanding the vision of supporting women seeking higher education. 

These women recognized that in order to guarantee fundraising efforts would remain forever dedicated towards women’s education; they needed to start their own fund.   And so the Business and Professional Women of Orlando Education Fund was established.