About the event
The annual ‘YWA on the Fairway’ golf event funds scholarships awarded annually to Del Valle ISD High School seniors.
This year, we raised more than $11,000 at the third-annual ‘YWA on the Fairway’ event hosted November 5, 2023, at the Falconhead Golf Club in Austin, TX.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Future Women Leader’s Fund (FWLF), which supports the YWA Scholarship Program for underserved young women in the Austin metro area.
Why this event matters
According to a 2022 study, 78 percent of young people who grow up in underserved communities don’t obtain a postsecondary degree or attend a technical school after high school. As an organization dedicated to empowering women+ in the Austin area for more than 20 years, YWA has partnered with Del Valle ISD for the past three years to offer the YWA Scholarship Program to help remove the barriers to postsecondary education for local students, including those who identify as a member of the LGBTQIA community; Black, Indigenous, and students of color; first-generation students; students with disabilities; and students from low-income families.
“The Young Women’s Alliance has really helped to make our students great by providing equitable resources for our future women leaders,” says Ricky Perez, College and Career Readiness Counselor/ College and Career Center Supervisor. “We’re grateful for their continued support, not only in the form of scholarships but also through volunteering their time to mentor and inspire our students.”
This past year, the program awarded $5,000 scholarships to seven Del Valle ISD High School seniors. Each scholarship will be awarded over two semesters, to support these young women through their entire first year of college.
“Opportunity and resources are crucial ingredients for post-secondary degree attainment, so by providing these scholarships, we hope to be a part of the systematic change needed to provide greater access for the young women in our community,” says YWA 2023-2024 president Britanny Sharkey.
What else does YWA’s FWLF support?
The YWA Scholarship Program is just one of the programs supported by the YWA’s FWLF, which also supports YWA Connect and an annual community non-profit grant.
Through local partnerships and a team of 400+ member volunteers, to date YWA has awarded more than $200K in scholarships to young women in need, given more than $60K in community grants to local nonprofits on a shared mission, and cultivated more than 380 mentor relationships.
Huge shout out to supporters
“We’re honored to have received such immense support to make this event a success,” says Sharkey. “From all the local businesses that donated, the YWA members – all volunteers – who gave their time and expertise, to the members of the community that showed up to spend their Saturday morning with us, it was a combined effort for a great cause.”
Want to get involved?
If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved, please contact: Samantha Nowak, publicrelations@youngwomensalliance.org
