T. Boone Pickens Foundation $100,000 Sponsorship To Enhance Peace through Business Programs by IEEW
May 26th, 2008 Posted by Catherine NeillFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Jennifer Dennis-Smith
405-516-9686
[email protected]
T. Boone Pickens Foundation $100,000 Sponsorship To Enhance
International “Peace Through Business” Programs By
The Institute For Economic Empowerment Of Women
OKLAHOMA CITY (May XX, 2008) — The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) has announced the continued support from the T. Boone Pickens Foundation at the Global Ambassador Sponsorship level. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment of women throughout the world, IEEW oversees the Peace through Business program that brings women from other countries to the United States for an intense three-week course of study at a major university and one week of mentorship with American women business owners.
“We are grateful to the T. Boone Pickens Foundation for their continued support in helping women in the United States and abroad to be more successful, empowered entrepreneurs by giving them the mentorship and tools to help their businesses grow,” said IEEW Founder and CEO Terry Neese. “The T. Boone Pickens Foundation’s generous gift has made it possible for us to strengthen international economies and democracy through the Peace through Business program.”
The organization began its groundbreaking Peace through Business program in 2007 by partnering with the U.S. State Department and the US/Afghan Women’s Council to host 12 women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan. IEEW is planning another historic milestone by bringing 15 Rwandan business women to study at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, OK., in July. Also in July, IEEW will bring another 15 Afghan women who will participate in the comprehensive entrepreneurship program at Northwood University in Midland, MI.
Mr. Pickens, through his foundation and personal giving has given more than $600 million in recent years to a wide range of causes, making him one of the nation’s most generous philanthropists.
IEEW also organizes the popular Empowering Women, a one-day training course that encourages women business owners to become more active in public policy advocacy. Held in five major cities throughout the U.S., the Empowering Women workshops demonstrate how women can make a difference in their communities by tapping into local, state and federal elected officials.
Additional support for IEEW is provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the US State Department, the US/Afghan Women’s Council, and other private donations .
For more information about IEEW and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.ieew.org.
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About IEEW
The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization empowering women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial ventures and become more active public policy advocates. The Institute accomplishes this mission by focusing on education, mentorship, and coaching women in the United States and abroad who are seeking to acquire entrepreneurial skills to help start and grow a business.
About the T. Boone Pickens Foundation
The T. Boone Pickens Foundation improves lives through grants supporting education, medical research/development and services, athletics and corporate wellness, at-risk youths, the entrepreneurial process, conservation and wildlife programs and a wide-range of public policy initiatives.
“We’ve always worked to give back to the community, and this continues that tradition and allows us to move forward with a greater philanthropic focus,” Mr. Pickens explained in forming the Dallas-based foundation in 2006. The foundation does not accept unsolicited letters, emails or calls of inquiry. The grant application is by invitation only, through a request for proposal process. Grant recipients must be invited to apply by a member or members of the foundation committee.
Jay Rosser
214-265-4165
www.tboonepickensfoundation.org