Being designated as a Named Gift Honoree is a very special American Association Of University Women (AAUW) honor. A Named Gift is a special way to pay tribute to an individual, a group, or an organization giving extraordinary service to AAUW. This year the local Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon Branch opted to give Named Gift Awards to two local organizations and one Oakdale business rather than to Branch members as in the past. At the last meeting of the Branch’s current year, awards were presented to Soroptimist International of Oakdale, The Riverbank Federated Women’s Club, and Jerry and Barbara Marquis of Corporate Development, Incorporated.
Since 2006, both Soroptimist International of Oakdale and The Riverbank Federated Women’s Club have contributed substantial amounts to AAUW’s Tech Trek program. Tech Trek is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) camp designed to develop interest, excitement, and self-confidence in young women who will enter eighth grade in the fall. It features hands-on activities in STEM-related fields. As a result of funds raised by AAUW, ORE and the munificence of these two organizations, 10 young women in the Oakdale, Riverbank, and Escalon area receive camperships to attend Tech Trek on the California State University Fresno campus each year.
Corporate Development, Incorporated with Jerry and Barbara Marquis, have supported AAUW’s mission driven programs such as Tech Trek, Speech Trek, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, and more in many ways for many years through their extraordinary gifts of time, hard work and financial generosity.
Representatives from Soroptimist International of Oakdale were unable to attend the awards ceremony but the other two honorees – Riverbank Federated Women’s Club and Corporate Development, did have recipients on hand to be presented with the honor.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. Since 1881, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day – educational, social, economic and political. Graduates holding an associates or higher degree from an institution of the AAUW list of qualified institutions and persons holding an honorary degree are eligible for membership in AAUW. For further information about AAUW, log on to www.aauw.org. Information about AAUW, ORE is at http://ore-ca.aauw.net.
