The Athena Society extends its resources to promote equality and opportunity for women through various projects, awards, and grants. Two of our annually recurring projects involve the Phyllis Marshall Career Assistance Grants Program, which are grants awarded to striving college women, and recognizing outstanding high school students through the Dr. Sylvia Richardson Young Women of Promise Program.
The Athena Society annually awards career assistance grants to deserving Hillsborough County women who need support to reach their educational goals. Funded through the Athena Society’s Women’s Educational Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Inc., these grants are used by the recipients to advance their career progress. In 2005, the grants were renamed in memory of Phyllis P. Marshall, a long-standing Athena member and past President (1987-88) whose career embodied a great fondness and advocacy for students pursuing their educational and career dreams.
We are also pleased to award a Beth Waters Friendship Fund scholarship. Beth was an enthusiastic Athena member who valued education. In 2007, her family, friends and co-workers established a charitable fund to honor her memory. We are proud that the Athena Scholarship program is a beneficiary of this special fund.
The Athena Community Foundation Committee selects grant recipients. The committee is also responsible for developing and implementing a plan to facilitate the growth of the fund and acts as primary liason with the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.
Donations to the Phyllis Marshall Career Assistance Grants Program are tax deductible.
The Young Women of Promise program is a long-standing tradition of Athena to recognize and support young women who are contributing members of their communities and demonstrate promise for even greater achievement. This program honors young women in their junior year of high school for their academic, athletic, community service and other achievements. Â These remarkable teenagers are selected from throughout the Tampa Bay community and are stellar models of young leadership.