Each year, the West Chester-Chester County Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) selects a local organization that supports its mission of advancing equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.

In early May, the Chester County Department of Community Development’s Deputy Director, Dolores Colligan, accepted the 2019 AAUW Gateway to Equity Award on behalf of the Decade to Doorways (D2D) Partnership.

Chester County’s D2D women’s shelters have been selected as beneficiaries of this award, including:

• Community, Youth, and Women’s Alliance
• Domestic Violence Center of Chester County
• Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children
• Safe Harbor of Chester County

“On behalf of Friends Association, we thank AAUW for recognizing and supporting the collective work being done in our community to end homelessness as we know it,” said Jennifer Lopez, Friends Association Executive Director. “We are thrilled to have the support of AAUW and look forward to an exciting year of collaboration.”

AAUW members will now provide services to these organizations, which may include assistance with obtaining frequently, used items for the shelters, planning small fundraising events or silent auctions, and other volunteer activities. AAUW’s support will begin in September 2019 and last through June 2020.