RRRWWWFFF      IIInnn      TTThhheee      NNNeeewwwsss      ………        

A  publication  of  the  RHONDA  WALKER  FOUNDATION  rhondawalkerfoundation.org  

Volume  I,  No.  1   Sep.-­‐Oct.  2011  

 

WELCOME!!! G r e e t i n g s , f r i e n d s , family, and supporters of the Rhonda Walker Foundation!

I hope you enjoyed your summer! Welcome to the first RWF newsletter for the year!

As you know, since 2003, the RWF’s dedicated board of directors, mentors, volunteers, and I have been working diligently and passionately to empower inner city teen girls towards becoming strong, confident, successful and moral future leaders. The phenomenal teens in our Girls Into Women Program continue to amaze us as we guide, lead and watch them develop into future leaders.

I’m very eager to update you about the many amazing accomplishments and milestones the RWF has achieved in our 8 years, as well as the wonderful plans and events to come, so please read on!

Rhonda Walker RWF Founder and President

2011 MOVING WITH SUCCESS EMPOWERMENT BRUNCH

Our 7th annual Moving With Success Empowerment Brunch is approaching soon! Set for Sunday, October 23, 2011 from 12 noon until 3 p.m. at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, the theme for this year’s Empowerment Brunch is "Powerful Women of Purpose in Technology." Each of the seven amazing women being honored has reached notable heights in their technological careers.

As always, the RWF teens will serve as poised and confident hostesses for our honorees and guests, giving our teens the chance to s e e h o w hard work a n d dedication c a n t a k e t h e m t o heights yet imagined!

Proceeds f r o m t h e Empowerment Brunch benefit our 5-year, comprehensive Girls Into Women program. You can purchase tickets and participate in this always memorable and fulfilling afternoon by visiting the Empowerment Brunch page on our website. Hope to see you there!

   

 

In The News RHONDA  WALKER  FOUNDATION Page 2    

CAMP “I CAN” Over the beautiful August 19th-21st weekend, we packed up our camping gear, stocked up on insect repellant, and headed off for our most anticipated event of the year, Camp “I Can!”

Every summer, the RWF Teens and a host of volunteers and mentors travel to a peaceful and idyllic campground in Onondaga, Michigan, where we participate in a self-esteem promoting, team building, and leadership enhancing weekend retreat. During this year's weekend of affirming activities, the teens overcame fears, developed strong bonds with one another, and realized many of their inner strengths.

We did this all while enjoying quality time during peer interviewing, story telling, and singing at the top of our lungs around a pleasant bonfire. This weekend always serves as a pivotal time for the girls, and we greatly appreciate all of our sponsors who give our teens the opportunity to experience this unforgettable retreat!

The RWF would like to extend a most gracious thanks to the Merrill Lynch

Women's Exchange for its generous donation to Camp “I Can” This year, each of our 35 teens traveled to Camp I Can with fashionable backpacks filled with much-needed school supplies. We are very grateful to Melissa Spickler, Stacey Cassis, and the Merrill Lynch Women's Exchange for their support!

Camp “I Can!” may be over for this year, but you can still sponsor a teen for next year’s retreat. For more information on how you can sponsor a RWF teen at Camp “I Can” and throughout the year, visit the Camp “I Can" page on our website.  

RWF CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Our efforts to prepare RWF teens for tomorrow's workplace begin with workshops and activities focused on interviewing techniques, financial literacy, resume writing, job shadowing, dressing for success, communication skills, achieving work experience, internships and career planning.

Every year, we visit the offices of a major Detroit area company, so our girls can see firsthand what a day at the office entails. The key components of our Career Development program are job shadowing, our annual Take Your Daughters to Work Day outing, and for the first time this year, the RWF Summer Jobs Program, where four of our teens obtained valuable work experience at Dykema Gossett, a major Detroit law firm.  

   

 

In The News RHONDA  WALKER  FOUNDATION Page 3    

After a humbling weekend in the wilderness at our annual self-esteem building Camp “I Can” followed by intense training at our Annual Etiquette Seminar, on September 18th, the teens finally had a chance to relax from their hard work at our annual Spa Party at Neiman Marcus in Somerset Mall. The teens were able to greet and thank our generous supporters and friends with a day of pampering, cosmetic giveaways, drinks, sweets and treats.

2011 NEIMAN MARCUS SPA PARTY

On this unforgettable and much needed day of relaxation, the guest and teens experienced skin and make up consultations and applications while learning more about coming RWF events. We also thank everyone that purchased our RWF Bling T-shirts at the event. This ongoing T-Shirt campaign raises money for our scholarship fund. Visit the Spa Party page on our website to learn more. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the RWF!  

   

 

In The News RHONDA  WALKER  FOUNDATION Page 4    

RWF IS PROUD TO WELCOME NEW TEENS AND NEW SCHOOLS

In May we said goodbye to our graduating seniors and sent them off prepared to accomplish great things. And although we’ll miss our newest alums, we are excited to welcome the latest incoming 8th graders to the RWF Girls Into Women program. Please join us in extending a warm and heartfelt RWF welcome to our 2011 incoming class: Adrenna and Modesta Doud, Marnette Mahone, Mya Smalley, Heaven Pollard, Amari Spearman, Ronea Bailey, Shalynn Jones, and Dajaron Cook. Welcome, ladies!

This year, in addition to Plymouth Educational Center and Consortium College Preparatory School, we have partnered with two new schools, Detroit International Academy and Sherrill Elementary. We are proud to expand the RWF family and look forward to empowering even more young girls.  

VOLUNTEER OR BECOME A MENTOR

The RWF offers many opportunities to volunteer! Whether it’s mentoring, working directly with our teens in one of our numerous programs, or being a part of the planning process for events and workshops, the ways to get involved are endless. To get information on how you can become a RWF volunteer, please contact Monyka Murphy, RWF Volunteer Committee Chair, at mmurphy@rhondawalkerfoundation.org.

If you would like to mentor a RWF

Teen, please visit the Become a Mentor page on the RWF website or contact Mentor Committee Chairs Terri Bond or Stacie Robinson at:

tbond@rhondawalkerfoundation.org srobinson@rhondawalkerfoundation.org.

WITH GRATITUDE Special thanks to RWF College Intern Blake Benberry (Go, Green!) and Student Volunteer Jennifer Sroka for their hard work in putting together this edition of RWF In The News …. Their contributions were, and are, immeasurable.

RW

   

 

In The News RHONDA  WALKER  FOUNDATION Page 5    

ETIQUETTE TRAINING

On September 11, 2011, the RWF teens participated in valuable training to prepare them for just about any social encounter. Each year, we hold our RWF Etiquette Seminar, which is specifically designed to emphasize all areas of etiquette ranging from table etiquette and proper speaking to walking with grace and confidence.

Over five years, the special focus placed on these important skills at our etiquette seminar, which we reinforce at all of our events, prepares the teens to conquer any setting with poise and dignity. This is only one of the many life lessons our teens take away from our Girls Into Women program.  

HELP THE RWF EMPOWER DETROIT’S TEENS

The Rhonda Walker Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. To make a donation to the RWF, visit the “Donate to RWF” page on our website, rhondawalkerfoundation.org. Donations may also be mailed to:

RHONDA WALKER FOUNDATION P.O. Box 251746

West Bloomfield, MI 48325

Empowering inner city teen girls towards becoming strong, confident, successful and moral future leaders since 2003.

The RWF Motto

R - Respect myself and others

W - Walk with confidence F - Fearless and faithful

   

 

In The News RHONDA  WALKER  FOUNDATION Page 6    

On Saturday, May 14, 2011, the RWF honored our six, beautiful seniors who successfully completed high school and our Girls Into Women program. At our 5th annual Scholar Power Scholarship Breakfast at the Westin Hotel in Southfield, we celebrated the accomplishments of India Bellamy, Briana Mitchell, Khadija Abdur Rahmaan, Mica Randolph, Aleisha Rue, and Camille Yates and presented each of these phenomenal girls with scholarships as they continue their educational endeavors in college.

Family, friends, sponsors and other guests were able to learn more about

the mission of the RWF, hear our teens deliver touching speeches, and gain a greater understanding of our wholistic Girls Into Women program, which has maintained a 100% high school graduation and college enrollment rate! This was a very rewarding day for the RWF. We are so very proud of these beautiful young ladies know that they will pass on the valuable lessons they have learned and become the strong, confident, and moral leaders we know they are.

To learn more about our newest alums, visit the Scholar Power Scholarship Breakfast page on our website.  

WHAT WE’RE ABOUT

Since 2003, the Rhonda Walker Foundation’s mission has been to empower inner city teen girls towards becoming strong, confident, successful and moral future leaders. In that time, we’re proud that 100% of the girls who complete our 5-year Girls Into Women program graduate from high school and go on to college. To find out more about the RWF and Girls Into Women, please visit http://rhondawalkerfoundation.org.

SCHOLAR POWER SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST

   

 

In The News RHONDA  WALKER  FOUNDATION Page 7    

“GIVE AND GET FIT” FUNDRAISER

The RWF and Somerset Collection hosted the inaugural Give and Get Fit event to benefit the RWF on July 24, 2011. This interactive health and fitness fundraiser brought together hundreds of health conscious people and anyone who simply wanted to learn about optimum health for a session of yoga, Pilates, a mall walk, runway Function Show and health fair!

During this amazing event, there were dozens of exhibitors from local health care institutions, markets, and restaurants who provided free products, information and even free health screenings to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Individual tax-deductible donations started at only $24 to participate in what was truly an unforgettable RWF event! We greatly appreciate all of our sponsors including: Detroit Receiving Hospital, Oakwood Hospital, St. John's Hospital, Nth Degree Fitness, Body Pure Studio, Ambassador Magazine, Sam's Club, Scarlett Communications, What Crepe?, and a host of others!

The RWF would also like to thank everyone who gave generous contributions to support our programs, as well as all those who volunteered and assisted to make this event so very special. With the

astounding success of our first Give and Get Fit fundraiser, we are already looking forward to next year! Visit the Photo Gallery page to see from Give and Get Fit.  

RWF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rhonda Walker, President Kim Walker, Vice President Monyka Murphy, Secretary

Lloyd Banks III Terri Bond

Sheree Calhoun Nikki Howard Combs

Dr. Ronald Gillum, Sr., Ph.D. Ron Mims

Stacie G. Robinson T.L. Summerville, Acting Treasurer

Kim Keaton Williams

http://rhondawalkerfoundation.org

 

 

RHONDA  WALKER  FOUNDATION  P.O.  Box  251746  

West  Bloomfield,  MI  48325    

http://rhondawalkerfoundation.org  (800)  652-­‐2989  

®