WISE Women of Blair County

10/07/2026

💜 Here's Another Grant Impact Story from WISE Women of Blair County!

WISE Women Grants help local organizations address critical needs in our communities, and the impact can be seen in programs like In a Pinch at the Roaring Spring Community Library.

Michelle McIntyre shared:
"The WISE Women of Blair County grant helped our organization provide free women's hygiene supplies to individuals experiencing financial hardship. By ensuring access to these essential items, we helped reduce period poverty, preserve dignity, and remove barriers that can affect health, school, work, and everyday life."

Through initiatives like In a Pinch, WISE Women Grants help ensure that essential hygiene products are available to those who need them most, making a meaningful difference in the lives of women and families throughout our community.

Interested in applying for a WISE Women Grant? Learn more and submit your application today:

🔗 https://www.wisewomenofblaircounty.org/grants.html

⏰ Applications are due October 23rd!

10/07/2026

Here's another scholarship opportunity for adult Blair County women. Thanks GFWC Hollidaysburg Area Women's Club!

The GFWC Hollidaysburg Area Women's Club offers a scholarship opportunity of up to $1000 for an adult woman who returns to school to improve her life and her community. To be eligible for the Adult Woman's Scholarship, the candidate must be a resident of Blair County and experienced at least a two-year lapse in time between high school graduation or obtainment of a GED and enrollment in a college, business/vocational school, or other post-secondary institution.

More information, as well as the scholarship application, can be accessed on the GFWC HAWC website gfwchollidaysburgwomensclub.com

Applications and essays are due no later than November 15, 2026 and can be submitted either on-line or through the US mail at the address listed on the application. Interviews will be conducted and the Adult Woman's Scholarship recipient will be announced by the end of the year.

For more information, please contact the GFWC HAWC Education & Libraries Committee via email at [email protected].

09/28/2026

💜 WISE Women Members — You’re Invited! 💜

Please join the WISE Women of Blair County Board of Directors for our 18th Annual Membership Meeting as we gather to celebrate another year of supporting and empowering women throughout Blair County.

📅 Monday, October 19, 2026
📍 Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
1210 11th Ave., Altoona
🥂 5:30 p.m. — Reception
💜 6:00 p.m. — Annual Business Meeting

We’re excited to welcome our featured speaker, Carolyn Donaldson, Vice President of Kish Bank and Community Engagement & Relationship Development Officer.
Members will also hear updates on WISE Women’s activities and financial status, connect with our Board of Directors, and spend time with the incredible women who make our organization and its mission possible. Light refreshments will be available.

Not a member yet? We’d love to have you! Membership can be obtained through the WISE Women of Blair County website, or you may bring cash or a check to the meeting.

📩 Please RSVP by October 12 to [email protected].
We hope to see you there! 💜

09/25/2026

The scholarship deadline has been extended to Friday, October 9!

Know someone eligible? Encourage them to apply TODAY! ✅️📖

🎓 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN! 💜

WISE Women of Blair County and the Donna D. Gority Scholarship are now applications!

💰 One or more scholarships will be awarded, up to a total of $10,000.

Scholarships are available to Blair County women age 21 or older who have overcome adversity or discrimination and are pursuing post-secondary education.

📅 Application Deadline:
Friday, September 25, 2026, by 4 PM.

Every eligible application will automatically be considered for both the WISE Women Scholarship and the Donna D. Gority Scholarship.

📩 Completed applications may be submitted by email to [email protected] or mailed to:

WISE Women of Blair County
P.O. Box 134
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

✨ Your past does not define your future. If continuing your education is part of your next chapter, we encourage you to apply.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with a woman who may benefit from this opportunity! 💜

09/24/2026

💜 Here's Another Grant Impact Story from WISE Women of Blair County!

WISE Women Grants help local nonprofits make a lasting impact on the children and families they serve. One example is the JUMC Angel Feet Ministry, which provides children with sneakers, socks, and a brand-new book to take home.

Dee Martin Spallone shared:
"WISE Women of Blair County provides grants to support area non-profits. JUMC Angel Feet Ministry received a WISE Women Grant to provide books to children as part of the JUMC Angel Feet Ministry of providing sneakers, socks and a new book to participants. JUMC Angel Feet Ministry is grateful for the continued support of the grant opportunity to offer children brand new books for their homes."

Through the support of WISE Women of Blair County, Angel Feet is helping children not only walk into the school year with confidence, but also build a love of reading by providing books they can call their own.

📚 Interested in applying for a WISE Women Grant?
Learn more and apply today: 🔗 https://www.wisewomenofblaircounty.org/grants.html

⏰ Grant applications are due Friday, October 23!

09/14/2026

💜 WISE Women Grant Applications Are Open! 💜

Each year, WISE Women of Blair County is proud to support local nonprofits that are making a difference in the lives of women, children, and families throughout our community.

The next few weeks, we'll be sharing stories from past recipients to highlight the impact these grants have had across Blair County.
Our first spotlight comes from Typani, Founder of Bookworms Against Bullies:

"The WISE Women of Blair County grant helped Bookworms Against Bullies expand our book donation program and offer free community events, allowing us to put more books into the hands of children while fostering empathy, kindness, and inclusion through literacy."

Through their dedication to literacy and anti-bullying efforts, Bookworms Against Bullies is helping create a more compassionate community, one book at a time.

Stay tuned throughout the coming weeks as we highlight more inspiring stories from organizations that have benefited from WISE Women Grants.

📅 Grant applications open September 1, 2026.

🔗 Learn more about the grant program: https://www.wisewomenofblaircounty.org/grants.html

09/11/2026

25 years later, we remember. 🇺🇸

We remember the lives lost. We remember the heroes who ran toward danger. We remember the families whose lives changed forever. And we remember how, in the days that followed, we came together as one.

May we never forget September 11, 2001 — the lives, the courage, the sacrifice, and the strength of a nation united. ❤️🤍💙

06/22/2026

🎓✨ Investing in Women. Empowering Futures. ✨🎓

WISE Women of Blair County is proud to announce the recipients of our Spring 2026 Scholarship Awards!

This scholarship program supports Blair County women age 21 and older who have overcome adversity or discrimination and are pursuing post-secondary education. Through our partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation, we awarded a total of $17,000 to seven inspiring women who are pursuing their educational and career goals.

Congratulations to:
🌟 Alainy Liang – The Altoona Beauty School (M & T Scholarship)
🌟 Libby Keller – Bennington College (WISE Scholarship)
🌟 April Ruehle – Penn State World Campus (WISE Scholarship & Donna D. Gority Scholarship)
🌟 Erin Harlow – Penn State Altoona (WISE Scholarship)
🌟 Abigail Dean – Penn State Altoona (Donna D. Gority Scholarship)
🌟 Ivy Powles – Penn State Altoona (WISE & Santella Scholarships)
🌟 Lydia Seltzer – Juniata College (WISE Scholarship)

These remarkable women represent resilience, determination, and the power of education to transform lives. We are honored to support their journeys and cannot wait to see all they accomplish.

💜 A special thank you to the Santella Family in honor of Mildred Santella (2008 Business & Professional Tribute honoree) for their generous support of women pursuing higher education. Partnerships like yours help make educational opportunities possible and create lasting impact in our community.

📚 Interested in applying?
Our Fall 2026 scholarship application opens soon. Check back for application deadlines.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding scholarship recipients! 💜

06/17/2026

Join WISE Women for Symphony Night at PNG Field!

Celebrate America's 250th anniversary with an evening of patriotic music, community, and fireworks as the Altoona Symphony takes the stage at PNG Field!

📅 Saturday, June 20
🎟️ Free & open to the public
🚪 Gates open: 6:15 p.m.
🎺 Altoona Community Band: 6:30 p.m.
🎻 Altoona Symphony: 7:30 p.m.
🎆 Fireworks to follow!

Want to sit with fellow WISE Women members? Meet Membership Chair Barbara Thaler inside the main gate off Park Avenue between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. She'll be holding a WISE Women sign so you can easily find the group.

📸 After the Altoona Community Band's performance, join Barbara and other members at the Information Booth on the Concourse Level (near where the band is playing) for a group photo!

Not a WISE Women member yet? We'd love to have you join us! Visit www.wisewomenofblaircounty.org to learn more about membership and upcoming events.

We hope to see you there for an unforgettable evening of music, friendship, and celebration! ❤️🤍💙