Approximately 400 women, described as “truly a representation of every walk of life in the High Country,” attended the Third Annual Power of the Purse Luncheon on Friday, September 12 at The Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone, sponsored by the High Country Women’s Fund.  Doors opened at 10:30 am for the highly anticipated jewelry auction preview and social reception followed by lunch and  “powerful” personal testimonies from three young women whose lives have been turned around in the last year. Thanks in large part to the HCWF, its partnering agencies and the women working therein, the trio shared how each of their individual journeys to success would not have been possible without Power of the Purse.

Created in May 2006, the HCWF, an initiative of the High Country United Way, is a “giving circle” of caring and committed women who sincerely want to help other women move toward self-sufficiency.

Though an independent, autonomous fund, HCWF operates under the umbrella of High Country United Way, which provides a great networking with partnering agencies, and helps keep overhead and administrative costs to a minimum.  The money raised by HCWF, though events such as POP, help support Avery and Watauga Country women in need through funding and service projects in many critically needed areas such as transportation, childcare, education, housing, personal needs, prevention, etc.

A spokesperson for HCWF states, “All the funds raised here stay here! We concentrate our efforts on the many women and children in need in Avery and Watauga counties.”

The Power of Their Stories

Brittanty Poe:

“My journey of motherhood started at 16 when I was a senior in high school. Despite the fact that I gave birth to a child at a young age I graduated high school with my class. Three years ago, I decided to attend college at Caldwell Community College There I met Jane Lentz who was my financial aid counselor. At the time, I was working two jobs along with taking care of a child who had severe medical problems. I have spent many hours driving back and forth to Duke Medical Center and sometimes days and nights at the hospital with my son as we worked our way through countless medical crises.  At this time in our lives, the doctors believed that my son’s MRSA might have affected his bones and his heart. One year after starting college, I came to my breaking point. The stress of school, work and taking care of a sick child alone had taken its toll. The first place that I went was to see Jane; who at this point was not only my advisor, but also my greatest source of inspiration. She assured me that I could make it through. At times when I felt I had nowhere to turn I would call or go see her and she would help me get through another day. Jane and I sat down in her office and tried to find a way for me to add to my income and not be overworked. Then, Jane arranged financial assistance for me through the High Country Women’s Fund.  I was awarded a scholarship, which helped me with unmet needs.   Although I was receiving Pell Grants, which paid for books and tuition, it did not cover day-to- day living expenses, such as gas and any incurred medical expenses.  She also suggested that I try a work-study job, which happened to be at WAMY Community Action. This is where I met other women who continue to make a difference in my life. Thanks to the help of High Country Women’s fund and WAMY, I am able to focus less on financial stresses and more on my goals and responsibilities of raising a child with special needs. Thanks to the strong women in my life I stand here before you a graduate of Caldwell Community College and student of Appalachian State University. Without your support, love, guidance, and financial assistance I fear my goals and dreams would be out of reach.”
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I am Cursty McLean and would not be here today without the support of the Parents as Teachers and The Women’s Fund.   I am 18 and I have 2 beautiful boys 2 ½  and 1 ½ .
My mom was 14 when she had my sister and 15 when she had me.  She was so young she was not ready to become a mom yet so my grandmother raised us for most of our lives.  When I became pregnant and dropped out of school I did not have very much support from my family so when I met Robin, coordinator for the Parents as Teachers program, she was really like a mom to me.  She taught me how to be a better mom to Jason and Levi and has helped me through many hard decisions.

Since I was a young girl I have always wanted to work at Watauga Medical Center. When I had my boys there I really appreciated the nursing staff and the doctors.  I want to be a RN in the birthing center to give back some of what I got from my experiences.

I love my children but sometimes I imagine what my life might have been like.  I would be graduating this year and right now preparing to go to college to a nursing program.

I have now graduated with my GED and am currently in a CNA program.  I will graduate the first week of October.  I hope to work for about a year as a CNA then enroll in school to begin the process to become a registered nurse.  I am half way to my dream.  This would not have been possible without Robin coming to pick me up and take me home each day or without the child-care provided by the Women’s Fund during GED program. I want to be a good mom to my kids and I know that I am already on the right path.
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Diane Mazza-Costa:

I RELOCATED TO THE HIGH COUNTRY AFTER LEAVING AN UNHEALTHY MARRIAGE, WITH THREE SMALL CHILDREN. I HAD BEEN A STAY AT HOME MOM AND HAD FEW MARKETABLE JOB SKILLS. ?
AFTER A FEW YEARS I REMARRIED BUT CONTINUED TO SEE FINANCIAL STRAIN, AND REALIZED ONE OF US HAD TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO I SAID TO MYSELF, “SELF, IN FOUR YEARS YOU CAN BE DOING THE SAME THING YOU ARE DOING NOW OR YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT EITHER WAY YOU WILL BE FOUR YEARS OLDER.” AT THAT POINT MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED ON NEW JOURNEYS. HIS TOOK HIM TO FLORIDA WITH ANOTHER WOMAN. MINE TOOK ME TO ASU AT THE AGE OF 40, AS A MOTHER OF THREE AND GRANDMOTHER OF ONE. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY AND INTIMIDATING VENTURE FOR ME. ?

I KNEW I HAD TO FINISH WHAT I STARTED FOR MY FAMILY TO RISE ABOVE POVERTY. I ALSO KNEW I HAD TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR MY CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EDUCATION.

THEY SAW ME STRUGGLE BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND FINACIALLY TO GET THROUGH. I ATTENDED SCHOOL FULL TIME, WORKED THREE JOBS, WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN 6 HONOR SOCIETIES, STARTED AN ORGANIZATION ON CAMPUS FOR NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS (NOTSO), TO GIVE ME THE SUPPORT I NEEDED TO GET THROUGH AND STAYED UP ALL NIGHT DOING HOMEWORK. MANY TIMES MY CHILDREN HELPED ME, ESPECIALLY WITH MY ALGEBRA. WE SHARED MANY TEARS DURING THIS TIME, AS I FEARED I COULD GO NO FURTHER, BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT AS A FAMILY.
I REACHED A POINT WHERE I HAD TO BURY MY PRIDE AND ASK FOR HELP. THIS WAS VERY HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS RAISED TO BELIEVE THAT, THAT WAS NOT THE THING TO DO.?
I FOUND WAMY. FOR 3 1/2 YEARS THEY HELPED ME BOTH FINANCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. THEY ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN A RESOURCE CENTER. THEY ARE MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY. COLLEEN HAS WORN MANY HATS FOR ME, MOTHER, COUNSELOR, FINANCIAL ADVISOR, AND MOTIVATOR.
THROUGH MY CLOSE AFFILIATION WITH THEM I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE HIGH COUNTRY WOMENS FUND. THEY ARE A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO ARE BLESSED FIANCIALLY AND HAVE THE HEARTS TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TO HELP OTHERS LIKE MYSELF. THE HCWF HAVE PAID FOR ME TO TAKE A GRADUATE CLASS NECESSARY FOR MY CAREER AND SPONSORED A STRESS MANAGEMENT CLASS, WHICH I WAS ASKED TO ATTEND, TO HELP ME TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY LIFE. EVRYONE HERE HAS BEEN SUCH A BLESSING TO ME AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT YOUR GENEROSITY.

I AM NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE BUT I AM NO LONGER WHERE I WAS.

 IN MAY 2008 I GRADUATED SUMMA CUM LAUDE WITH A DEGREE IN HEALTH EDUCATION, THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO A UNIVERSITY. I AM VERY PROUD OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND NOW I HAVE NEW GOALS:
TO BE EMPLOYED IN MY FIELD
TO BE SITTING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PODIUM PAYING IT FORWARD TO THE NEXT AWESOME YOUNG WOMAN READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD.
 
THANK YOU