The mission of the Education Foundation of the Florida Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc. (EFBPWC) is to build at least one scholarship house on the campus of every state university in Florida to provide housing for female university students.

In 1965, Donna Stover Morris had a dream. She dreamed that one day she would graduate from Florida State University and become a Teacher. There was only one problem. She couldn't afford to live on campus. Fortunately for Donna, she wasn't the only dreamer in town. The women of the Education Foundation of the Florida Federation of Business & Professional Women's (BPW) Clubs had big, big thoughts. They set out to build at least one scholarship house on the campus of every university in Florida to provide housing for female university students just like Donna.

In 1965, along with 20 other young women, Donna would live in the first BPW scholarship house in Tallahassee. The BPW Scholarship house provides "home away from home" housing for female students with a demonstrated financial need and outstanding academic records. It is a cooperative living/learning facility, in which residents share good times, leadership experiences, life skills development and family community. Students live rent free, paying only for food, housekeeping needs and utilities. Each house also includes a mini suite for a 'resident counselor' who is responsible to see that the house operates smoothly and efficiently.

All these years later, Donna still relishes her Scholarship house experience.
"Living in that cooperative environment was an education unto itself,
invaluable in lessons learned only in communal living, working, sharing and studying."

Throughout the years, the Education Foundation has almost exclusively raised funds from within the BPW membership. Annual fund-raisers are held by each local organization. In the early years, members were asked to contribute 25 cents per month to a piggy bank and then bring the piggy banks to our annual conference. This event of "calling in the pigs" became fondly known as "Hawg Callin'". The "Hawg Callin'" tradition still continues today.

Our dynamic state-wide membership contributes generously throughout the year. However, with construction costs of new scholarship houses on the rise, our short term goal is to escalate the number of completed houses within a reduced time frame.

It is not enough to seek funds just from within an organization. It is vital for the Education Foundation to seek donations from outside BPW.

Click on the links below to learn more about the Education Foundation.

IRS 990 report available at www.guidestar.org.