Thank you, David Ishii and HSBC, for helping women in Washington achieve their dreams!
David Ishii discovered WWIN fourteen years ago – yet he vividly remembers the event where he first heard some of our Star Scholars share their stories. He knew right away that he wanted to get involved. “Seeing these women’s faces and hearing their accomplishments was so meaningful and inspirational to me. Here was actual proof that a person can change her life: she doesn’t have to follow a predetermined route or be held back by her circumstances.”
As Vice President and Senior Branch Manager at HSBC Kirkland, David is a passionate advocate for women’s education within the bank. For the past three years, HSBC has generously supported WWIN as part of its commitment to fostering community and investing in the local economy. David has also organized up to 20 of his colleagues at a time as volunteer Star Scholarship grant reviewers. “Our values line up very well with WWIN’s, especially the importance of the individual, diversity of backgrounds, and providing the opportunity for people to advance and grow.”
For HSBC, supporting women’s education and economic opportunity is a natural fit. Founded in 1865 in Hong Kong as a local bank serving international needs, HSBC has maintained a centuries-long commitment to cultivating hand-in-hand partnerships with the communities surrounding each of its branches. “No one can just be successful alone: our local communities and the areas we live in have to be successful, too. If you have the determination to make a difference, you can gather people and have an impact on those around you. That’s exactly what WWIN does for Washington – each time a woman succeeds, she changes the future for herself and others.”
For David, supporting women’s education is personal – and it’s the key to a better future. “In my opinion, women are the future. I think of my mom, and how she instilled strength, resolve, and determination in myself and my siblings. My parents immigrated from Japan in the 1960s, and English was her second language. Sometimes people didn’t treat her the same way, or they talked down to her. When I was younger, I thought strength meant being physically strong – but now I see what she was talking about: it’s the courage to speak up against injustice, the resolve not to give up, and it’s the determination to advance every day throughout the ups and downs of life.”
David hopes that each WWIN woman continues to follow her dreams throughout her life, well beyond finishing school and starting her career. “My hope for each woman is that she never settles – and that she continues to have the confidence to seek out what she wants to accomplish in life and goes after it.”Thank you, David, for all you have done and continue to do to support WWIN women! We’re so grateful to have you and HSBC as our partners.
Honoring Resilience: Highlights from the FY21 Annual Report
Reflecting on fiscal year 2021, we are more inspired than ever by the resilience and determination of our Star Scholars and by the strength and commitment of WWIN’s community of friends, supporters, and volunteers. As FY21 Board President Lori Cummings writes, “Our Star Scholars have spent their lifetimes dealing in resilience – and their strength and courage were on full display this year – just as our Board, staff, volunteers, and supporters continued to show incredible tenacity and devotion to our mission to help Washington women achieve economic stability through higher education.”
Here are just a few highlights from our FY21 Annual Report:
- WWIN supported 180 Star Scholars last year, among whom 48 have now graduated and 122 have been renewed this year. Despite the numerous challenges posed by remote learning and the disruption of work and family life during the COVID-19 pandemic, 96% of last year’s Scholars have either graduated or stayed on track to graduate.
- WWIN awarded nine Career Launch grants to graduating Star Scholars in FY21, enabling them to work 1:1 with a certified coach and build vital job search and professional skills. Five participants have already found jobs, and all nine reported feeling more confident and prepared to enter their new careers.
- In FY21, we offered seven Activate You online empowerment workshops on a range of topics such as personal branding, salary negotiation, communication and storytelling, self-care, and more.
- Through our March Inspiring Women campaign and our virtual Sip for Stars! event, our community rallied together to support the women of WWIN throughout the year. We are happy to report that WWIN’s fundraising has remained strong this year, and we are so grateful for our donors’ steadfast support.
Thank you for sharing this journey with us. Each woman whose life is transformed through higher education changes the world for her family and her community – and the impact of your support can last for generations. We invite you to explore more of how you have made a difference for Washington women in FY21 by reading our full annual report.
This GivingTuesday, November 30th, will you help a woman change her life for the better?
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity. It starts with individuals like you who can make a meaningful difference right here in Washington. This GivingTuesday, we hope you’ll consider supporting the women of WWIN as they pursue their higher education.
Your gift can empower a woman in Washington to fulfill her dream of a college degree and achieve a lifetime of economic stability through a living wage career. Each gift – in any amount – helps make life-changing scholarship and career support possible.
Here are just a few ways you can make a difference on GivingTuesday and every day:
Did you know that you can also support WWIN automatically when you shop at Amazon? Choose WWIN as your preferred charity and a portion of every dollar you spend will go toward empowering Washington women.
Thank you for everything you do to help the women of WWIN succeed!
