Inna Shames and Margie Barber
The Women of Quail Creek’s (TWOQC) highly successful Scholarship Matching Funds Program just launched its third year!
What Is the Scholarship Matching Funds Program?
In late 2023, a small group of donors had a large vision. Wanting to help grow the TWOQC Scholarship Program, they offered a unique incentive: a donation of $40,000, which was to be used as a 2 to 1 matching fund for other TWOQC Scholarship donations. So, for every $100 donated, the group would donate $200 more. Within a few months, and despite minimal fanfare, over $20,000 was collected from hundreds of donors, large and small, and the end result? Over $60,000 was added to the 2024 Scholarship Fund!
A Quick History of TWOQC Scholarships:
• It started in 2016 when two scholarships totaling $2,000 were awarded to two high school seniors.
• In 2021 TWOQC became a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to more effectively fulfill its mission as “… a Community of Women Dedicated to Learning, Giving, and Engaging.”
• Fast forward to 2025: In 10 years, the organization went from awarding two scholarships totaling $2,000 to awarding 27 scholarships totaling $94,500! And cumulatively, since inception, TWOQC has awarded over a third of a million dollars in Scholarships!
Who Receives TWOQC Scholarships?
Recipients of TWOQC Scholarships fall into two categories: 1) HS: young women graduating high school from Rio Rico, Sahuarita, and Walden Grove High Schools; and 2) AWE: women over 21 who are at a transitional point in their lives and need additional education or training. Our scholarships cover tuition only, and all funds are paid directly to the educational institution, which can be a community college, an accredited trade or vocational school, a four-year college, a graduate program, or a certification program.
Funds for scholarships are raised through our annual Javelina Hoedown event (coming Oct. 23, so save the date!) and through generous donations from our members and supporters, including those participating in this program.
Donating to the Matching Funds Program: Yes, the fund matches donations 2 to 1, so every $100 you donate puts $300 into the Scholarship Fund! But if you want an even bigger “bang for your buck,” you might choose to provide a donation paid directly from your annual RMD (Required Minimum Distribution). Using this other IRS-approved method, known as a Qualified Charitable Donation (QCD), your taxable income will be reduced “above the line” dollar-for-dollar in the amount of your donation, thus providing an even larger tax savings, particularly if you do not itemize your deductions.
If you wish to donate and become part of the Matching Funds Program, we would love to hear from you! Please contact Deb Melton, Director of Scholarships, at twoqc.scholarship@gmail.com or visit womenqc.com/matching-funds-campaign.