On Jan. 13, 2024, the AAUW La Mesa-El Cajon Branch will celebrate the contributions and donations given this year to the branch FUND, the heart of AAUW.

The Fund committee is under the leadership of Vicki Spilkin, and has selected fellowship recipient, Paula Kirya (pictured above) as this year’s featured speaker.

The work that the branch and state accomplish is made possible through the monetary donations of branch members to the various funds. The monies are allocated into one of four funds; The Greatest Needs; Education and Training; Economic Security; and Leadership.

Kirya is a master’s student at UC San Diego studying mechanical engineering. She received her undergraduate degree in bioengineering from UCSD in June 2023. Kirya has been studying and developing new ways to apply structural color in nature-inspired nanophotonic materials to detect disease progression in biological tissue.

In addition to the featured speaker the branch will reveal this year’s Named Gift Honoree.

Every year the AAUW California Fund Committee honors AAUW California members who have done outstanding work in supporting the programs and goals of the AAUW Fund and/or AAUW California. For branches, in particular, a Named Gift is a special way to pay tribute to an individual, a group, or an organization giving extraordinary service to AAUW. Who will be this year’s branch Named Gift Honoree?

Participants are asked to wear red to the meeting to show support for the work in progress by this year’s 34 Fellow and Scholarship recipients.

Social time begins at 9:30 and is open to the public. The meeting is held in King Hall at Foothills United Methodist Church, 4031 Avocado Blvd. in La Mesa.

For more information about this organization go to lamesaelcajon-ca.aauw.net.

New members are always welcome and do not need to be invited to attend a meeting.

(Courtesy photo)