The council will create programs to help older women in areas such as law, finances, residential living and nutrition.

Last year, the grant went to the Tipton County Boys & Girls Club, which had the Girls Rock program.

Becca Miller, a seventh-grader who participated in Girls Rock, spoke to the audience, about how the program helped her grow as a person and find a possible career path.

After her speech, Miller said Girls Rock taught her a lot about how she should perceive herself.

“You can’t be negative about who you are,” she said. “You have to be positive. You shouldn’t just put yourself down just because you don’t like something about yourself.”

Nancy Nicholson, who sits on the Tipton County Foundation’s board and gave the first $500 to the Women’s Fund, said she was happy the program has been able to raise the amount it has and put it toward programs such as Girls Rock.

“It’s excellent, just absolutely excellent,” Nicholson said. “... What’s phenomenal is the number of ladies who have contributed.”

In 2008, 170 people donated to the Women’s Fund, Smith said. Volunteers have collected about $4,500 so far for 2009, she said.

There is no set goal for this year, Smith said, but the endowment hopes to have at least 100 new people to donate.