Front Royal Women’s Resource Center to Host ‘Dare to Dream’ Luncheon March 28

The Front Royal Women’s Resource Center (FRWRC) is inviting the community to celebrate local women and their ambitions at the organization’s annual Dare to Dream luncheon, scheduled for Saturday, March 28, at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club.

Board members Joey Waters and Liz Coffey recently discussed the event and the program’s impact on women in the community over nearly three decades.

The Dare to Dream program provides grants to help women pursue goals such as education, business launch, or community projects. Often, applicants simply need a small financial boost to turn their ideas into reality.

“This is our main project,” Waters explained. “We raise funds all year through dues and donations to sponsor women with many kinds of projects. Some are in schools, some are starting businesses. It’s a great group this year.”

Supporting women in the community

Founded in 1996, the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to provide a support network for women in Warren County. Through networking opportunities, educational programs, and community events, the organization connects women and encourages personal and professional growth.

Over the past two decades, the organization has awarded more than $160,000 in grants and scholarships to 210 women and girls in Warren County, helping them pursue educational, professional, and personal enrichment opportunities.

FRWRC’s mission is “to support women in our community through programs, information, and education,” guided by its vision of empowering women to change their world.

In addition to the annual Dare to Dream program, the group hosts monthly networking meetings, special events, and community programs designed to connect women and share resources.

New format for this year’s event

In previous years, the event was held as a weekday breakfast, but organizers say they changed the format to make it more accessible.

“This year it’s a luncheon on Saturday instead of a weekday breakfast,” Waters said. “A lot of people couldn’t come before because they were working or in school, and many said the breakfast was just too early.”

The luncheon will feature two meal options, chicken or a vegetarian pasta dish, prepared by the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club.

Grants and scholarships

This year, the organization will present five $1,000 Dare to Dream grants funded by the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center.

In addition, the Warren Memorial Hospital Foundation is partnering with the program to provide five additional $1,000 grants to applicants pursuing healthcare or medical-related dreams.

The event will also include two Elaine Bromfield Memorial Scholarships, established in 2011 in honor of a longtime advocate for women’s rights and a founding member of the organization. Bromfield and her husband, Ted, owned the Warren Sentinel and were well-known for their community involvement.

Waters said 25 women applied for grants this year, and 12 received funding.

“It’s heartbreaking when we can’t fund everyone,” she said.

A program with lasting impact

The Dare to Dream initiative has been making a difference for nearly three decades.

One of the earliest grants, awarded in 1999, provided $200 to a wheelchair-bound woman who needed a computer upgrade for her business. Years later, she told organizers the small grant had changed her life.

“That’s always the hope,” Waters said, that even a modest grant can help someone take the next step toward achieving their goals.

Guest speaker and fundraising

The luncheon will also feature Warren County Sheriff Crystal Cline as the event’s guest speaker.

Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction and raffles, which help raise funds for next year’s grants and scholarships.

Tickets are available on the organization’s website and must be purchased by Friday, March 13, to allow organizers to finalize meal arrangements.

Ways to support

Community members who cannot attend the luncheon can still support the organization by:

• Becoming a member
• Volunteering
• Making a donation
• Sponsoring a scholarship

Organizers say every contribution helps expand the program’s reach and allows the group to help even more women pursue their dreams.

“This event celebrates this year’s recipients,” Coffey said, “but it also helps us begin raising funds so we can give even more grants next year.”