News & Updates

On March 24 , The Fund for Women and Girls will travel to Harrisburg  for a day of advocacy at the Pennsylvania Capitol. Participants will spend the morning delivering informational materials to legislators and, when possible, meeting directly with elected officials in support of paid leave (Family Care Act). These conversations help build awareness and momentum around issues such as economic equity and workplace fairness. In the afternoon, participants will gather on the Rot

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have introduced new legislation aimed at modernizing the state’s name change process and eliminating an outdated requirement that puts vulnerable residents at risk. House Bill 1315 and Senate Bill 521 would remove the longstanding requirement that individuals publish their legal name changes in local newspapers. While originally intended as a transparency measure, the practice now creates serious safety and privacy concerns, particularly for transge

In April 2025, the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act was passed in the House of Representatives. The Senate, however, did not take up the bill for a vote. The "SAVE America Act" was recently introduced in the House and Senate; a bill very similar to the SAVE Act (though slightly more restrictive). Now BOTH chambers need to vote on the new version of the bill for it to pass. Last Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 the House Representatives passed the Save America

The Fund for Women and Girls is proud to serve as the Pennsylvania state partner for Vote16USA, a national organization working to expand youth civic engagement by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections. As the Pennsylvania state seat, The Fund helps lead and coordinate Vote16USA’s efforts across the Commonwealth, connecting local advocacy to a growing national movement focused on strengthening democracy through early civic participation. This partner

Earlier this month, Blake Emmanuel , Director of Policy & Advocacy at The Fund for Women and Girls , testified before the PA Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Committee in support of the Small Necessities Leave Act , proposed legislation that would provide workers with limited, job-protected leave to address urgent family and caregiving needs. Blake’s testimony, along with insights from other advocates and policy leaders, was recently featured in Pennsylvania Capital-Star , hig

On January 20, 2026 The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Committee  recently convened a public hearing at Penn State Abington to examine the Small Necessities Leave Act , proposed legislation that would provide workers with up to 20 hours of job-protected leave  to address urgent personal and family needs. Among those invited to testify was Blake Emmanuel , Director of Advocacy and Policy at The Fund for Women and Girls, Chester County . Emmanuel shared testimony

PRESS RELEASE TEXT: On January 21, 2026, Representatives Chris Pielli (Chester County) and John Inglis III (Alleghany County) circulated a House memo titled “Lowering the Voting Age for School Board Elections.” The memo announces forthcoming legislation to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in Pennsylvania school board elections. “No one deals with the repercussions of Pennsylvania school board decisions more than students themselves. Students are deeply affected by school bo

The Fund for Women and Girls advances gender equity in Chester County and beyond by driving systemic change defined as shifts in:   policy,   practice, and   culture.   We focus on three core priorities:   Equity in Education,   Health & Safety, and   Economic Stability.   Through this lens, The Fund works to remove structural barriers so people can thrive, from ensuring fair and inclusive educational opportunities, to expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare and sa

January 9, 2026 The US House of Representatives passed a measure this week to extend the ACA subsidies, and now it is up to the US Senate to hold a vote to extend the subsidies. Without the extension, the cost of healthcare will rise not only for those who utilize ACA plans (known as Pennie in Pennsylvania) but for others as when the number of uninsured individuals rises, so do healthcare costs for everyone. Tell Senators Fetterman and McCormick to call for a vote on the subs

On Tuesday, November 18th, The Fund for Women and Girls was proud to be in Harrisburg for “Our Health, Our Future: Our Lobby Day” — a collective effort to advance policies that support women, girls, and families across Pennsylvania.   The day centered several critical issues impacting health and safety across the Commonwealth, including: Strengthening reproductive healthcare access Creating a public paid family leave program through the Family Care Act Protecting individuals

October 30, 2025 Due to the federal government shutdown, SNAP benefits will not be paid out starting Nov 1.   SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the federal government’s largest anti-hunger program in the United States. It provides monthly benefits to eligible low-income households to help them buy nutritious food  While snap only covers a small portion of what it costs to feed someone, it is a portion. The average monthly allotment (no county level da

The Fund invites you to be civically engaged with us. Whether you are new to all this political stuff or you are a seasoned activist, we welcome you to come view oral arguments in front of the PA Supreme Court in this very important case and stay after to discuss the issues raised, arguments and counter arguments, and the impact on women seeking to access reproductive healthcare particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged and underserved. Please note, we are not lawyers

Several times throughout the year, The Fund heads up to the Capitol to show support of and educate on important topics. The trips include rallies, legislative meetings and actions focusing on ensuring elected officials understand and address critical issues. The press is invited to cover the story. We invite you to join us for one, some or all! Everyone can participate! We’ll guide you every step of the way. Your presence sends a powerful message. No experience needed. No pub

This fall The Fund for Women and Girls kicks off a new training series with two important workshops for you and your non-profit.  ...

It’s up to us now! As a result of the passing of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” more than 25,000 of us in Chester County will no longer have...

The Allegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services lawsuit challenges Pennsylvania’s ban on Medicaid...

The Senate passed the bill, and now it goes to the House for a vote.The time is now to call your representative and ask them to vote NO...

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed South Carolina to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, despite federal law already...

Blake Emmanuel, our Director of Advocacy and Policy went to Washington, DC with Planned Parenthood and other advocates to speak out...

The momentum around paid family and medical leave in Pennsylvania has hit a temporary setback and we need your help.  Click HERE for...