Women’s Empowerment International – Investing in Women, Changing the World
For more than 20 years, Women’s Empowerment International (WE) has been fueling change by providing grants to trusted partners that deliver microfinance, small business development, training, education, and other barrier-breaking programs. These initiatives reach thousands of women experiencing poverty each year, opening doors to economic independence and stronger communities. What sets WE apart is its […]
For more than 20 years, Women’s Empowerment International (WE) has been fueling change by providing grants to trusted partners that deliver microfinance, small business development, training, education, and other barrier-breaking programs. These initiatives reach thousands of women experiencing poverty each year, opening doors to economic independence and stronger communities.
What sets WE apart is its commitment to long-term partnerships and sustained impact. WE builds strong relationships with and invests, year over year, in organizations that stay rooted in their communities, ensuring that women not only start but also grow and sustain their businesses and leadership.
This year, WE is proud to renew funding for six partners working across six countries—including right here in San Diego. The grants, totaling over $125,000, cover an eight-month period from May through December 2025, with the potential for renewal through 2026.
2025 Grant Partners:
San Diego, CA – International Rescue Committee (IRC) San Diego | $30,000 Supporting technical assistance and training tailored for women entrepreneurs who face barriers due to poverty, language, or lack of access to microenterprise services.
El Salvador – OEF de El Salvador | $17,000 Expanding the Entrepreneurial and Empowered Women program, which provides microloans, training, and community events to strengthen the social and economic empowerment of women in marginalized areas.
Guatemala – Multicolores | $8,000 Funding the Stitching New Narratives program, including a design retreat and follow-up workshops to help Maya women artists develop new products and leadership opportunities.
Honduras – Adelante Foundation | $15,000 Supporting microloans and financial literacy training for women living in poverty, fostering economic independence and community resilience.
Mexico – Via International | $25,000 Investing in ESTIMA, Via Migrante, and related programs in Tijuana, which build solidarity groups for vulnerable women, offering workshops, support for enterprises, and access to microloans.
Uganda – Nyaka | $33,000 Strengthening the Grandmothers Program, which provides microloans, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and vocational training so grandmothers can establish sustainable income-generating activities.
While these six partners continue to thrive with WE’s support, the demand for funding remains immense. According to the Women & Girls Index (WGI) from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University, less than 2% of all U.S. philanthropic giving is directed toward organizations serving women and girls. The gap is even more striking as many nonprofits report increased needs due to shifting federal funding priorities.
This year, WE’s open grant application process drew 115 Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) from U.S.-based nonprofits nationwide and grassroots NGOs across 32 other countries—including Nepal, South Sudan, Cameroon, Morocco, Uganda, Kenya, India, Thailand, Afghanistan, and Mexico—all eager to provide women and girls with access to financial tools, education, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The selection of new grant partners will be announced at WE’s annual Empowered WE Rise Fall Fundraiser on Sunday Sept. 28. With the continued generosity of donors, WE hopes to expand its support to many of the finalists from this highly competitive pool.
For WE, empowering women isn’t just about economics—it’s about transformation. When women gain access to opportunity, entire families and communities rise with them.
Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.
“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”
Courtesy of Milan Design
Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.
At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.
Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.
At any given time, there are roughly 200 research investigations and clinical trials being conducted at Scripps Health in as many as 25 medical specialties. Research and patient care go hand-in-hand at Scripps. Those studies can be categorized as clinical trials of a medication or device that are conducted by Scripps physicians and studies designed by Scripps’ physicians and clinicians. Click here to learn about three exciting studies underway at Scripps and the benefits to patients.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Scripps has recently unveiled new features in the MyScripps patient portal and mobile app to help patients connect with their primary care team and simplify the payment process. Among the recent updates is the addition of primary care E-visits for minor conditions. Patients who have an established primary care physician can schedule an E-visit, complete an online questionnaire and, if needed, send a photo. Their doctor can then advise and prescribe medication, when appropriate. Autopay is also now available through MyScripps. Patients can enable or disable autopay, allowing them to more easily manage payments. Learn more about MyScripps and how it helps patients stay connected here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Farrah Adams had a persistent dull ache in her lower back that her massage therapist suggested might be caused by the way she sat or drove. That explanation seemed reasonable, but when coupled with heavy, painful periods led the then 46-year-old to seek answers. When she looks back on it now, she’s beyond grateful she trusted her gut. She made an appointment with a Scripps OB-GYN, who determined she had Stage 3 cervical cancer that had spread to several lymph nodes. Farrah was overwhelmed, but immediately found a “champion” in Scripps Clinic gynecologic oncologist Jo Marie Tran Janco, MD. After undergoing successful treatment at Scripps Cancer Center, Farrah is now using her story to inspire other women to make time for care. Read more of her story here.
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In the last several years, there’s been a surge in FDA approvals for what’s known as oral oncolytics. Oral oncolytics are targeted cancer therapies that come in tablet, capsule or liquid form that patients can take at home, rather than in an infusion clinic. Scripps physicians have seen exponential growth using this approach, with patients citing convenience as a major quality-of-life enhancement in their cancer treatment. This approach also allows treatments to be customized based on specific genetic mutations and a patient’s unique disease biology. Find out more about oral oncolytics here.
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Meet San Diego’s leading healthcare professionals, delivering exceptional medical and dental care through innovation, expertise, and dedication to patients.
Unio Specialty Care is a multi-specialty practice specializing in urology, gastroenterology, and radiation oncology.
Unio’s Radiation Oncology team—Dr. Donald B. Fuller, Dr. Tahir Ijaz, Dr. Reza Shirazi, and Dr. Siavosh Vakilian—combines extensive clinical experience with a commitment to personalized cancer care. The RO team treats cancerous and non-cancerous conditions using precision therapies including SBRT, IGRT, and the CyberKnife® S7 System, the only system of its kind in Southern California. Their expertise spans prostate, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and central nervous system cancers, as well as low-dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis.
In 2026, Dr. Shirazi and Dr. Vakilian were recognized as San Diego Top Doctors, joining Dr. Fuller and Dr. Ijaz, who have previously received this distinction.
