Jane Schnall Scholarship

The SHE Academy founder, Helen Grieco, met Jane Schnall at a board meeting of the California National Organization for Women in 1989. Helen was impressed with Jane’s intelligence, humor, savvy, great sense of style and her life-long dedication to women’s rights and women’s health. The fact that they were both from New York sealed the deal and they became best friends.
They continued to serve in the California National Organization for Women and went on to be elected as leaders: Helen as President, and Jane as Action Vice President. They talked daily and worked together on legislation, electing great women to office, marches, fundraising, merchandise, events, media campaigns, training films, documentaries and teaching young women activism.

In 1998 Jane, Helen, and Helen’s sister Jeanmaire went to Seneca Falls, New York to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the women’s rights movement. They discussed the need for a new organization to work for women’s rights and to teach the next generation of young women and girls how to become leaders. Keeping with the humor that has always grounded their friendship, Helen dubbed Jane as the General of this new venture. From that day forward they have been discussing this idea, and in 2010 the SHE Academy was launched.

Helen and Jane have always been mindful of the need to fund education--the key to change. Helen proposed a scholarship program for the SHE Academy in Jane’s honor, and Jane was delighted to fund it.
Each year young women, who are in high school or who have just graduated from high school, will be selected for the Jane Schnall Scholarship.

Each year on Mother’s Day, the winners of the Jane Schnall Scholarship will be announced. Jane and Helen, who are both mothers, decided to announce the winners on Mother’s Day because they believe that the greatest gift you can give a mother is to teach her daughter how to be Safer, Healthier and Environmentally and economically educated.

This scholarship covers the tuition for SHE Changes curriculum; a starter kit of personal care products that do not have dangerous toxins or estrogen mimickers in them that harm the student and the environment; supplies for her to begin growing her own food; and social media tools to help her achieve her plans for community activism and sustainable leadership.

Upon completion of their studies, the young women who are awarded the Jane Schnall Scholarship will be required to write an essay about how the education changed them, and what they learned about taking action and sustainable leadership.

On September 13th Jane Schnall’s birthday, their essays will be publicized to showcase the positive impact that the SHE Academy has by teaching the next generation of young women how to become Safer, Healthier, Environmentally and Economically educated advocates and leaders!

The scholarship alumni will be required to serve on the Jane Schnall Scholarship Council for two years to select the next scholarship recipients.

To apply for the Jane Schnall Scholarship please answer the three questions below.

Each answer should be no more then 250 words. Please email your answers by midnight on April 21st to helen@sheacademy.us

1) Tell us about your family and your history.
2) Tell us what activities you have participated in your school and your community.
3) Tell us what contribution you hope to make to ensure women’s rights and a sustainable future for all people and the planet.

Jane Schnall September 13th 1944 - May 12th 2010 To honor Jane's legacy we invite you to make a contribution to her scholarship fund. Please send your contributions to: SHE Academy P. O. Box 2935 Petaluma CA 94953-2935