Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program

The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program (WOT) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization based in Miami, Florida and was founded in 1997 by Jennifer Valoppi, Television Journalist, and Don Browne, Telemundo Network President. WOT is designed to inspire, motivate and empower at-risk young women to live up to their full potential through mentoring by highly accomplished professional women and scholarship opportunities.
Visit Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program's website 1.

Program Overview

WOT is believed to be the only program of its kind in the country, pairing extremely accomplished professional women with small groups of at-risk teenage girls in public high schools for a 4-year mentoring program. WOT Mentors are judges, doctors, lawyers, newscasters, executives and entrepreneurs who expose young women to the possibilities out there for them, as well as walking them through a variety of learning experiences that will enrich their lives and their educational experience.

WOT is AbOUT women helping women and in an initial study showed a statistically significant improvement in the self-esteem of the young girls participating.

WOT Mentors meet with groups of 10-15 Mentees on a monthly basis to discuss ambitions, hopes, positive attitudes necessary for success, and practical solutions to life’s problems. They discuss a variety of topics of importance to the girls including study habits, school work, communication skills, anger management, etiquette, keys to success and turning obstacles into opportunities.

Many successful women have traits they share in common, and have traveled similar roads to realize their goals, regardless of profession. Based on this premise, WOT Mentors share their personal stories, knowledge and techniques for success.

Currently, the WOT program is established in 93 Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County High Schools in south Florida and serves approximately 1,800 Mentees with its network of close to 200 Mentors. Since the inception of its Scholarship Program in 2000, WOT has awarded over $1.5 Million in scholarships to 552 WOT Mentees.

Board Members

Jennifer Valoppi*, Television Journalist
Founder & President

Don Browne*, President, Telemundo Network
Co-Founder & Vice President

The Honorable Katherine Fernandez Rundle*, Miami-Dade State Attorney
Founding Mentor & Co-Vice President

Mariita Srebnick*, President, Scott Notions, Inc.
Founding Mentor & Co-Vice President

Donna Feldman*, CPA, PA
Mentor & Treasurer

Judge Judith Kreeger*, Miami-Dade County Circuit Court
Founding Mentor & Secretary

Betty Amos, President, The Abkey Companies
Founding Mentor & Board Member

Marisa Toccin, Executive Producer, NewsProNet
Dr. Diane Walder, MD, PA
Founding Mentor & Board Member

• Denotes Founding Board Member

Partnerships

School District Partners

Broward County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
School District of Palm Beach County

Media Partners

WFOR-TV, CBS4
Ocean Drive (magazine)
The Miami Herald
Telemundo
WPTV, News Channel 5
Selecta Magazine
Social Affairs Magazine

Scholarship Partners and Sponsors

The Batchelor Foundation Scholarship Endowment
George Feldenkreis & Mariita Srebnick Scholarship Endowment
Miami Dade College Foundation Matching Fund
St. Thomas University (Florida)
Victor Posner Education Fund
Mel & Fran Harris Scholarship Fund
Broward Education Foundation
The Experiment in International Living Scholarships
DeVry University
Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Nursing Scholarships
North Broward Hospital District Nursing Scholarships
Karen Piazza's Girl Friends Scholarships
Miami International University of Art & Design
The Lillian Simon Memorial Scholarship by Meg & Richard Green
The State Attorney's Office ValuJet Memorial Fund, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, State Attorney
Keiser College - Tallahassee

Program Partners

A.D. Henderson Foundation
BankAtlantic Foundation
Carnival Foundation
Community Foundation of Broward
Dade Community Foundation
Florida Marlins Community Foundation
Publix Supermarkets
Wal-Mart

Academic Partnerships

Broward Community College
DeVry University
Keiser College - Tallahassee
Miami Dade College
Miami International University of Art & Design
Nova Southeastern University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
St. Thomas University (Florida)

Community Partners

Baptist Hospital
Broward County Government Center
Broward County State Attorney's Office
Broward County Courts
Coast Guard, Miami-Dade County
Florida Marlins & ProPlayer Stadium
Miami City Ballet
Miami-Dade County Circuit Court
Miami-Dade County Government Center
Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office
The Miami Herald
Palm Beach Governmental Center
Perry Ellis International
Planned Parenthood of Miami & Palm Beach
Planned Parenthood of Broward
The PlayGround Theatre
Saks Fifth Avenue
Sun-Sentinel
Telemundo
Women in Distress

Recognitions

April 12, 2007, Exemplary Dade Partnership, Districtwide Honorable Mention, Miami Dade County Public Schools
October 17, 2006, Governor Jeb Bush's Points of Light Reception Honoring Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program Founders Jennifer Valoppi and Don Browne for their Exemplary Volunteerism
May 19,2005 Women of Tomorrow Day in Miami-Dade County, Florida, Proclaimed by Carlos Alvarez (mayor) and Board of County Commissioners
May 13, 2005 For the Public Good Community Organization Award, LegalAid, Service of Broward County
May 10, 2005 Recognized by the 108th United States Congress, First Session
April 11, 2002 Recognized by the 107th United States Congress, Second Session
March 27, 2001 Recognized by the 107th United States Congress, First Session
February 2, 1999 Recognized by the 106th United States Congress, First Session