Five Oaks Academy and friends raised over $1,400 to help the International organization Dining For Women to promote awareness for “The Fistula Foundation”.  The Foundation concentrates on educating people on the needs of the women who need treatment worldwide.  The organization supported by Oprah Winfrey tries to provide funding for treatment and prevention of fistula.

On September 20, women supporters of the organization gathered at the Five Oaks Academy campus for an evening of fellowship and collective giving.  Several vendors were present donating profits to Dining For Women.  The women watched a video made by the Fitula Foundation that highlighted women who were suffering in Ethiopia.  For every $450 raised, a woman can have surgery which will cure her for live from the condition.

Dining for Women began in Greenville in 2002 by Marsha Wallace.  The organization focuses on improving the lives of women and girls worldwide.  Dining For women concentrates on issues that will find solutions to problems facing women through education, healthcare, and economic development.  Since it’s conception in 2002, Dining For Women has grown with many chapters nationally and internationally.  The service group has been published in The New York Times, Women’s Day Magazine, and New Adventures in Philanthropy.

Bonnie Papajohn led the Dining For Women chapter meeting and gave the presentation on fistula repair.  Several Five Oaks Academy women expressed interest in creating their own chapter.  Please see more information at diningforwomen.org and fistulafoundation.org.