South Bay Women's Network

November Evening Meeting & Mixer

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SBWN invites members and guests to celebrate the organizations 4o year Anniversary. Over the past 40 years, SBWN has not only been a networking group for women business owners, employees, retirees and homemakers but a supporter of many causes. South Bay Women’s Network continues to support women’s issues through community outreach and empower them through education and volunteerism. As a network we offer the opportunity to build professional and personal relationships.

Tuesday, November 7 from 6 to 7:30 pm at The Savory Palette in Morro Bay. More party details to come!

October Evening Membership Meeting & Mixer

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Equip, Empower, Educate with Damsel in Defense

Join us on Tuesday, October 3 at 6 pm for a presentation by SBWN member Katrina Porter, owner of Minkyu Energy and also a Damsel in Defense Safety Specialist. She will be presenting on safety awareness for women entrepreneurs and also sharing how damsel in defense products can deter against crime.

This will also a be a fundraiser for Scholarship Night as 30% of all products ordered will go back to scholarship fund. Here is a LINK for direct participation in the scholarship ordering.

Food provided by The Savory Palette is included in meeting fee. Wine, Beer and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. We hope to see you there for a fun evening of networking and education!

If you wish to pay at the door, email us your RSVP at info@sbwn.org

$25 – Members

$30 – Guests

Garden Party Scholarship Benefit 2023 Photos

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Thank you to all the members and guests who attended our party to kick off fundraising for our 2023 Scholarship Program. All proceeds from tickets, raffle and plant sale will benefit the SBWN Cuesta College Adult Women Re-Entry Student Scholarship program. South Bay Women’s Network started the Scholarship Program in 2000 to benefit adult women re-entry students attending Cuesta College.

Scholarship Committee Co-Chair Viewpoint

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My name is Valerie Parillo and I am Co-Chair of the SBWN Scholarship Committee.  This program is important to me because of my own past experiences.  I wanted to be an RN.  I was married with children and it was my educational dream.  I went back to school and 8 years later I was an RN.  People often said to me that they would like to do something but it would take too long.  I thought, well, the time will go by anyway and I might as well keep moving towards my goal.  I took a little time off as I became a single Mom and then I wanted a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, so 3 years later I accomplished that.  Another break and my final goal was ready to be met.  Four years later, I had a Master’s Degree and was a Nurse Practitioner.  I went to school for 15 out of 23 years but at the end of that time, I had met my educational goals.  I received a number of scholarships and fellowships during my school years.  They meant so much to me.  Financially, it was helpful, but just as helpful was having someone believe in me.  A scholarship is a tangible expression of belief in someone.  So if you have a dream, just keep showing up and working on it and reach out for help when you need it.

2022 Scholarship Winners

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South Bay Women’s Network (SBWN) awarded (10) scholarships of $750 each this year to Cuesta College female students. Funds for these scholarships were raised through this year’s Halloween Party & Fundraiser, Garden Party Scholarship Benefit, a scholarship donation from SLO Women’s Network and generous donations from SBWN members and supporters. Potential recipients either submitted an application themselves or were nominated, and each was required to be a female Cuesta College re-entry student, defined in the educational system as one who attends college following an interruption in their post-high school education.

Presentation of our Scholarship winners was held on December 7, 2022 at The Savory Palette Wine Bar in Morro Bay.

Nicole Johnson
Mariah Olquin
Elena Ikeda
Ella Rutstein
Valerie Parillo with Amanda Earles
Scholarship Chair Valerie Parillo with Janet Brown
Thank you to Savory Palette for hosting our presentation
Scholarship Chair Valerie Parillo with Rebekah Bridgeman (L) and Marta Suarez (R).
(L) SBWN President Gila Zak thanked Pamela Baczuk, President of SLO Women’s Network for their donation of funds for an additional scholarship.(R) Scholarship Committee Denise Lowe and Valerie Parillo

Scholarship Winners

  • Rebekah Bridgeman – AS of Science, Animal Rehab
  • Janet Brown – RN prerequisites
  • Amanda Earles – RN Prerequisites
  • Cassandra Grinolds –  Human Development/Services, Addiction Studies
  • Elena Ikeda  Psychology/Child Development
  • Louise (Nicole) Johnson – Addiction Treatment Studies
  • Sonia Nevarez Lozano – Human Development/Services
  • Mariah Olquin – Library Technician Certification
  • Ella Rutstein – Paralegal with an eventual goal to be a lawyer
  • Marta Suarez – LVN Program
Elena Video
Marta Video
Mariah Video
Janet Video
Rebekah Video
Sonia Video

A Wicked Halloween Party & Fundraiser – October 29, 2022

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This year we hosted a Halloween Party to raise money for our 2022 Scholarship Program at SLO Public Market Saturday, October 29th. Both Women’s Network of SLO and 5 Cities Women’s Network partnered with us for a FRIGHTFULLY FUN night of music provided by DJ Stephanie West, food from Old SLO BBQ, beverages provided by Bottle Craft and of course great costumes! Thank you to everyone who help make this a fun event. Photos by Gina Cinardo, Ginici Studios.