For 40 Years, Women in Focus Provides College Scholarships for Local Young People

by Moore Vang, age 16

Another historic milestone is approaching for Women in Focus, Inc. as they celebrate their 40th annual “I Have a Dream” Ball early next year.

For 40 years, Women in Focus has developed and sustained an organization dedicated to helping young people pursue higher education. They provide scholarships to local high school and college students of color. Dozens of donor-backed scholarships are awarded each year to help local students thrive as they chase their goals.

The founders of the organization made this possible through vision and hard work. Verona Morgan, one of the original co-founders, helped steer the development of Women in Focus in its early stages in the 1980s. Morgan, along with eight other women, came together to help young people in their community.

Edith Hilliard, who has been a part of the organization for 42 years, also dedicated her work to Women in Focus. At Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), Hilliard became the first African American woman at WPL to be hired at the company in 1969, where she worked for a monumental 30 years.

Throughout its 40-year history, the women who make up Women in Focus have supported young people in Dane County. The organization began by meeting once a month at members’ homes for lunch or dinner to bond and brainstorm ideas. Based on these discussions, they established three committees focused on developing reading and writing skills, granting scholarships and representing culture, and communicating with parents. The women were eager to accomplish their goals through connection and collaboration.

“It was an exciting time for us because we were getting to know people across the community that we would not have known otherwise,” Morgan said in a recent interview.

Women In Focus was founded as a group of nine friends who mentored and empowered each other. This was needed because the WIF members were all working professionals in companies where no one else looked like them. Many were in non-traditional positions for women. "We lift each other up, we care about each other. It’s a real sisterhood," says Hilliard.

Over the years, Women in Focus has supported students who are passionate about pursuing their education. In 2025, the organization awarded over $80,000 worth of scholarships, each worth $2,500, to 23 graduating high school students. These contributions demonstrate the significant impact Women in Focus has had on our community. To date, they have awarded more than 400 scholarships totaling over $800,000.

For 40 years, Women in Focus, Inc. has demonstrated its commitment and passion for youth education. Edith Hilliard expressed to us the importance of this organization moving forward. “It's extremely important that this organization continue to go on, to help women so that they know there are other women out there that care about them and what they do.”

Their successful model for helping young people in the community is inspiring and powerful. This organization and the annual “I Have a Dream” Ball continue to be a tradition in Madison and Dane County. “It's been a wonderful fellowship of love, kindness, caring, and generosity,” says Morgan, “Women in Focus is a stellar organization that I hope will go on forever.”

[Sources: Wisconsin State Journal; Women In Focus; Simpson Street Free Press Archives]