Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation

Our history

It all started when five women in Michigan met for lunch

Five women who met for lunch each week formed a Michigan charter of Women in Technology International:

The founding members included Jill Jordan, Murem Sharpe, Blanca Fauble, Sandy Moore, and Rosemary Bayer.

2000

2001 – 2003

2001:

Core team continued to meet regularly to discuss goals
100 founding members

2002:

Group resigned WITI; formed a 501(c)(6) member organization called MCWT

2003:

Hosted an annual meeting
Received $2K for scholarships from Compuware
Created Advisory Board
Launched Camp Infinity summer technology camp

2004:

Created Foundation in 2004 as a 501 (c) 3 with $60k annual budget
Sponsored 12 robotics teams at Lego Robofest
Attracted 15 scholarship applicants
Awarded $56k in scholarships

2005:

Posted partner jobs on new website
Formed first GET-IT team at University HS, Ferndale
Started college chapter at Lawrence Tech University

2006:

Began professional development programs; held “Power Tools” symposium featuring Focus: HOPE Founder Eleanor Josaitis
Developed Website Design Competition

2004 – 2006

2007 – 2010

2007:

Raised $200k at Gala fundraiser; held first Golf Classic
Launched mentoring program

2008:

Supported seven robotics teams
Expanded to three GET-IT schools: Ferndale University, Crockett HS, Randolph HS

2009-2010:

Reached 500 members
Totaled 4,875 volunteer hours impacting 1,900 people
Awarded more than $100k in university scholarships, $40k per year

2011:

Continued growth with 750+ members and 60+ partners
Hired executive director
Expanded into Mid-Michigan

2012:

Improved outreach to high schools and colleges
Hosted second Camp Infinity at the University of Detroit Mercy
Attract more than 100 girls to Website Design Competition

2013:

Strengthened Mentoring Program
Launched Women in Transition program

2011 – 2013

2014 – 2016

2014:

MCWT reached 770 members from 280 companies. 2015 alone had 380 volunteers and 80 corporate sponsors
Camp Infinity’s 12th year surpasses 830 campers

2015:

Get-IT Clubs double with 178 high school girls designing, coding and building robots
Girls Rock IT program with Girl Scouts USA expands in SE and West MI

2016:

10th annual Website Design Competition has 161 entrants, over 800 since inception
MCWT Robotics Grants for girls teams reaches $25,500 to 50 teams and 222 girls
MCWT awarded 104 MCWT Scholars with over $900,000 since 2004

2017:

Awarded 192 girls with scholarships for a total of $1.26 million since 2006
Surpassed 1,000 members, over 500 volunteers; and 115 corporate partners
Programming expands in West Michigan and Great Lake Bay

2018:

Strategic plan implemented in 2018
Increased engagement with mission leads grows MCWT programming
Camp Infinity includes high school sessions
State-wide competition, Girls Solve IT, Powered by Ford, launches in 2018

2019:

Established scholarship fund
Increased funding over $1.7 million for programs impacting girls and women

2017 – 2019

2020 – 2022

2020:

Grew to nearly 1,100 members and 120 corporate partners, adding 32 new partners in a single year
Reimagined Camp Infinity as a Virtual Summer Learning Series so girls could keep coding through the pandemic
Awarded 41 scholarships — the most in any single year to that point — surpassing $1.39 million awarded since 2002
Launched the West Michigan Golf Classic, extending fundraising and reach across the state

2021:

Membership climbed past 1,245 with 122 corporate partners
Awarded 40 scholarships totaling $146,000; cumulative giving topped $1.5 million since 2002
Continued virtual programming and grew internship placements to 32

2022:

Celebrated MCWT’s 20th anniversary with a Signature Gala raising $600,000 — the highest in MCWT history
Awarded 43 scholarships totaling $165,000; cumulative giving surpassed $1.7 million since 2002
Welcomed 40 new corporate partners and returned Camp Infinity and GET-IT Clubs to in-person learning

2023:

Doubled Camp Infinity from 9 to 18 camps—supported by a $500,000 State of Michigan grant—reaching 413 campers
Served a record 6,448 girls and women across all programs
Grew to 1,743 members and 133 corporate partners
Awarded 44 scholarships totaling $196,500; combined Golf Classics raised a record $405,000

2024:

Awarded 49 scholarships—a new single-year record—bringing giving to more than $2 million across 409 scholarships since 2002
Expanded GET-IT Clubs to reach 320 high school girls, the program’s widest reach yet
Grew internship placements to 35, nearing 200 since the program launched

2025:

Awarded $119,500 in scholarships to 43 students across 17 Michigan colleges—reaching 452 scholarships totaling more than $2.18 million since 2002
Delivered 96 K-12 programs to 1,564 girls, surpassing 17,500 girls reached since inception
Hosted nine Camp Infinity camps for 301 campers and grew Girls Hack IT to 72 participants statewide
Engaged 687 active volunteers across programs, events, and mentoring
Launched Vino Voyage, a new wine-tasting fundraiser, alongside the 17th Annual Signature Gala and 21st Annual Golf Classic

2023 – 2025

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