Women Offshore to launch NEW Development Program thanks to First10Forward
In 2017, First10Forward was founded by female graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), located in Kings Point, New York and commonly referred to as “Kings Point.” The nonprofit organization’s name, First10Forward, was derived from the initial professional training of its founding members; all of whom graduated during the first 10 years the academy admitted women (1978 to 1987). First10Forward’s mission is to advance the professional goals of women and girls pursuing non-traditional careers and they have been meeting their mission by empowering charitable organizations with their generosity over the past 4 years.
First10Forward members are bound by challenges they have overcome in a traditionally male-dominated industry and gratitude for opportunities their education has bestowed upon them. They “share a desire to pay forward their wisdom and financial backing to girls and women embarking on similar non-traditional journeys,” so each year First10Forward awards a grant to a charitable organization whose activities advance their mission of assisting women and girls pursuing non-traditional careers.
In 2021 at their annual meeting, First10Forward awarded the Women Offshore Foundation with their annual grant. The Women Offshore Foundation propels women into meaningful careers through access to a worldwide community and professional development resources, while raising awareness amongst industry leaders and decision makers about issues affecting women on the water. First10Forward’s grant will support Women Offshore’s new development program, which will advance women into the maritime industry with necessary training. Women Offshore looks forward to later this year when they will launch their development program, thanks to First10Forward’s generous contribution.
“Our team has been working hard for several months to design a development program for women who are interested in working on the water and don’t have the resources and information to get their careers going. We are so grateful at Women Offshore for First10Forward’s generous support, which will enable us to turn this program into a reality and propel the careers of women to become mariners and offshore workers, “ says Ally Cedeno, founder and president of the Women Offshore Foundation and a 2008 graduate of the USMMA.
Join Women Offshore and First10Forward virtually at the 4th-annual Women Offshore Conference to celebrate the united support of these two organizations in empowering women’s careers to become extraordinary. Details for the conference can be found on the event website.
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