Palm Beach County women just teamed up to give away over $500,000 in high-impact grants to local groups
The Power of Women Giving as One
That’s the basic motto of Impact 100 Palm Beach, a group of women who pool their charitable gifts, vote for the best projects, and in 2016 funded over $500,000 in large, high-impact grants to community organizations in key focus areas.
And my, how those gifts have grown. In 2012, the group funded over $148,000 in grants. This year, members raised and gave away $532,000.
Why Impact 100?
I joined the group a few years ago, impressed with how efficiently members raise and direct money to the neediest and highest impact projects in the community. Like many busy working women, I want to help others in my community, but don’t always have the time or knowledge to make an impact.
Did you know? Women are more likely to give, and to give more, to charity than men at virtually all income levels, according to Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (Wall Street Journal).
So on Tuesday night, I went to the group’s 2016 Grand Awards, where with the other 500+ women members – each of whom had contributed $1,000 – I listened to impassioned presentations by the seven outstanding finalists and voted on the top five projects that would each receive a $100,000 high-impact grant. Two smaller projects would receive $16,000 each.
All of you who are involved with charitable groups know that there are always far too many deserving people and projects, and never enough resources. It’s a moving experience to hear from the community volunteers and project directors who commit so much time and energy to making Palm Beach County a better place, and we got to hear some amazing stories about how they’ve made an impact in the lives of our neediest neighbors.
And the winners are ….
So who were the big grant winners in 2016? You can see the results below.
Projects ranged from training nurses to work with Alzheimer’s patients, to teaching lower-income children how to swim, and tutoring at-risk students and preparing them for college, to supporting children in families affected by disability, addiction, and anger issues.
Alzheimer’s Community Care
Knowledge is Power: Dementia Specific Care Training
American Association of Caregiving Youth
Caregiving Youth Project – Rebuilding Families
Camelot Community Care
Family Strengthening and Development Program
Delray Students First
Expansion at Atlantic High School
YMCA of South Palm Beach County
YMCA’s Water Smart Community Initiative
Smaller awards also went to Flamingo Clay Studio and the Florida Atlantic University Foundation Pine Jog Environmental Education Center to further their missions.
Want to help?
- If you’re not already involved, volunteer time, money or materials to your favorite cause.
- Work with your county’s Community Foundation, like the Community Foundation of Broward if you live in Fort Lauderdale. These groups have local expertise and can match your interests with your community’s needs.
- Want to know more about Impact 100 Palm Beach? Visit their website or feel free to call or email us. (Sorry! Membership is limited to women only!).
- Remember: All it takes is one person to make a big impact!
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