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Impact 100 gives big

At its 8th annual Big Give, Impact 100 Richmond presented two transformative grants of $100,000 each to CARITAS and Sacred Heart Center. This annual event marks the culmination of a year-long women’s giving initiative that brings together more than 300 women from across the Richmond region. Since 2009, members have collectively reinvested $1.2 million in community-based organizations that are either filling gaps in service or expanding programs to address the needs of local residents.

CARITAS is well-known for programs that help the most vulnerable members of our community overcome crisis through overnight shelter, the CARITAS Furniture Bank, the CARITAS Works employment training program and the Healing Place for men. It will use the Impact 100 grant to develop the CARITAS Center, which allows the organization to provide recovery services for women – through a new Healing Place for Women – and consolidate existing programs under one roof.

Founded in 1990, Sacred Heart Center revised its mission in 2011 to create a hub for the Latino community that opens opportunities for social and economic integration, family success and community leadership. In that spirit, the organization will use its award to launch the Family Protection Project. The goal of the project is to provide support, referrals and legal defense to immigrant families in Richmond with the goal to prevent the separation of families.  

At the Big Give, held Tuesday evening at the Steward School, members heard presentations from five finalists and then conducted a live vote to determine the 2017 grant recipients. The other finalists included Groundwork RVA, Virginia Advanced Studies Strategies and Virginia Capitol Foundation.

“The Big Give reminds us of what we’re all about – to connect and be connected. As a collection of women philanthropists, we connect with our mission to transform lives through giving, with each other, and with our nonprofit partners,” said Jill Lemon, Chair of Impact 100. “We are excited to add two new partners tonight. Not only will CARITAS and Sacred Heart Center receive grants of $100,000 each tonight, but our members will continue to show support as advocates and volunteers in the year ahead.”

Impact 100 Richmond is a partnership with The Community Foundation that unites women around the simple idea that we can accomplish more together than we can alone. Members are diverse in age and background, but they share a common desire to learn about local issues and combine their resources for positive community change. Through member education, volunteer events and grantmaking, Impact 100 has supported more than a dozen projects ranging from a new teen art center, permanent housing for victims of abuse and increased access to fresh, healthy produce for residents living in food deserts.

“I’ve observed the leadership development in committee members and I’ve seen how our members’ expanded knowledge has continuously turned into actionable results. I love that we’re affecting change with and within each other,” Lemon said.

Impact 100 Richmond is one of three collective giving networks at The Community Foundation and part of a nationwide culture shift of rising women philanthropists. Impact 100 is based on at least 100 women giving $1,100 each to create one or more $100,000 grants – with $1,000 used to support the important work of grant recipients and $100 to support ongoing operations. Members also can pool resources through an Impact Circle – two or three individuals who combine efforts to reach a full $1,100 donation. 

Impact 100 membership is open to all women throughout metro Richmond. Membership forms are available at www.impact100rva.org.



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