VERO BEACH – Clearly delighted to have been selected, enthusiastic representatives from six non-profit organizations gathered at the Quail Valley River Club Boathouse and were officially announced as finalists in the 2012 Indian River Impact 100 grant selection process.
“Last year, the first time the finalists met each other was in that meeting room; it was pretty intense,” said Impact 100 board secretary Wanda Lincoln. “This time we decided to have them meet each other in a more social environment first.”
Martha Lemasters, vice president of communications, thanked members of the press for their continued publicity, reiterating, “When a member gives $1,000, we make a promise to them that every dollar goes into the grant program.”
She got a laugh from the crowd when she emphasized the thoroughness of the vetting process by comparing the leadership team’s all-day review of 18 grant proposals to the birth of her first child.
Sue Tompkins, Impact 100 board president, thanked all those involved in the organization’s remarkable success, giving special recognition to Wilmington Trust, which has sponsored Impact 100 from the beginning.
“The first year, we were going to try to find 100 women,” remembered Tompkins. Formed in December 2008, Impact 100 has consistently surpassed its annual goal.
“We really hit a milestone this year,” said a beaming Tompkins. “I have the privilege of announcing today that we have 416 members. We had 147 new members.”
Tompkins credited the noteworthy growth to its dedicated volunteers. This year they also hosted frequent neighborhood friend-raisers to tell the Impact 100 story and speak of the countless lives touched by each $1,000 contribution.
The six finalists will make their case before the full Impact 100 membership at the Annual Meeting on April 19. Members will vote that same day and will present four $100,000 transformational grants to Impact 100’s newest community partners. Two other finalists will split the remaining $16,000.
2012 Impact 100 grant finalists:
A grant to the Education Foundation of Indian River County will fund a secure network system for the SKIRC called “ForeScout Counteract,” which will allow students access to an enhanced learning environment.
The Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA) “Save the Water Babies” project is designed to give students a real-world science and education experience to use as the basis of an initiative to understand how community actions and inactions contribute to the health of the Indian River Lagoon.
The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County hopes to expand upon its low-cost Animal Wellness Clinic, which provides vaccinations, medications and spay/neuter services, in an effort to keep animals from being surrendered due to economic hardship.
CASTLE proposes a home-based “Safe Families Volunteers” program to provide education and support to lower risk families, strengthening the families and keeping children safe.
Sebastian Charter Junior High School is seeking a “Fully equipped and Ready to Learn” grant for needed furnishings and equipment including computers, interactive white boards, science lab desks and clinic equipment.
An Environmental Learning Center grant would provide six interactive, interpretive exhibits in the Discovery Station and will establish the ELC’s first docent program led by high school students.
“It’s such a simple, effective idea,” said Jane Coyle, president-elect and membership chair, when asked about Impact 100’s continued success.
By the end of this granting period, Impact 100 will have provided $1,185,000 to area non-profits in just four years.