VERO BEACH — “This is an exciting day. It’s the first ever panel discussion with our community partners; this year’s grant winners,” said Carolyn Antenen, Impact Week chairwoman.
Earlier in the week, current and future members of Impact 100 had an opportunity to tour the facilities of the four organizations which had each been awarded $100,000 grants in April.
Impact Week culminated Thursday afternoon with a panel discussion and cocktail reception at the Quail Valley Boat House, where representatives from the organizations described how the grants had impacted the services they provide to the community.
Impact 100 was formed locally in December, 2008, with an initial goal of recruiting 100 women to each donate $1,000 toward a “transformational and impactful” grant of $100,000 to local nonprofits.
Surpassing their goals every year, the women recruited 429 members last year, providing four $100,000 grants, and splitting the remaining $29,000 between two other finalists.
Impact 100 president Linda Knoll moderated the discussion which included Karen Deigl, Senior Resource Association president/CEO; Vicki Soulé, Treasure Coast Community Health CEO; Lalita Janke, Camp Haven board president; and Jenni Palm, Big Brothers Big Sisters vice president of programs, who all thanked Impact 100 members for their generosity, before explaining how the grant money had been spent.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is developing a Mentor Training Collaborative, and has hired a dedicated mentor trainer to develop a curriculum for comprehensive mentor and staff training for organizations with mentorship programs, build a resource library, and facilitate mentor roundtables with other organizations.
Camp Haven is reconstructing, bringing up to code and outfitting the former Citrus Motel, transforming it into the only shelter in Indian River County to house homeless men.
The facility required extensive repairs, including a new roof. The facility has just opened its doors to its first residents, and hopes to purchase equipment to help train the men for future employment.
Treasure Coast Community Health, which provides health and dental care to individuals regardless of their economic circumstances, reconfigured its Oslo Road Center, adding two additional dental exam spaces and equipment, to reduce their waiting lists and treat an increased number of patients.
The Senior Resource Association transformed its Schumann Center, previously utilized as a Senior Center, into an Adult Day Care Center, through the purchase of healthcare-related furniture and safety elements and retrofitted the bathrooms with showers and handicap accessibility.
Panelists spoke to the group about the transformational aspects of the grants for the clients they serve, and also spoke to the future, how they will sustain their programs once the grant moneys are expended and the challenges they face.
Several also mentioned the credibility and awareness these grants have brought to their organizations, and Knoll noted that even those who didn’t receive grants this time, were able to benefit from the experience.
“You can see from hearing from these four different community partners what a wide range of needs there are in this community,” said Knoll.
Knoll said the group hopes to again reach 400 members this year, which would meet their goal of providing $2 million in grants over the past six years.
“I was fortunate to stand on the shoulders of the women who came before me,” said Knoll with a smile.
New 2014 memberships will be accepted until Feb. 28, and members will vote on this year’s recipients on April 10.
Membership information is available at www.impact100ir.com.
