Impact 100 members and prospective members gathered at the Quail Valley Boat House last Thursday to hear what Impact 100’s four newest Community Partners have accomplished since April when they were each awarded a $100,000 transformational grant.
“We’re very fortunate; we live in a very philanthropic community and this organization I think is exemplary in the best practices of this type of organization,” said Brad Emmons, CEO of Vero Insurance, the event’s sponsor.
Carolyn Antenen, Impact Week chairwoman, introduced the four panelists – Mary Silva, executive director of Literacy Services of Indian River County; Moreen Burkart, music therapist at VNA of the Treasure Coast; Shawna Callaghan, director of programs at Senior Resource Association; and Shelley Stuven, executive director of Indian River Medical Society.
Board president Rebecca Emmons moderated the questions, giving each an opportunity to speak about how the money was spent, where their projects currently stand and the overall impact of the grants.
Literacy Services purchased the curriculum and materials for a nationally recognized program to teach parents how to navigate the school system and get them more engaged in their children’s education. Participating parents have begun to understand that schools are partners, and are volunteering and getting involved to become better role models for their children. “They are a part of the solution,” said Silva. Parents have also signed up for individual tutoring through Literacy Services’ other programs and are now reading to their children, creating a stronger bond and breaking the generational cycle of illiteracy.
The VNA is utilizing its grant to build and establish a music therapy program for hospice patients and has expanded it throughout the community, including to patients at Indian River Medical Center and groups at the Alzheimer and Parkinson’s Association, where one patient said it made more of a difference than her neurologist has. “There are a lot of people with neurological disorders and there was no music therapy here,” said Burkart. “Looking at the world in a holistic way; giving the families an outlet that is noninvasive can make such a difference in their care.”
The Senior Resource Association is working to transform its Sebastian Adult Day Care Center, refining the space into a safe and friendly environment to better handle the needs of seniors with cognitive and/or physical disabilities. “It does help them actually improve their symptoms and makes them healthier and happier. It also affects their caregivers and families. It matters to them; it’s changing lives,” said Callaghan, adding that the number of Alzheimer patients is expected to triple by 2050.
The Indian River County Medical Society used its grant to renovate dedicated clinic space at the Gifford Health Center for its We Care program in collaboration with the Health Department and Hospital District to provide free medical care to low-income residents. They will now offer primary care with a full-time physician to supplement the care provided by roughly 130 volunteer physicians.
“What has been missing for those who need free care is continuity. If your health is in jeopardy then it’s very difficult, and sometimes completely impossible, for people to work,” said Stuven, noting it is often the start of a downward spiral.
The panelists were unanimous in affirming that the benefits of being an Impact 100 partner were enormous, garnering respect for their organizations and setting them up to reassure others that their programs are worthy of support.
Membership is open through March 1 to all women who wish to contribute $1,000; the number of transformational grants is dependent on that year’s membership and the group hopes to be able to award four again this year. For more information, visit www.impact100ir.com.