• The evening began on March 7th with food, drinks, and a fun social time among Grant Review Teams (GRTs) and non-GRT members. We then had guided social activities facilitated by member Tiarra Comer that gave us a laugh and helped us interact with members we may not have met before. It was truly a warm experience to get to know many different members and guests and to discuss varied opinions and ideas. (Can you imagine how “well connected” you would be if you came to all of the Impact 100 events?!)

    The Mission Moment was next and we learned more about our hosts, the Life Learning Center (LLC). We heard how 2022 grant recipient LLC delivers a holistic, integrated continuum of education and care to help ‘at-risk’ citizens step up to their highest potential. The Impact 100 grant money is being used to upgrade the LLC kitchen where meals are prepared for candidates.

    We transitioned to the business part of our program as Kathy Thornton, Impact 100 president, presented our 2022 accomplishments and 2023 priorities. In summary, last year we awarded four transformational grants of $101,000 and engaged over 150 members in the grant review process. We also held many successful events and expanded our marketing and public relations activities. The 2022 Member Survey results were very positive (99% of respondents were satisfied, with 87% extremely or very satisfied). In 2023, we will focus on awarding $100,000 transformative grants to four outstanding nonprofits, with a long-term goal to award five grants by 2026. We are also optimizing our sustainability, including implementing a comprehensive member management system. (Stay tuned for more details). As Kathy emphasized, by working together, we will ensure that Impact 100 is an expanding and welcoming community for members and nonprofits.

    The evening ended with volunteer engagement coordinator Janet Sullivan introducing the new opportunities to volunteer with our grant recipients. There will be chances to work with our nonprofit community throughout the year.