Impact 100 raises $170,000 for grant money to nonprofit groups

ERIK HACKMAN

ERIK.HACKMAN@NEWSANDTRIBUNE.COM

SOUTHERN INDIANA — Impact 100 announced Tuesday that it has raised $170,000 and surpassed $1 million in total giving.

Impact 100 is a global movement that started in the early 2000s in Cincinnati but now is an organization that has chapters all over the country and in Great Britain and Australia.

In 2007, Hazel Bales and a group of women from the Southern Indiana area founded the Women’s Foundation of Southern Indiana. They had a vision that recognized the philanthropic potential of women in Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties.

After wanting to expand the Women’s Foundation of Southern Indiana, the organization evolved into Impact 100 Southern Indiana in 2017.

The purpose of the organization is to bring a group of women together to make a $1,000 donation. The total amount goes toward two grants to give two nonprofit organizations.

“We transform communities through women who pool resources to make a local impact,” said Cindy Sisloff, the president of Impact 100 Southern Indiana. “This is the power of women giving as one.”

Last year, Impact 100 raised $156,000 and was able to give grants to two organizations for the first time. This year they kept up that tradition and will be giving $170,000. They will be awarding the grant on Nov. 6 at Huber’s Winery.

The two organizations that won last year were REACH! Food Program 4 Kids and Serenity House.

See IMPACT on A3 celebrated raising $170,000 and $1 million in total giving Tuesday evening.

Erik Hackman | News and Tribune

Impact 100 members

Continued from A1

With the money REACH! received, it was able to create a software program so that families can use an app that will help deliver food to their children who need it.

“Doors have opened for REACH! Food Program for kids that never opened in the 10 years that we have been doing this,” said Tracy Patton, the founder of REACH! “Now we have relationships with the Louisville Thoroughbred Society, Texas Roadhouse… There’s been connections you have helped us make that would have never, ever happened without this grant.”

At the award ceremony in November, Impact 100 Southern Indiana will be hosting the Impact 100 Global Day of Giving. The founder of Impact 100, Wendy Steele, will attend the ceremony and speak at it as well.

“The final number (the amount they are giving) represents so much more than just the dollar,” Sisloff said. “It represents the women who care deeply about your community. You are the women who want to make a difference.”

Cindy Sisloff