MARTIN COUNTY

Education Foundation of Martin County takes home $100,000 Impact 100 grant

Denise Belizar
Special to TCPalm

Impact 100 Martin’s 151 members voted to select the Education Foundation of Martin County as its $100,000 Impact Grant recipient at the awards celebration April 11 at Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club in Palm City.

Representatives from Impact 100 Martin’s Executive Committee and The Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie present the Impact Grant to the Education Foundation of Martin County. Pictured are, from left, Ellyn Stevenson, Linda Weiksnar, Nancy Wong, Genevieve George, Rita May Wright, Elaine Matts, Lisa Rhodes of the Education Foundation of Martin County, Arati Hammond, Elizabeth Barbella, Denise Belizar, Cindi Slagter and Tiann Berhoff.

The Education Foundation will use the grant to expand its “EFMC Plays Across the District” program to all elementary schools in Martin County. EFMC Plays promotes language, literacy and social interaction with students at the kindergarten level, and has demonstrated significant results in a pilot program conducted this past year.

Other grant finalists included the Florida Oceanographic Society for “Living Shorelines to Save Our Waters” and Tykes & Teens for “Project TEACH (Training and Educating All Child Healers).” Each agency received a $25,500 grant.

“Our growing membership allows us to award a $100,000 Impact Grant as well as provide funding to our other finalists,” said Impact 100 Martin Executive Chair Nancy Wong. “We look forward to underwriting even more promising nonprofit initiatives in the future.”

Wendy Steele, founder of the international Impact 100 collective giving movement and recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service, gave a keynote address focusing on women in philanthropy.

VIDEO: Listen to Wendy Steele talk about the impact of generosity

Impact 100 empowers women to dramatically improve lives by collectively funding significant grants that make a lasting impact in communities. The concept is simple: At least 100 women each donate $1,000, with 100 percent of the donations given directly to charity. Impact Grants of $100,000 are awarded to the non-profit organizations and programs where they will have the most transformative impact.

Major sponsors for Impact 100 Martin’s second annual Grant Awards Celebration are: Wong Family Foundation, HBKS Wealth Advisors/HBK CPAs and Consultants, Morgridge Family Foundation, PNC Wealth Management and The Arati Hammond Real Estate Team.

Impact 100 Martin is a giving circle within the Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie.

Women interested in joining Impact 100 Martin should contact Robin Cartwright of the Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie at 772-288-3795 or download a membership application at www.impact100martin.org.

MORE: Project L.I.F.T. receives $100,000 grant from Impact 100 Martin

MORE:  Women are changing face of philanthropy on Treasure Coast

MORE:  Impact 100 Martin reaches goal of 100 women, $100,000