Club of Influence: Women’s Giving Circle Empowers and Transforms Lives
The Women's Giving Circle, a dedicated group of philanthropic women, is making a significant impact in Washington County by generously supporting programs that empower local women and children. During their June 1 meeting, the Women's Giving Circle proudly awarded a collective $11,000 in grants to three deserving initiatives.
Moved by the inspiring presentations, the group decided to increase the award amounts from their usual $4,000, $2,000, and $1,000 allocations. The first and second-place recipients were both granted $4,000, while the third-place initiative received $3,000. This distribution fully utilized the funds available until the next meeting.
The grants will be allocated as follows:
$4,000 will support the first-ever InfluencHer Leadership Summit, a free one-day program for middle school girls in Washington County that strives to empower young girls and foster their leadership potential.
$4,000 will support a collaboration between the Washington County Homeless Project and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), which provides an avenue for homeless and disadvantaged families to regularly do their laundry.
$3,000 will support the Betsey Mills Club as they repair chipped floors that pose a safety hazard, refresh paint, and incorporate tutoring services focusing on kindergarten readiness, reading, and math into four classrooms.
By strategically distributing their resources, the Women's Giving Circle ensures that their grants have a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of women and children in their community.
Kerry Jean Waddle, Executive Director of the Betsey Mills Club, expressed her excitement, stating, “We are extremely excited to receive funding from the Women's Giving Circle! The Women's Giving Circle is an amazing group of women who are passionate about giving back to the community! Their giving spirit will help so many people, and their impact will be seen for decades to come! We feel so blessed to be included in this grant funding, and we cannot say thank you enough!”
Keri Dunn
The heartfelt stories of the projects' impact deeply moved the Women's Giving Circle members, including Keri Dunn, a newer member of the group. Keri shared her personal connection, saying, “My grandpa just passed away, and he was a dedicated RSVP volunteer. He could hardly walk, but would still be out delivering Meals on Wheels. It was so important to him! He’s part of the reason I’m here. He taught us that no matter our circumstances, there are always others who are worse off and need our help.”
Since its establishment in 2016, the Women's Giving Circle has donated over $60,000 to various nonprofits in Washington County.
The Women's Giving Circle welcomes new members who share their passion for philanthropy and their desire to drive positive change. By joining, individuals can actively participate in the decision-making process and directly impact the lives of women and children in their community. For more information on becoming a member, please contact Heather Allender at heather@mcfohio.org or 740-373-3286.
