We are pleased to announce our five finalists for 2010. The Grant Review Committees thoroughly reviewed this year’s grant applications and have selected these finalists.
Pictured Above: Chris Adams, Managing Director of Stepping Stones Center;
Peggy Kreimer, Communications/Grants Director for Stepping Stones Center;
Nancy Lawson, Board Chair, Dress for Success Cincinnati; Mary Ivers, Founder/President,
Dress for Success Cincinnati; Tim Vogt, Executive Director, Starfire; Kathleen Shei, Starfire U Junior;
Hope Wilson, Working in Neighborhoods Project Manager; S. Barbara Busch, Executive Director,
Working in Neighborhoods; Charlene Ventura, President & CEO, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati;
Kristin Shrimplin, Director, Family Violence Prevention Project.
The YWCA initiated a program called the End Abuse—Embrace Hope project in 2001. The goal was to use school systems as the mechanism to create a cultural shift among youth and parents; they want them to understand and reject teen dating violence and to promote cultural norms that support healthy, safe relationships. With the Impact 100 grant, the End Abuse—Embrace Hope project would be expanded to 8 additional high schools, reaching approximately 1,600 more students and 80 teachers/administrators with this critical learning experience. This quadruples the current program where currently there is a waiting list.
Environment, Preservation and Recreation: Working in Neighborhoods
Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) empowers people to make informed choices for themselves and their neighborhoods through community building, home ownership and economic competency. Since 1978 WIN has been an effective force in helping low and moderate income Hamilton County residents bring stability to their neighborhoods and families. The Impact 100 grant would be used in Cumminsville to return the Borden Street area to a safe, well-maintained neighborhood by reclaiming vacant buildings and lots. Specifically, this phase involves renovating one home, building four homes on vacant lots and converting an historical building into three quality apartments.
Education: Starfire Council of Greater Cincinnati Inc.
Starfire’s mission is to enrich the lives of teens and adults with developmental disabilities through unlimited opportunities that build independence and community inclusion. Starfire U is a seminar curriculum that is coupled with clients being involved in daily community experiences which provides practice in real life settings. The method is particularly effective in increasing social confidence, personal responsibility, self-awareness, employability and independence of its clients. The Impact 100 grant would provide instructors and staffing resources for the next two incoming Starfire U classes.
Family: Dress for Success Cincinnati (DISC)
DfSC is requesting funds to launch a new mobile outreach program through a Mobile Suiting Unit van that would expand its ability to serve women who have difficulty reaching the downtown location. Their goals are to provide interview appropriate attire for women, give women the tools they need to understand written and unwritten rules of the workplace, develop financial literacy skills and provide support services that are critical in helping women retain employment. Dress for Success Cincinnati is seeking to expand its unique services to outlying areas of Greater Cincinnati, as well as counties in Northern Kentucky, through a Mobile Suiting Unit van. In addition, DfSC will increase their visibility and attract more donations and volunteers. They will use the van to pick up donations they believe are currently “lost” because of the inconvenience of getting a donation downtown.
Health & Wellness: Stepping Stones Center
Stepping Stones Center works to fill gaps and meet unmet needs for services to children and adults with disabilities. They are seeking assistance to purchase a new Desert-Aire environmental-humidity control system. The system will remove humidity from the air and regulate both heat and moisture in the pool area. The old system (installed in 1970) has failed and they are starting to experience rusting beams and leakage of tar from the roof tiles. Without the new system these problems will worsen causing structural damage and create mold related health issues. The pool is a rare and precious resource for many of the physically disabled clients of Stepping Stones.
THIS is why we are all involved. What a tough decision this will be — such diverse
and meaningful causes. Impact 100 is a great organization!
— Becki Potter Meyer
Congratulations to the finalists. The
Annual Awards Celebration will be Thursday, September 16, 2010 at the Union Terminal. Members should have received an e-mail with a link for the Executive Summary of each of these organizations.
If you are unable to attend and would like to request an absentee ballot, please e-mail your name, mailing address and phone number to
ballot@Impact100.org as soon as possible.
Thanks to all the committee members whose thoughtful consideration of the grant applications has given us these finalists!
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