| The Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness Wins 2009 Inaugural Grant! |
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It's official! Impact100 Philadelphia members voted Monday night, June 1, to award their first grant for $111,000 to PCEH, a nonprofit organization that places homeless people in the Philadelphia area in homes, rather than in shelters. Here, Impact100 Grants Chair Anita Lockhart (left) congratulates Phyllis Ryan Jackson and Ruth Holland, both of PCEH, along with Impact Co-Presidents Mary Broach and Beth Dahle.
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PCEH is Recipient of Impact100 2009 Inaugural Grant
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On Monday evening, Impact100 Philadelphia members voted at the first Annual Meeting to award the 2009 Inaugural Grant to the Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness.
The nonprofit organization represented by Executive Director Phyllis Ryan Jackson (right) and Ruth Holland, Housing Advocate, received a standing ovation as the vote was announced. The PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia program, which will be funded by the $111,000 grant, was a finalist from the Family focus area. Other presentations were made by the finalists in the focus areas Arts & Culture, Education,
Environment, and Health & Wellness.
"This is the largest amount of money we've ever received," Jackson said. "We loved from the beginning the boldness of the plan to make such an impact."
Holland said she was "overwhelmed" by the vote and that PCEH was more committed than ever to "house 111 people in homes this year," referring to the $111,000 Impact grant, and the PCEH board's pledge to house at least one person per $1,000 of the grant.
The other four exceptional finalists were Interim House, the second-place winner; Musicopia, third place; ERTHNXT, fourth place; and the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation, fifth place (see box at right for further information on how to volunteer or donate to these organizations).
Dismayed by the growing number of people living on the streets, a group of Philadelphia residents and commuters founded PCEH in 1982. At that time, shelters were the only option for homeless people. PCEH moved to adopt a new approach growing nationwide called "Housing First," offering homeless people a more permanent solution. In the process, they learned that homeless people were not outcasts, but "simply people without a home." What they needed, as we all do, was "a place to call home," Jackson said.
SafeHome Philadelphia opened in 2005 and since that time has placed 80 families with 205 children in stable homes. With the Impact100 grant, SafeHome will provide housing for 25 families (minimum 111 people), and work with Early Head Start at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to provide weekly visits to these families to empower them to become their children's first teacher. |
From the Presidents
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Dear Members and Friends,
A year ago, Impact100 Philadelphia was the shell of an
organization, with no paid members or operating funds, and just pages of
notes in three-ring binders as its guiding principles. In short
order, women around the region signed on to participate in a collective grant,
and soon after that, former strangers were working together on the
board, mingling at the Welcome Reception, and volunteering to read and
review proposals.
We have been continually amazed and gratified throughout this first year by
the commitment, insight and dedication of our 111 members. This is a
wonderful group of women, and Impact100 would not have become the strong
organization it is without participation by each of you. Thank you for
joining us during this founding year, and congratulations on the very
significant grant you have awarded.
We are already looking forward to June 2010 and the second grant cycle,
and hope to offer even more funding next year. We hope you
will join us.
Beth Dahle and Mary Broach
Founders and Co-Presidents
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At The Down Town Club...
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More than 100 Impact members and guests attended the first Annual Meeting Monday evening, June 1, at The Down Town Club, overlooking Independence Hall in historic Olde City. We are especially grateful to Annual Meeting Chairs Barbara Gross and Claudie Williams  who worked throughout the spring to create the meeting materials and plan the evening.
Members cast a grand total of 87 votes -- primarily at the meeting -- while a few submitted absentee ballots. That's a 78 percent turnout, an impressive number for Impact's first year. Several Impact groups in other cities have reported that on average, two-thirds of members cast votes to award grants.
Last night's vote and the choice of PCEH as the grant recipient was the culmination of more than four months of grant review and finalist selection by Impact members. Many of those members congratulated PCEH following the vote, including one member, Frankie Rothseid.
"We are equally or more joyous than you are about this!" she told PCEH Executive Director Phyllis Ryan Jackson. The evening was rewarding on all counts.
Impact members (above) stand to applaud PCEH as the grant finalist is announced. |
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In the News |
NBC10 featured the awarding of the Impact100 grant Monday evening on the 11 o'clock news. The report followed an earlier story on Memorial Day by reporter Tracy Davidson. Davidson interviewed Co-President Beth Dahle at her home, and during the news report, described the Impact mission as inspiring to others looking to support their local communities.
A third story appeared Tuesday afternoon on NBC10's news at 5 o'clock when Davidson described the grant announcement at the Annual Meeting.
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It's been a terrific first year. Impact100 could not have done it without such tremendous support. Thanks for reading the third e-newsletter. Enjoy your summer.
Sincerely,
Beth Burrell
Communications Chair
Back to top
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Newsletter
Volume 3
June 2009
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Many Thanks for Your Help
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| A number of Impact members stepped forward this spring and offered their time and skills. FAC Chairs Mary Brown, Kate Carp, Deborah Fedder, Julie Morgan, and Fay Trachtenberg expertly led Focus Area Committees as members chose grant finalists. Karen Nathan and Nancy Librett helped to proofread editions of the e-newsletter. Also, Karen helped Wendy Peck, Chair of Educational Programs, to create the first Impact member survey, which will be emailed next week. Many thanks are extended as well to Barbara Gross and Claudie Williams for putting together an amazing first Annual Meeting at The Down Town Club in Philadelphia, and to members Carrie Brodsky and Brooke Bernhardt for taking terrific photos during the evening. |
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Supporting the Impact Finalists
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Besides PCEH, four exceptional nonprofit organizations presented projects at the Annual Meeting Monday. For Impact members who would like to volunteer at or donate to these organizations, please learn more at the websites below:
Interim House: www.phmc.org
ERTHNXT:
www.erthnxt.org
Musicopia:
www.musicopia.net
Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation:
www.lindacreed.org
Visit our website within the next few days to see wish lists from some applicant organizations and a list of all full proposal organizations.
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Join us at Impact100
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| Please consider renewing your membership now, or joining Impact100 Philadelphia for the first time. Donations for the 2010 grant are due by Dec. 1, 2009. Contributions before that date, however, help Impact100 earn interest to offset operating expenses for website, communication, legal and other expenses. Please visit our website, www.impact100philly.org to make your contribution. |
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Save the Date
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Impact100 will host a Welcome Reception in October at the restaurant, 333 Belrose, in Radnor. More details will follow later this summer. |
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Board of Directors at Impact
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Impact100 would like to welcome a new board member, Stephanie Maguire,
joining us this fall. Stephanie will take over Public Relations and
Marketing, while Charlotte Schutzman
will begin serving in the newly
created position of Membership Chair.
The 2009-2010 Board:
Co-President: Beth Dahle
Co-President: Mary Broach
Treasurer: Cheryl Haze Luehrs
Secretary: Ellan Bernstein
Grants: Anita Lockhart
Educational Programs: Wendy Peck
PR/Marketing: Stephanie Maguire
Website: Charlotte Schutzman
Recruiting: Jacquie Kelly
Communications: Beth Burrell |
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