There was a lot to celebrate at WIF's annual meeting - five new grantees, a new Board Chair and new Board members, and a continuing sense that our collective-giving organization is making a difference in Charlotte.

More than 175 gathered at the Foundation For The Carolinas Wednesday, May 11, for the annual event, sponsored again this year by Wells Fargo. Thank you, Wells Fargo!

WIF's five new grantees - receiving a record total of $437,000 - are: Augustine Literacy Project, Catawba Lands Conservancy, Children's Home Society, Communities in Schools and Musical Minds NC.  This brings the total amount of WIF grants awarded to more than $4.6 million!

L-R: Kathleen O'Bannon & Lisa Miller, incoming & current Grants Chairs; Mary Lynn Baldwin, ED of MusicalMinds NC

"Your impact is helping and serving, and it's changing lives," said Mary Lynn Baldwin of Musical Minds NC in accepting her organization's grant check.

The event also gave members a chance to salute outgoing Board Chair Mary Gallivan and to hear from her about WIF's busy and productive year.

	L-R: Anne Essaye & Mary Gallivan

Anne Essaye was officially elected to chair the 2016-2017 WIF Board of Directors. The membership also approved all of the Board, Board of Advisors, Nominating Committee and incoming Committee Chairs. Mattye Silverman will take over leadership of the Board of Advisors. View full slate here.

2016 Women's Impact Fund Grant Recipients:

Arts & Culture: MusicalMinds NC received $93,000 for its Musical Arts Program for Elementary Students to engage students from low income neighborhoods in after school musical arts programing designed to promote social change through character education, promoting self-esteem, teamwork, leadership, and social responsibility.

 

Education: Augustine Literacy Project received $100,000 to expand its current program that addresses literacy challenges through an intensive tutoring program, which pairs 1st and 2nd grade Title I CMS students with highly trained tutors.

 

L-R: Lisa Miller (WIF), Rick Brown of CHS, Molly Shaw of CIS, Tom Okel of Catawba Lands Conservancy, Kathleen O'Bannon (WIF), Mary Lynn Baldwin of MusicalMinds & Alison Houser of Augustine Literacy Project

Environment: Catawba Lands Conservancy received $74,000 to hire an Environmental Education Programmer to develop and expand its educational programs, which will focus on the importance of conservation and connecting the community to nature.


Health: Children's Home Society received $100,000 for its Wise Guys Male Responsibility Program, which targets boys ages 11-17, many in Title I schools, to promote healthy concepts of masculinity and responsible behavior while educating young men about wise choices regarding sexual relations.

Human Services: Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg received $70,000 for its Immigrant Youth Services.  Funds will be used to hire a program coordinator to expand its efforts to serve newly arrived immigrant students and develop specialized programming to address their unique needs.

To view more pictures from the event, click HERE.

New Venture: Congrats to member Holly Hughes on starting a new intuitive healing practice that uses a fusion of healing techniques.

Honors: New member Christine Gardiner is being honored by Wells Fargo.  She will be traveling to San Diego to receive their national Golden Spoke award in recognition of her amazing teamwork and efforts in improving their Healthcare Group where she serves as Vice President.

WIF members, we want to hear from you!  This new feature - WIF Member News - depends totally on you!  Please send us news of a new job, new volunteer leadership role, a new addition to your family, a big move or anything else you'd like to share with your family of WIF friends.  Email: communications@womensimpactfund.org