IMPACT 100 announces grant finalists/recipients

The 323 women of IMPACT 100 of Northwest Florida, Inc. recently announced the three organizations awarded a $107,667 grant at the organization’s 2015 Annual Membership Meeting. With these awards, IMPACT 100 of Northwest Florida has now contributed a total of $921,000 to the nonprofits of Okaloosa and Walton Counties for projects that benefit the community.

Education

AMIkids Emerald Coast

Project: Implementation of the AMIkids Careers program to offer quality vocational training as well as teaching job-¬readiness skills to students

Family

Matrix Community Outreach Center, Inc.

Project: Purchase of a building to house the Redemption Center and main office. (Grant would be used for down payment).

Health & Wellness

Grace Rides

Project: Creation of an accessible equine therapy barn facility for the disabled. The barn will house 14 therapy horses and their feed and supplies.

Five committees, representing each of the five focus areas, comprised of IMPACT 100 members, spent several weeks reviewing the 37 grant applications and making site visits. Each committee then determined the finalist for its particular focus area.

“The IMPACT 100 grant review is an amazingly rewarding process — not only for the organizations, but for our members," said Christine Carter, president of IMPACT 100. "Every year we learn more about our community and its needs. The focus committees carefully review the applications and then visit the organization to hear firsthand about their projects. Our biggest frustration is that we are unable to award grants to all the applicants."

Each of the five finalists presented a five minute summary of their grant request to the members. Then, with the assistance of Walton County Supervisor of Elections, Bobby Beasley, and his staff, the members voted to select the top three finalists and grant recipients.