News
Local women join together to support CIS of Richmond
Posted May 6, 2011
Last night, more than 270 Richmond women came together to give a $100,000 grant to Communities In Schools of Richmond, Inc. (CIS).
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The women are members of Impact 100 Richmond, a “women’s giving circle” or collective giving initiative. Each woman contributed money to help fund the grant. Impact 100 works in partnership with The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia.
“This is going to allow us to double the number of children in the East End who receive backpacks with a weekend full of nutritious meals,” said Harold Fitrer, CIS president and CEO. “This is critically important because 98 percent of the children we serve in this area qualify for free and reduced lunch. That means nearly all of the children are chronically hungry.”
CIS will work with FeedMore to implement the grant.
Ending weeks of suspense, the members chose the winner through an exciting live vote. 35 members initially applied for the grant. Committees narrowed the pool to five finalists, announced in April.
“Thanks to all of the hard work of the Impact 100 supporters and volunteers, hundreds of hungry kids in Richmond will eat,” said Talley Baratka, co-founder of Impact 100. “Impact 100’s goal is to maximize the power that women have to create lasting, positive change. We are really looking forward to watching CIS and FeedMore use our grant to help make Richmond a better place.”
The Community Foundation provides guidance and support to Impact 100.
“It is so exciting to be a part of an initiative that involves women bringing a new philanthropic resource to the community,” said Elaine Summerfield of The Community Foundation. “Something so simple can make such a big difference.”
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Additional Information
- Impact 100 grants change Richmond for the better.
- Communities In Schools of Richmond connects community resources with schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life. Services include mentoring, tutoring, health care, after-school programs, family counseling and more.
- This is the second year the group awarded a transformational $100,000 grant. Last year’s winner was Southside Child Development Center, which provides high quality, affordable childcare services and preschool education for children of low-income working parents. The Center is using the grant for significant upgrades to its physical structure.