Impact 100 Indian River Awards $487,000 to Local Nonprofits at 16th Annual Meeting

Vero Beach, FL, April 17, 2024 – The 16th Annual Meeting of Impact 100 Indian River concluded with great enthusiasm on Wednesday at Oak Harbor, celebrating the award of $487,000 in grants to local nonprofits dedicated to transformative community initiatives.

The afternoon began with a vibrant social hour from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, featuring hors d’oeuvres and beverages, setting the stage for the presentations by ten finalist organizations. Following these presentations, members cast their votes to select the recipients of this year’s grants.

Four nonprofits each received a $100,000 grant:

  • Bike Walk Indian River County, Inc. – For their “Pedal It Forward” initiative.
  • Feed the Lambs Enrichment Program, Inc. – Supporting their comprehensive after-school tutoring and summer camp programs.
  • Homeless Children’s Foundation of IRC – For their “Compassion in Action: Camps Enriching the Lives of Homeless Youth” project.
  • Ocean Research and Conservation Association, Inc. – For their “St. Sebastian River Pollution Mapping” project.

Additionally, six other finalists were each awarded merit grants of $14,500, further contributing to the community’s welfare through diverse programs ranging from educational support to crisis intervention.

“The collective giving model of Impact 100 has once again demonstrated its effectiveness, with members thoughtfully voting to support projects that address critical community needs,” said Suzi McCoy Shriner, President of Impact 100 Indian River.

Lynn Byrnes, Grants Chair, added, “Our democratic process is what makes Impact 100 unique among grant-making bodies, empowering each member with a vote and a voice in the allocation of funds.”

The meeting also underscored the commitment of Impact 100 to support nonprofit excellence through its grant-making process, which includes visioning, grant-writing workshops, and application support. The next Grant Writing Workshop is scheduled for June 25th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am at Northern Trust.

About Impact 100 Indian River: Founded in 2008, Impact 100 Indian River is a powerful initiative of nearly 500 philanthropic women who collectively support the community through transformational giving. To date, the organization has contributed over $6.5 million to local causes. Open to all women in Indian River County, Impact 100 leverages team philanthropy to make substantial grant awards that foster significant community impacts.

What the Winners had to Say:

“Our team is very excited about working with Sebastian River High School students in the St. Sebastian River and we are incredibly grateful to the members of Impact 100 Indian River for this support.” – Dr. Edie Widder, CEO and Senior Scientist, Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA).

Becoming an Impact 100 grant recipient is a pivotal point of growth for the Homeless Children’s Foundation, a nine-year-old homegrown nonprofit! – Hannah Hite, Homeless Children’s Foundation

For more information on joining or applying for grants, visit www.impact100ir.com.

Contact: visioning@impact100ir.com for inquiries and visioning session bookings.

Tiffany Bent