Impact100 embarks upon youth movement

Far surpassing its titular goal, this year the all-volunteer nonprofit reached 290 members.|

While a “giving circle” may sound quaint, in just seven years, Impact100 has evolved into one of the most powerful nonprofits in Sonoma Valley.

Far surpassing its titular goal, this year the nonprofit reached 290 members. As a result, in May the all-volunteer organization will award $290,000 to nonprofits serving Sonoma Valley – bringing the total dollar amount of grants awarded over the past seven years to more than $1.7 million

Gera Vaz, Impact100 Sonoma membership chair, announced membership numbers at the group’s Jan. 14 annual meeting at Vintage House senior center. More than 20 percent of the 2017 membership is new, including five women who were selected to participate in the inaugural year of the organization’s NextGen program, a member and grant-funded sponsorship program that encourages young women in Sonoma Valley to participate in local philanthropy. “It is especially gratifying that our membership includes more young, professional and Latina women than ever before,” said president Wendy Hoffman. “This diversity of age and culture benefits our grants-evaluation process as well as the sustainability of our organization for years to come.”

Each Impact100 members donates $1,000 annually, every penny of which goes directly to award a $100,000 Impact Grant plus a number of smaller community grants throughout the Valley, reaching from Kenwood to Schellville.

Recently funded Impact100 projects have focused on educating parents, providing access to the arts, strengthening families, enhancing career skills, preparing meals, supporting those with disabilities, trail restoration, and caring for others. Impact100 has supported projects as diverse as gang prevention, canine therapy teams, health and environmental issues, nutrition, increasing volunteerism, literacy and end-of-life care.

A highlight of the group’s annual meeting was an update from the recipient of its largest 2016 grant, 10,000 Degrees. The Bay Area nonprofit supports students from low-income families to complete high school and college. Receiving the $100,000 grant last year enabled 10,000 Degrees to expand its program at Sonoma Valley High School and to launch a new program at Archbishop Hanna High School.

Its goal is for 100 percent of its participants to graduate on time with financial packages in place and to graduate from college within six years. 10,000 Degrees currently works with 46 students in Sonoma Valley and opens its financial aid and college scholarship workshops to all local students and families. Current sophomores are now applying for participation next year.

Impact100 Sonoma has already received Letters of Inquiry for its 2017 Impact Grant and proposals for community grants. Its volunteer grant committee members will review the grant proposals, visit the nonprofit applicants, and determine a list of finalists to present to the voting membership. Seventy-five members will participate in this vetting process in 2017.

In other good news in 2016, the Sonoma Impact100 chapter was among those nationwide who received a matching grant from the Morgridge Family Foundation for the purpose of promoting philanthropy to young women. The recipients of this matching grant were Susana Garcia, family engagement director for Napa Valley Parent University and Veronica Vences, program director at La Luz.

“In 2017 we anticipate this groundswell of younger women to represent an increasing percentage of the Impact100 Sonoma community,” said Vaz. “These women are eager to contribute their talents and create positive change in Sonoma Valley through our collective giving circle. We are thrilled to have them on board.”

Email Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

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