Register today for Impact Day on January 17 and hear progress updates from our 2023 Grant Recipients: Gifford Youth Orchestra, Senior Resource Association, The Learning Alliance, The Source and Whole Family Health Center. Please invite a friend, this is a perfect event for prospective members to learn about the impact we are collectively having on our community.
- NEW VENUE: United Against Poverty
- NEW TIME: 5:00-7:00 PM
We want to thank our sponsors whose support helps to keep the cost down for our members and their guests who attend this event.
SILVER SPONSORS
Mary Ellen McCarthy
Joanne Quaile
BRONZE SPONSORS
Beth Tucker
Event Recap
An atmosphere of anticipation filled the air at United Against Poverty IRC during Impact Day 2024, where members, guests, and community partners gathered to celebrate the achievements of Impact 100 IR’s 2023 grantees. These organizations, each receiving a $100,000 grant, showcased the profound impact of their projects on the community. This event, above all others throughout our grant cycle, reinforces the power of our collaborative generosity in improving lives in our community.
Members and guests enjoyed a diverse array of hors d’oeuvres, sweets, fruit, and wine while engaging with community partners. The Gifford Youth Orchestra, The Source, The Learning Alliance, Senior Resource Associates, and Whole Family Health Center were present to answer questions and share insights into their work. Attendees discovered volunteer opportunities and connected with these impactful organizations.
Whole Family Health Center’s Mobile Medical Office, a tangible result of Impact 100’s funding, was on hand to give guests an up-close experience with this incredible resource supporting wellness in all sectors of our community. Guests had the opportunity to tour this impressive space, a testament to the transformative power of collective giving. And all this excitement unfolded before the official program began!
During the program, our five newest community partners took the stage to present their organizations and the transformative projects made possible by the $100,000 grants they received. Each community partner emphasized that their programs, projects, and community support would not have been achievable without the generous contribution from Impact 100 IRC.
It took a team effort to pull off this special event. A huge thank you to the Events Committee chaired by Lee Moore, the Community Partners Committee co-chaired by Heidi Hild Sommers and Tricia Kawi, and the Volunteer Committee chaired by June Fitzgerald who all worked closely together to plan and host Impact Day.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM GRANT RECIPIENTS
Gifford Youth Orchestra
Presented by Dr. Crystal Bujol, Founder and Artistic Director, and Casey Lunceford, Executive Director
- Plans are progressing toward the construction of their state-of-the-art audio recording and communications studio.
- Equipment ordered using Impact’s $10,000 seed money just arrived. These speakers and microphones will be used immediately.
- Bujol emphasized the transformational impact on students when their music can be recorded and enjoyed for years to come.
The Learning Alliance
Presented by Debbi Arseneaux, Arts Integration Specialist
- The Moonshot Lab School, in conjunction with the School District of Indian River County, launched this fall.
- The Lab is integrating arts education with the core curriculum, increasing student engagement and retention. The approach literally “brings to life” the subject material.
- The focus to date has been on teacher collaborative planning, coaching, and implementation support, as well as creating showcases of student learning. Debbi Arseneaux commented, “If students are provided opportunities to demonstrate their learning in creative and interdisciplinary ways, they will take pride in their work and gain a deeper, longer-lasting understanding of content.”
Senior Resource Association
Presented by Liz Bruner, Vice President of Philanthropy:
- The Impact 100 grant has helped the Senior Resource Association reduce their close to 200 person waiting list for the popular Meals on Wheels program through the purchase of additional refrigeration and food warmers and implementing an app that helps manage routes and volunteers.
- Meals on Wheels is more than just a warm meal; it provides essential face-to-face contact, which some seniors do not otherwise get. It also opens the door to other available services.
- Meals on Wheels introduced a “Pet Meals on Wheels program” (not part of Impact funding) because they realized recipients were sharing their meals with their pets, not good for either the pet or the owner.
The Source
Presented by Charlene Morris, Director of Mental Health Services
- The room was quiet after Charlene showed an opening video that depicted a friend posing a question to her friend: “Hey, how’s it going?” A simple question, with not such a simple answer for someone struggling with depression.
- The grant has been used to fund Charlene’s role and to provide the resources for the following to date:
- The Source staff and volunteers have been trained in Mental Health First Aid, a gold standard program to educate individuals on how to identify signs of mental distress and how to respond.
- The Source will provide mental health training to professionals and individuals in the community four times this year. The first program, “Managing the Holiday Blues,” was a huge success with more than 60 attending.
- Mental Health services are now available each weekday at the Source.
Whole Family Health Center
Presented by Marie Andress, CEO
- Impact 100 funded the WFHC Mobile Medical Office program, which was launched in October. It expands access to an important IRC constituency – those with limited access to transportation and those with medical mobility issues.
- The focus is on education, testing, treatment, and prevention with regular monthly stops in locations throughout the county with vulnerable populations.
- The mobile office has partnered with The Hope for Families Center, The Salvation Army, and several communities to increase care.