Blog Northwest Florida

Just like Oprah, women in the Greater Pensacola Bay Area (Florida) have found a way to GIVE BIG. How do you turn $1,000 into $563,000 in just four years? Read on . . .

In 2004, a group of concerned women came together with the goal of each contributing $1,000 and recruiting a total of 100 women willing to donate $1,000 a year in order to make a difference. Pensacola's IMPACT 100 was born, one of several IMPACT organizations around the country. Pensacola's group exceeded their first year goal, recruiting 233 women and putting $233,000 into the hands of local non-profit organizations.

Fast forward to 2008, and you will find this dynamic group of ladies going strong. Their ranks have grown to an incredible 563, meaning local non-profits will receive an infusion of $563,000 in funds this year!

IMPACT is a women-only, all volunteer group focusing its efforts on five community service sectors: arts and culture, education, environment, recreation and preservation, family, and health and wellness. Contributions this year will fund five grants of $112,600 each. In addition to giving women who care about their community an avenue to make a difference, the organization provides IMPACT members a broad education on local non-profits and their needs which has led to greater philanthropy overall.

One of the first projects funded by IMPACT 100 was remodeling and furnishing a clinic building and stocking medical supplies and medications for the Good Samaritan Clinic. The Clinic provides free quality health care and free medications to working, medically uninsured residents.  As a result of the 2004 grant, doctors and nurses donated over 1900 hours in 2005, lay volunteers provided over 4200 hours, more than 1500 patients were treated (over 70% women) and 75 patients were referred to and accepted by local health professionals for care that was not available at the clinic.

To bring help of this type to a community provides benefits that are hard for those of us with insurance and access to good health care to imagine, and there can be no price placed on witnessing the good works first hand and knowing you played a part. One young man who came to the clinic with problems with his eyesight was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor for which he was referred for surgery. Without access to the clinic he may not have sought help until it was too late to save his vision.

Bravo to the women of Pensacola's IMPACT 100. Just one example of the many reasons we love to call Pensacola home!