Impact 100 members gathered Tuesday at Foust Elementary School to announce the 2018 finalists for two $100,000 grants. Impact 100 Owensboro is in its 13th year, and this year, participation in the focus groups exceeded expectations, proving that its 239 members find value in the organization’s mission.
“Impact has more members than previous years, though 42 of the members have been members for all 13 years; 59 of the members for over 10 years, and 166 of the members for over five years. This is a testament to ‘The Power of One’ that Impact 100 is built on,” said Carol Bothwell, 2018 Impact 100 President.
The five grant finalists and their project summaries are listed below:
Fresh Start for Women, Inc. The “Renovation of Community Enhancement” Project will include renovating a three-bedroom house with detached garage in the Fresh Start Community, putting a privacy and security fence around the entire Fresh Start Community, encompassing a 12-unit apartment complex used for transitional housing for single women in recovery from substance abuse and homelessness. The expansion of the Fresh Start Program has great potential to transform lives and neighborhoods into drug-free zones.
Hospice of Western Kentucky, “Heartford House Lake Restoration and Landscape Building” Project is intended to repair the lake, which is the centerpiece of the outdoor appeal of Heartford House and construct a garage/utility building to house landscaping equipment and provide a work area for volunteers and Hospice maintenance staff.
Mary Kendall Campus, “The New View” Project is the replacement of 95 vinyl/metal windows, that are presently dulled from 25 years of weathering, with energy efficient and safety-approved tempered glass. Additionally, Impact 100 grant funds would be utilized to purchase a Ford Transit and a Chevrolet Equinox to replace existing 17-year-old Buick and 21-year-old 15-passenger van transport vehicles.
OCTC Foundation, The “Impacting OCTC Student Engagement” Project will involve purchasing two, twelve-passenger vehicles equipped with lift-kits to make them wheelchair accessible to transport OCTC students to educational opportunities and events. The vehicles will also be used in transporting English language instruction refugee students; adult education students seeking their GED, especially from Lighthouse Recovery and Boulware Center; students with limiting disabilities; OCTC’s TRIO Student Support Services program which serves low-income, first-generation and/or disabled students to Cultural Enrichment and Field Trips; transfer students to four-year college and university visits; and OCTC Students to competitions.
St. Joseph Peace Mission, “Construction of Hayden Home for Girls” Project will be a 3,040 square foot residential treatment facility for young women between the ages of 12 and 18 years old. This goal of this project is to create a safe haven that promotes female empowerment for young women in crisis.
Impact 100 members are excited that four of the five finalists have not been finalists in past years.
The final vote will be held at the Impact 100 Annual meeting on Oct. 25. Finalists will present to members and then the members will vote. Members not attending can vote by absentee ballot. Winners will be announced with two of the finalists taking $100,000 grants and the other three receiving $16,000 each toward their project.
