Local Women Make Big Impact

Impact 100 Jersey Coast, a local women’s philanthropic movement, is holding a kick-off recruiting event at Langosta Lounge, located at 1000 Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park, on Tuesday, September 25th, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. The event is being hosted by chef, humanitarian, and restauranteur Marilyn Schlossbach and Deputy Mayor of Asbury Park, Amy Quinn. Attendance is free.

Founded in 2015, Impact 100 Jersey Coast seeks to raise awareness of our community’s most pressing needs and fund transformational grants to high-impact projects addressing those needs in the Monmouth county vicinity. In just three years, Impact 100 Jersey Coast has awarded $392,000 in grants to local nonprofits and will award an additional three grants of $112,00 each this November at its Annual Meeting, a grand total of $728,000. Previous grant recipients include 180 Turning Lives Around, Covenant House New Jersey, and The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County. Impact’s inaugural grantee, 180 Turning Lives Around will be speaking at the event about their Family Justice Center initiative, which was funded by the 2016 Impact Jersey Coast membership cohort.

The movement began in 2001 when Wendy Steele of Cincinnati, Ohio, struggled with her growing frustration that women were not participating in philanthropy as much as she knew they could. She understood the mutual benefits to women participating in philanthropy and its impact in their own communities. The Impact model is being replicated in more than 50 cities throughout the USA and countries around the globe. The reach of this simple idea continues to expand as new people seek to make transformational grants in their communities. By the end of 2017, Impact 100 organizations had given away more than $55 million to worthy nonprofits.

Impact 100 Jersey Coast President and Co-founder Deirdre Spiropoulos said, “We invite women from all ages and backgrounds to join our unique giving circle and experience a beautifully simple hands-on approach to giving. It’s truly amazing what women can accomplish when we unite together and use money as our collective voice to help our community. The time is NOW, so please come to learn and help us spread the word!”

“Never underestimate the power of women,” said Quinn. “We are thrilled to host this event and ask that women pass the invitation along to other women who are interested in learning more about this amazing initiative and investment in our local communities.”

According to Schlossbach, a fellow Impact member, “This amazing group of women continues to make extraordinary changes right here in our own backyard.”

To learn more about the Impact 100 movement or to register for the event, click here.