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The Impact of IMPACT

While IMPACT's primary goal is effective philanthropy through increased awareness/education and high impact giving, IMPACT has seen other “direct” benefits from its efforts. If you have a story of how IMPACT has directly affected your organization through its efforts, please submit your story at (need to create e-mail address). Below are a few examples of the "IMPACT" of IMPACT:

The Snoezelen/Westgate Foundation was one of the five finalists at the 2004 annual meeting, but they were not one of the two grant recipients. The Foundation had requested funds to purchase equipment for the Snoezelen-Westgate Sensory Center, which was under construction. Although they did not receive a grant, several IMPACT women thought the proposal was significant. Within six weeks of making their presentation, the Snoezelen/Westgate Foundation had received over $250,000 that was directly attributed to IMPACT members and/or their contacts. While not being the awardee in 2004, the Foundation has received over $250,000, due to its application and experience with IMPACT.

After their first application in 2004, the Leaning Post Ranch, an equine therapy center, had IMPACT members volunteer and become certified therapists. One of the IMPACT women became involved with the Leaning Post Ranch, and with the help of her husband, a handicapped bathroom has been/is being constructed at the Ranch. The principals of the Leaning Post Ranch report they will always apply for an IMPACT grant, since they continue to find great volunteers via the process. (The Leaning Post Ranch was awarded an IMPACT grant in 2006.)

The American Heart Association submitted an application in 2006 to purchase heart defribrillators, to be placed in sheriff and police cars, but they were not one of the two grant recipients. Their application impressed many IMPACT members. Impact members prompted the Bear Foundation to purchase 10 AEDs and the Russenberger Foundation purchased another 5 AEDs. These Foundations became aware of the need for AEDs through the experiences of the IMPACT members.

Contract Resources, an office design company, offered to do an "office makeover" for a non-profit organization. The IMPACT committee members recommended non-profit organizations that could use furniture and/or an office makeover. Contract Resources selected a not-for-profit from this list for a makeover and helped others as well with surplus furniture and other items.

IMPACT was directly contacted by one of its members who is also a member of the Northwest Florida Bridge Association concerning donations for a not-for-profit. IMPACT was able to supply names of organizations that met the Bridge Association’s criteria and a nice $ award was made to a local non-profit. IMPACT members have become actively engaged with numerous non-profit boards, taking on the responsibility of serving on a board or assisting with special needs/projects, such as fundraising or special events. In addition, IMPACT Pensacola Bay Area has been directly involved in mentoring other communities interested in forming an IMPACT organization (Indianapolis, Gainesville, Fairhope, Philadelphia, Sonoma, just to name a few).

On an annual basis, each non-profit is asked to submit a “wish list” to IMPACT. The wish list describes goods and services that the non-profit would like to receive. The wish list is distributed to all members at the annual meeting and is posted on IMPACT's website. Many IMPACT members have contributed goods and services to non-profits, as a result of information they have acquired via IMPACT.

IMPACT is having a tremendous "impact" in our community in addition to the actual grants that are being awarded each year.