August 2026 Newsletter Content | | President, Impact100 Martin | |
Grants Committee
Outreach to both returning and new Grants Committee members is underway, and we’re excited to welcome 22 returning members and 10 new members for Season 10. We also look forward to connecting with women who are interested in joining this dedicated team. If you’d like to learn more about the Grants Committee or explore how you can get involved, please reach out to Samia or Karen.
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With gratitude,
Samia Ferraro and Karen Homer
Season 10 Grant Co-Chairs
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Grant Writing Workshop Draws Strong Community Participation
On August 4, Impact100 Martin partnered with The Community Foundation Martin–St. Lucie to host a two-hour Grant Writing Workshop designed to help local nonprofits better understand our Grant Guidelines and strengthen their grant proposals by telling their organization's story effectively.
The workshop welcomed 67 individual participants and 54 local nonprofits, reflecting the tremendous interest in Impact100 Martin's grantmaking process and our shared commitment to building stronger nonprofit organizations throughout Martin County.
Special thanks to President Sue Whittington, Grants Committee Co-Chairs Samia Ferraro and Karen Homer, Visioning Committee Chair Tracy Sorzano, and Community Foundation presenters Ellie Gundrania and Elizabeth Barbella for sharing their expertise and helping prepare applicants for a successful grant season!
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See Your Impact
Planning is underway for our Fall and Winter See Your Impact visits, with outreach to our Season 9 Grant Recipients now in progress. The schedule is in its final stages and will be announced in September.
Our Grant Recipients are excited to welcome Impact100 Martin members and share the progress of their funded projects firsthand. These behind-the-scenes visits offer a unique opportunity to see the people, programs, and partnerships made possible through our collective giving. It’s a meaningful way to connect with fellow members, learn more about the organizations we support, and experience the lasting impact of your membership throughout our community.
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Virtual 25th Anniversary Celebration Event
On Tuesday, June 23rd, Impact chapters across the world joined together via Zoom to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Impact100. As many of you know, founder Wendy Steele, started Impact100 in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2001. The growth continued robustly and as of 2025 the movement can be seen across the world with over 75 chapters engaging more than 50,000 women philanthropists worldwide, with cumulative grants exceeding $178 million dollars’ worth of Impact grants. This expansion underscores the model's scalability, driven by grassroots replication and structured global support.
During the call, we heard from Wendy Steele who shared anniversary wishes from members and images of initial grant recipients from dozens of chapters. Locally, we shared images of our first awarded grant – Pathway Academy of Innovation, with Project Lift in 2018. This established a school offering vocational certifications while addressing mental health and substance abuse for at-risk teens.
Wendy also shared that Impact100 Martin will host the Global Day of Impact on November 5th and that the 2027 Global Conference will be held in Sacramento, California in October, 2027. The final message was an opportunity for support of Impact100 Global which expands the model and supports the growing numbers of chapters across the world. Donations are needed to continue this work, so the Luminary Society was created to provide that opportunity.
Each Impact100 chapter raises funds and awards grants within its own community. Impact100 Global doesn’t collect member donations or make grants directly. Instead, they serve as the backbone of the movement — helping women launch chapters, offering leadership training, maintaining the Impact100 brand, and fostering collaboration across the network.
| | Help Us Reach 600 Members for Season 10! | |
Welcome, New Members!
We’re excited to welcome two new members who joined Impact100 Martin in July, bringing us to 67 members on our journey toward our goal of 600 members for Season 10!
Please join us in welcoming:
Rachel Alling – South Martin County (referred by Patricia Bush)
Tiffany Nixon – Biz Professionals
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community Captains
Sarah and I would like to recognize and thank our incredible Community Captains for the time, energy, and enthusiasm they dedicate to Impact100 Martin. Their efforts help make our organization feel welcoming, connected, and engaged.
As you know, each member is assigned to a community based on her home address. With more than 570 members, these smaller groups make it easier to build friendships, arrange carpools, stay informed, and introduce more women to the power of collective giving.
Do you know which community you’re part of? We hope you’ve had the opportunity to meet your Community Captain! If not, we encourage you to reach out and introduce yourself.
You can find your Community Captain’s contact information by logging into the Member Portal, selecting your Dashboard, and clicking Membership Directory near the bottom of the page.
If you have any questions, we’re always happy to help. Please email info@impact100martin.org.
To our Community Captains—thank you for helping build the connections that make Impact100 Martin such a special organization!
Your Community Captains
| | | Community | Captain | Co-Captain | | Harbour Ridge | Sarah Murphy | Judy Zanchi | | Indian River Plantation / Hutchinson Island | Ann Barwig | Sarah Wattendorf | | Mariner Sands | Sharon McGavock | Maureen Cotter | | Martin Downs Country Club | Allison Warren | Nancy DeVanny / Kristin Winter | | Monarch Country Club | Cindy Eaton |
| | Pipers Landing | Maureen Knup | Alyson Danyliw | | Sailfish Point | Pam Bringsjord | Shannon King | | Sandhill Cove | Jane Coutts |
| | Sewall’s Point | Jacqui Costanzo | Dawn Comer | | Stuart | Patty Dapontes | Sara Hamilton | | Palm City South | Kary Prueger | Katy O’Neil | | Palm City West | Janie Bushong | Kirsten Knowles | | Willoughby | Lorraine Kayser-Bradley | Kathy Rowling | | Yacht & Country Club | Community Captain Needed! |
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Renew Today
Membership renewal is now open, and we encourage you to renew early as we prepare for another impactful year of collective giving. If you are unsure of your renewal date, contact info@impact100martin.org.
Your Membership Co-Chairs,
Judy Zanchi and Sarah Murphy
| | Scholarship applications are now open! If you know a woman who would benefit from an Impact100 Martin membership but may not otherwise be able to join, please help us spread the word by sharing our Scholarship Program. | | |
Kallie Jurgens and the Welcome Circle Committee continue to warmly welcome new members as they join Impact100 Martin. The committee encourages every new member to get involved by attending a Welcome Circle Member Orientation (Zoom meeting) and connecting with fellow members early in the season.
New members are also encouraged to save the date for our Kickoff Event on Thursday, November 5, at Indian River State College.
Interested in getting more involved with Impact100 Martin? We’d love to have you join the Membership Committee for Season 10! Please text Judy at 678-231-651 to learn more.
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Barbara McKinnon
Shortly after she and her husband moved to Palm City eight years ago, Barbara McKinnon became involved in fundraising for SafeSpace. Through that work, she got to know Nancy Wong, whose promotion of Impact100 encouraged her to join. It was a logical progression.
Barbara’s career in social justice and ministry spans more than fifty years and began with her involvement in community mental health programs in Westchester County, NY. Through her leadership in committee work, fundraising, and direct ministry, her advocacy has also supported social service programs for cancer patients as well as people experiencing domestic violence and homelessness. She earned her undergraduate degree in history at Randolph-Macon Woman's College and her Master of Divinity at the General Theological Seminary.
Barbara enjoys golf, her husband Wink’s favorite pastime, and they have played throughout Europe and in the United States. But Barbara’s passion is writing. She has contributed this skill to many of her philanthropic endeavors and is the author of a published biography of her very prominent mother. At present, she is narrating a history of her family, to be combined with artifacts she has collected from the early 1500s through the 20th century.
The couple spends the summer months in Keswick, VA, but her work for Impact100 continues there. She is a member of both the Communications/Marketing Committee and the Events Committee and will return in time to help us celebrate our 10th anniversary in November. Barbara believes fervently in the mission of Impact100 and is enthusiastic about the potential for good our organization has in our community.
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Featured Event: Season 10 Nature Club in Old Palm City
Join us Friday, October 16, 2026, for an informative guided tour of the Ripple Stormwater Eco-Art Project in the Old Palm City Community Redevelopment Area. This site blends science and engineering with nature-based interactive art created by regional Artist Lucy Keshavarz. Come discover how thoughtful stormwater planning can protect Florida's waterways while creating attractive community spaces.
Jordan Pastorious, from Martin County Community Development, and Samantha Smith, Horticulturist with Martin County Public Works, will lead a walking tour showcasing successful stormwater management solutions that are both highly functional and beautiful community amenities. The presentation and guided tour will last approximately two hours.
Meet in the Charlie Leighton Park parking lot at 8:30 am The park is situated at the base of the Palm City Bridge along the St. Lucie River. Afterward, we can drive less than a mile away on Mapp Road and continue to chat and share a mid-morning cup of coffee at Sorelle Coffee Co., a highly rated mobile coffee trailer, run by the 3 Bartin sisters, known for outstanding hospitality, great coffee, tea, and baked goods. With shaded seating areas, Sorelle is about connection and friendship.
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Member Engagement Events Listing
Casual Golf - Play 9 holes for all skill levels
Friday Mornings 9:00am–11:00am
Sailfish Sands, Stuart
Please let Brenda know by Wednesday of each week if you plan to play, so she can book a tee time. Text Brenda at 914-337-0490. It's pay-to-play directly at the course ($25 per person for 9 holes).
Welcome Circle: Member Orientation
Thursday, August 20, 2026, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Virtual Event - a link will be provided to registered attendees.
Social Hour at the Pearl
Thursday, August 27, 2026, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Pearl, Stuart
Welcome Circle: Member Orientation
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Virtual Event - a link will be provided to registered attendees.
Welcome Circle: Member Orientation
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Virtual Event - a link will be provided to registered attendees.
Nature Club: Ripple Stormwater Eco/Art Guided Tour
Friday, October 16, 2026, 8:30 am – 10:30 am (plus coffee chat afterward)
Impact Book Club – The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
Monday, November 2, 2026, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location details will be provided to those registered by October 30, 2026
10th Anniversary Kick Off & Global Day of Impact
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Indian River State College, Stuart
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Social Hour at the Pearl
July 23, 2026
July's Social Hour at The Pearl. We had a large group of over 25 members in attendance. The trio photo includes Jana Hartley, Charlene Lyons & Judy Wakeman.
View Photos Here
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