YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Donors and supporters of the Fund for Women & Girls recently awarded annual Impact Builder Grants to three organizations working with women in the Mahoning Valley.
A fund of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, the Fund for Women & Girls invites supporters to hear from finalists and vote on how grants are awarded. This year, the fund awarded a record $5,000.
After hearing presentations from the three finalists, the audience cast their vote and selected Honeycomb Arts & Wellness Collective as the winner of the $2,500 grand prize for its Red Tent Series. One of Honeycomb’s longest-running programs, Red Tent provides a space for women to take part in a variety of activities, from yoga to self-care and cooking to conversations.
The Autism Society of Mahoning Valley received $1,500 to expand its Mom’s Night Out program. A mainstay of the organization’s social offerings, Mom’s Night Out provides mothers and caregivers of autistic children with a chance to relax, build friendships and create support networks.
The Ember Project was awarded $1,000 for its four-part Pathways program, which will expand into in-person workshops for single mothers.
“Now more than ever, people are looking for community, and this year’s class of Fund for Women & Girls grantees are working hard to make sure that women in the Valley are able to find each other and support each other in ways big and small,” said Mae Medore, staff liaison for the Fund for Women & Girls. “Community change starts when people closest to the issues come together and support each other in the work. We’re honored to support such important work.”
The event was held April 30 at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County’s Main Library.
Pictured at top: From left are Meghan Thomas of Honeycomb Arts & Wellness Collective, Jodi Glass of Autism Society of Mahoning Valley and Susan Sutton of The Ember Project.