“It is simply incredible what the power of women helping women can accomplish,” said Lee Lane, local attorney and Impact Porter County member. “The real impact of the Women’s Fund comes from the heart behind the giving, and the collective strength of this women’s giving circle is pretty powerful.“
Lane invited guests at the Porter County Community Foundation’s 11th Annual Women’s Tea, held on September 8, to help make a difference by joining Impact Porter County, a women’s giving circle. Impact Porter County raises money and awareness for women’s and children’s causes throughout Porter County.
This year’s keynote speaker at the luncheon was Patricia R. Miller, co-founder of Vera Bradley, an internationally-recognized women’s handbag, travel, paper and gift, eyewear and accessory brand. In 1994, Miller and co-founder Barbara Baekgaard established the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.
“I thought her message was a great testament to the wonderful work women can do in the world,” said Barbara Young, Porter County Community Foundation President. “It’s so inspiring to see how far we have come since our first Women’s Tea eleven years ago.”
Impact Porter County has empowered women to dramatically improve their lives and the lives of other’s by collectively funding significant grants that make a lasting impact. Since its inception in 2007, over $170,000 in grants from the Women’s Fund of Porter County have been awarded. Most recently, Impact Porter County awarded a $45,000 grant to Parents as Teachers of Porter County. Hilltop Neighborhood House was the recipient of a grant in 2010 for Walt’s Place and PACT received a grant in 2009 to provide gender responsive programming for female offenders.
Each year women are invited to support the Impact Porter County mission with a contribution to the Women’s Fund. The goal is to raise $100,000 annually; half of which is given away each year in a high-impact grant to advance women in Porter County; half is endowed through the Women’s Fund at the Porter County Community Foundation to continue helping women forever. To learn more about Impact Porter County and to view Women’s Fund impact stories, visit online at www.portercountyfoundation.org or contact the Foundation at 219.465.0294.