The Women’s Giving Network of Wake County kicks off 20th year of making a difference in the lives of women and families

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The Women’s Giving Network of Wake County (WGN) launched their 20th Year Celebration at their Invitation to Impact Event sponsored by TowneBank in Raleigh on March 25. More than 50 WGN members and guests gathered to hear from three 2025 grantees about how they used their grants to make a difference with the people they serve.

Makenzie Meeker of Carroll’s Kitchen, Sommer Wisher of Wake Smiles, and DJ Jones of the Boys and Girls Club of Wake County shared individual success stories and detailed how the grant from Women’s Giving Network set them up to make a positive impact for many years to come.

Makenzie Meeker, executive director of Carroll’s Kitchen.
Sommer Wisher, CEO of Wake Smiles.
DJ Jones, COO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake and Johnston Counties.

Carroll’s Kitchen, which is a social enterprise restaurant in Raleigh, teaches women how to cook and run restaurants while simultaneously providing a living wage. The women who graduate from their program go on to get full time jobs and stable housing.

Wake Smiles provides oral health for underserved people ranging from teeth cleaning to tooth extractions. They alleviate chronic pain and provide tools for people to improve their dental hygiene.

The Boys and Girls Club of Wake County helps children and teens reach their full potential by providing robust after school and summer care including food, tutoring, arts programs and consistent adults who care. Children who participate in their program get help building job skills, earning certificates or degrees, and finding jobs after high school. The women listening to these stories were overwhelmed with emotion and felt honored to support such important causes.

The Women’s Giving Network is a collective giving circle where membership numbers determine how much WGN can award in grants to nonprofits each year. President Carolyn Fendelman announced this year’s goal of adding twenty new members. She asked the membership to consider making further donations to raise $20,000 for 2026 grantmaking. The intention is to celebrate 20 years of WGN by awarding more in grants in 2026.

WGN’s 2026 grant application will open this summer, and awards will be announced at the group’s Annual Impact Luncheon in November.

Women left the Invitation to Impact event feeling more informed about our Wake County community and committed to making a difference on a personal level.