The Women’s Giving Network of Wake County (WGN), a giving circle of the North Carolina Community Foundation, hosted its 18th Annual IMPACT Luncheon and awarded $105,000 to three nonprofits serving women and families in Wake County.

The announcement of the 2024 grantees, which were selected after a robust due diligence process, was made on Nov. 7 to over 80 women attending the luncheon.

WGN granted:

• $40,000 to NAMI of Wake County for the Ending the Silence program. Ending the Silence is offered free of cost to schools and helps audience members learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if you or a loved one are showing symptoms of a mental health condition.
• $40,000 to the No Woman, No Girl Initiative to support the expansion of crisis referrals to respond to the most vulnerable women and children within 48-72 hours. NWNG believes no woman or girl should go without access to everyday essentials to survive a crisis or transition.
• $25,000 to the Wake Education Partnership for Partners Read, a literacy and mentorship program where volunteers read weekly with Wake County students. WakeEd Partnership also provides books for students to take home and keep.

This year’s annual IMPACT Luncheon was held at the NC State University Club and was sponsored by TowneBank. The media partner was WALTER Magazine.   

“We are so grateful to our members for their continued generosity to make these grants possible,” said Cynthia Rowe, WGN president. “It is an honor to help support these nonprofits working tirelessly to meet the needs of women and families in our community.”

“This generous funding will support the expansion of Ending the Silence, our mental health education program for middle and high school students, teachers, and families,” said Mark Simon, Executive Director of 2024 Grantee NAMI Wake County. “We’re grateful to the Women’s Giving Network for believing in our mission and investing in the future of youth mental health in Wake County.”

WGN leverages the power of collective giving to provide its members with insight and inspiration that ultimately drives greater impact for the community. The network supports nonprofit organizations serving women and families in Wake County. WGN has awarded more than $1.9 million in grants since 2006.

Learn more about WGN and its work or become a member at nccommunityfoundation.org/WGN. For further information about WGN, contact NCCF’s central region donor engagement officer.

About the Women’s Giving Network of Wake County
WGN is designed to help its members gain insight into community needs through educational, social and networking events and make an impact by maximizing charitable donations through a thorough grants process. WGN’s goal is to expand its grantmaking impact by growing membership.

In addition to Rowe, leadership committee members include Amy Pirozzolo (Immediate Past President), Sarah Senter Décarpentrie (Grants Chair), Jenny Eury (Recording Secretary), Kristen Kiernan (Marketing and Communications Chair), Carolyn Fendelman (Finance Chair), and Meg Croxson (Immediate Past Grants Chair).

About the North Carolina Community Foundation
The North Carolina Community Foundation brings together generous people and connects them to causes and organizations they care about, with a focus on inspiring lasting and meaningful philanthropy in the state’s rural communities.

With $460 million in assets, NCCF sustains nearly 1,300 endowments and partners with donors and a network of affiliates in 60 counties to strengthen our state. By stewarding and growing donors’ gifts, NCCF makes a powerful impact through a robust grants and scholarships program, awarding over $300 million since 1988. For more information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org.

The NCCF Disaster Relief Fund supports long-term recovery and unmet needs in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. To support recovery in western NC, visit: nccommunityfoundation.org/Helene.