SJWomen100, Author at Impact100 South Jersey

22Apr 2022 by SJWomen100

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Barbara Berman

It is a pleasure to introduce Barbara Berman. Barbara joined Impact100 South Jersey in 2019 after learning about Impact100 through her friend Kyle Ruffin, a founding member. She heard that Kyle was involved in starting up this “women’s giving group” and thought “what a bright idea of pooling your money.” In her desire to find out more, Barbara attended an information session hosted by Kate Williamson and joined on the spot! With her going through a personal transition, the opportunity to meet new like-minded women while also getting involved in the community was perfect timing. This would open a whole new world to her, especially to learn about the work our local nonprofits are doing here in her own community. Charities speak to her heart, what a perfect fit! Upon joining Impact100, Barbara…

11Apr 2022 by SJWomen100

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Sarah Tambussi

Member Profiles

Sarah Tambussi became a Charter Member of Impact100 South Jersey in 2017 when Nancy Weber invited her to one of the first information sessions. She loved the idea of collective giving specifically for women. She was equally impressed with the women she met at Nancy’s home that night and she knew right away that this was something she needed to be a part of. Initially Sarah did not have time to do much more than pay for her membership and be a member of the grant review committee. But life slowed down enough that she could get more involved. This past year she became secretary of the Leadership Council and is also on the PR/Communications and Grant Review committees. When asked what aspect of Impact100 SJ was most rewarding, Sarah said,…

30Mar 2022 by SJWomen100

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: HOPEWORKS ‘N CAMDEN

Grants, SJ WOMEN GIVE

How Our First Grant Helped Transform The Organization In 2018, Impact100SJ awarded our very first grant of $74,000 to Hopeworks ‘N Camden, a Camden-based organization that provides young people ages 17-26 with training in coding, web development and entrepreneurship. At the time, Hopeworks had been operating for many years out of a row home in Camden, but they had outgrown it. More young people than could fit into its space wanted to participate in its training opportunities. Hopeworks had obtained a larger space but needed funding to fit out and develop the space with desks, learning stations, technology training curriculum and software to better prepare its young people for a range of well-paying jobs. The Impact100 South Jersey grant helped make it happen as Hopeworks was moving to its new…

23Mar 2022 by SJWomen100

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Molly Deese

Member Profiles

Adventure Aquarium welcomed Molly Deese in 2020 as the new Executive Director. Her 30 year experience as a parks and attraction executive allowed her to climb the ladder and move from her roots in Valdosta, Georgia. Molly loves her new job at the aquarium and her team is 75% women. She grew up living throughout the Midwest and Southeast since her father needed to move for his job. This is her first experience living in the Northeast. Molly also has a history of ‘giving back’ and getting involved in non-profits. She was a rotary member in Valdosta and hopes to join a local rotary sometime soon. Molly has three grown children (with a grandson on the way). Since they were teenagers, the family had spent Christmas Day working at a…

23Feb 2022 by SJWomen100

How Grantee Family Promise Is Using Impact100 Grant to Address Family Homelessness

Grants, SJ WOMEN GIVE

Since 2020, Family Promise of Southwest New Jersey has been awarded $143,000 in Impact100 South Jersey grants. The mission of Family Promise, which is located in Gloucester County, is to provide homeless families an opportunity to achieve stability by providing shelter, food, case management, and hospitality while simultaneously using resources within local congregations and the community. In 2020, Family Promise was a finalist, and in 2021, they were awarded our $100,000 Core Mission grant. The goal of the project for which they received the Core Mission Grant focuses on Family Promise's shelter reduction plan, which aims to reduce the number of home-insecure families with whom they work from entering shelters, and instead help them work to stabilize their existing housing situation. One of the main ways our grant does that is through the disbursement…

04Feb 2022 by SJWomen100

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Alice Sandmeyer

Member Profiles

As one of the 74 charter members who launched the organization in 2017, Alice Sandmeyer is in her fifth year of membership with Impact100 South Jersey. She first learned about Impact100 from founding member Nancy Weber. “I’ve known Nancy for many years. We met when I was on the board for Fellowship House of South Camden, and subsequently worked on a project together to build a playground for Fellowship House. I got to know her well, and when Nancy described with such enthusiasm this initiative she was helping to start, I knew I wanted to get involved.” Alice has had a life-long involvement with the world of non-profit organizations. She was inspired by her mother, Jeanne Finn, who among her many activities and lifelong service to the underprivileged, founded an after-school tutoring program in…

05Jan 2022 by SJWomen100

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Irene Giman

Member Profiles

If you recognize Irene Giman, CFA, CFP®, it’s not just because she is a Senior Financial Planner with RTD Financial and has an extensive background in Finance — including an MBA from The Wharton School in Finance, it’s also because Irene serves on Impact100 of South Jersey’s Leadership Council. A Charter Member of the chapter, Irene’s first experience with Impact100 was with one of our neighboring chapters, Impact100 of Philadelphia. Shortly before Impact100 of South Jersey was formed, a friend took Irene to Impact100 Philadelphia’s annual meeting to experience the group. She thought it was amazing and she loved the energy. Ready to join the Philadelphia chapter, she heard that South Jersey was forming their own group and thought it would be good to get involved in her backyard with…

01Jan 2022 by SJWomen100

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Michele Weckerly

Member Profiles

Michele Weckerly has always been drawn to groups and organizations where women are able to realize their collective power. Impact100 South Jersey is one of those organizations that she is proud to be a part of. After learning about the collective giving model from Kim Moon in 2018, Michele was all in on becoming a member of the newly founded South Jersey Impact100 group. An alumna of Douglas College, the residential women’s college at Rutgers University where she studied history and political science, Michele learned how a strong group of women have the potential to make great impact. She went on to Rutgers Law School in Camden and has been practicing law since 2003. Michele is a partner at Salmon Ricchezza Singer & Turchi where she practices employment law. She has…

20Dec 2021 by SJWomen100

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Lois Gabin-Legato

Member Profiles

When asked why she joined Impact100 SJ, Lois Gabin-Legato, a C-Suite senior executive at the Philadelphia Foundation, said, “I feel a personal responsibility to give back to our community. Impact100 SJ offers that at a grass roots level where you can touch and feel it… where you can learn where the need is and be able to help. The pandemic made me think about how many organizations had to shut down and needed help. I wanted to see our community thrive and Impact100 gave me the opportunity to help others thrive. That’s a GREAT feeling.” As a professional in the philanthropic sector, Lois was aware of the collective giving model and had read about Impact100. She noticed the organization surface often in the local media. After watching how the chapter was…

07Dec 2021 by SJWomen100

Final Report: How Big Brothers & Big Sisters Used Impact100 SJ’s 2019 $100k Grant

Grants, SJ WOMEN GIVE

Our 2019 Core Mission grantee's final report lays out how the Impact100 South Jersey grant allowed the organization to overcome obstacles, function during the pandemic and increase the number of young people they serve. Read the full report detailing the many ways Big Brothers Big Sister of Cumberland & Salem Counties pivoted when necessary to provide better service and used our $100,000 grant to continue to meet its mission during the pandemic. Big Brother Big Sisters Final Report Big Brothers Big Sisters pilot cohort gathering for their monthly in-person Chat and Chew before thepandemic. Mentor Beatrix Mentee Brazil discuss the steps to apply for college.Mentor Ken and Mentee Louis collaborate on a career path finder activity.

Author: SJWomen100