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 New Haven, CT., and also worked with women inmates writing and producing short plays.
Both of Alice’s parents were very philanthropically oriented and instilled in their four children the importance of serving those in need. As young adults, each of the siblings were challenged to research non-profit organizations and select one in which they wanted to get involved. Alice chose Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, NJ and began working there as a volunteer. In addition, Alice’s parents had a foundation from which they awarded grants to each of the organizations their children selected.
In Alice’s first year with Impact100 she volunteered on the Education Grant Review Committee. Hopeworks ‘N Camden, the Impact100 Core Mission Grant recipient in 2018, was one of the applications Alice reviewed. “I learned so much by participating in the grant review process. I now have a better understanding of how to evaluate non-profit organizations with respect to their viability, sustainability, and impact on their served populations. And that is a skill I can also apply in my personal life when considering organizations to financially support.”
Alice now works with Kim Moon, founding member who also serves on Impact100’s Leadership Council, on Non-Profit Outreach Committee, working to build connections with the local non-profit community and maintain relationships between Impact100 and its grantees. “I’m inspired by the diversity of skills and perspectives demonstrated by the women I meet on these committees. I’m also gaining greater insight into non-profit organizations in our four-county area, and the positive impact they have on the communities they serve.”
Alice earned a degree in Occupational Therapy from University of Pennsylvania and worked in pediatric OT for 20 years. She has also been a Member of the Board for the Heart of Camden. Alice has been a volunteer at Head Start in Camden and most recently focuses her volunteer time serving on the Response Team for the Camden County Traumatic Loss Coalition.
Alice and her husband Ron have been married for 16 years and together they have five children and 4 grandchildren. They enjoy spending time with their family and friends, golfing and heading to the shore.
Father Michael Doyle of Camden has inspired Alice by encouraging everyone to simply “do your bit.”