Greenwich Time, by Ken Borsuk, Monday, April 30, 2018 See the entire article here.

Greenwich giving group gets ready to make a double Impact

Impact Fairfield County, the women-run philanthropy organization that aims to make game-changing gifts to non profit service agencies, will determine its next recipients this week.

The group’s 190-member governing body will vote on the recipients of two $100,000 grants from a slate of four area finalists Wednesday morning. This is the third year of operation for the Greenwich-founded giving circle, and the first time it will award two large Impact Grants. All four of the finalists will walk away with something after an application and evaluation process that began last fall.

“We are so excited and thrilled to be at this point,” Impact Fairfield County co-President Vicki Craver said on Monday. “This time of year is so exciting. So much has happened to get us here. We have reviewed all the proposals and done all the site visits. Now it is time for the big vote.”

Craver and fellow co-President Wendy Block, both of whom are from Greenwich, said Impact is a chance for women to make a real difference and the community is responding as this year’s 190 members represent a sharp jump from last year’s 80 members.

The four finalists being considered are the Carver Foundation of Norwalk’s middle school summer transition program; Open Doors: Changing Lives Through Living Wage Jobs, based in Norwalk; the Stamford Public Education Foundation’s Ready. Set. Shine! program; and the Supportive Housing Works’ Vehicle for Change program, which is based out of Bridgeport....