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Peoria, IL — December 13, 2022— Since 1993, the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois has been working to change the lives of women and girls in central Illinois. The original goal for the Women’s Fund was finding 1,000 women to each donate $1,000 to create a million-dollar endowment. While that fundraising model has evolved over time, the initial goal of creating a million-dollar endowment has remained the same. On the eve of our 30th anniversary, it is with great pleasure that we are able to announce the Women's Fund endowment has now surpassed the $1 million balance!
The recent surge to $1 million is attributed to an extremely generous gift from a Founding Member of more than $300,000. This level of giving to the Women’s Fund establishes a legacy that will live on beyond all of us. With a million-dollar endowment, the Women’s Fund will grant more than $45,000 a year to deserving programs, in perpetuity.
Through 2022, the Women’s Fund endowment has awarded 140+ grants totaling more than $475,000 to support programs focusing on women and girls. "We truly appreciate donations in any amount as they all help build the endowment, which is our long-term goal. To reach a milestone of this magnitude is very exciting and poises us for great growth as we focus on the future," says Michelle Nielsen Ott, Chair of the Women's Fund Advisory Board.
Longtime supporter and former Women's Fund Advisory Board Member Diana Hall shared, "For so long, the Women’s Fund has continually worked to stay focused on our mission, one that caused so many women to immediately develop a kinship in this new organization. The Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois helps shape the future of women by acknowledging the power of philanthropy. Our original goal was to increase collective philanthropy that would support specific programs to improve the lives of women and girls. Over the years we continued to make progress, but we still had quite a way to go. With this powerful commitment to the Women’s Fund we have met our initial goal. I can assure you all those who have supported the Women’s Fund for so many years are celebrating this donation with such joy."
The Women’s Fund will continue to bring women’s issues to the forefront in central Illinois as they continue building the endowment for an even larger collective impact. For more information or to donate visit: https://communityfoundationci.org/funds/womens-fund/.
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