The Community Foundation was part of three very different evening meetings this past week.  Each gathering depended on strong partnerships from our community.

Tuesday was a convening among dozens of charities willing to suss out ideas to help local citizens move from Food Insecurity to Food Security.  One can expect our food pantry and backpack program  leaders to show up for that topic, right? The invitation was also answered by groups who work with the same patrons:  Loudoun Abused Women Shelter , Loudoun Literacy, Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers, Crossroads Jobs, and Loudoun Cares, to name a few.  I applaud the breadth and scope of these caring groups willing to come together, to think, and share, and work toward community improvement.

On Wednesday, I joined the annual announcement of grantees from the 100 WomenStrong giving circle.  This distinguished group of local philanthropists made grants totaling $113,000 this year, to ten charities carefully selected for their work in hunger, education, shelter, and health.  It was an evening of joy.

Thursday night?  A sparkling new partnership with a sister community foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.  Together, the Loudoun Impact Fund and its donors (each who tithe in $1,000 per person, or $5,000 per business) will build a local grant making pool to help youth and elderly.  This pool of funds, expected to approach $50,000, will offer substantive and meaningful impact to grantee charities.  Boom!

As Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”