Oct. 27, 2009

RALEIGH – The Women’s Network of Wake County has awarded grants totaling $125,000 to Hospice of Wake County, Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood, Urban Ministries of Wake County and Wake Technical Community College Foundation, according to Noel Lichtin, president of the executive committee. Awards were made at the group’s annual grants luncheon where nationally acclaimed journalist Cokie Roberts served as keynote speaker.

“We had a number of deserving applicants, and the grants committee did an outstanding job of carefully reviewing proposals and conducting their due diligence so our membership could vote on our third-year recipients,” Lichtin said.

“All of these programs will make a significant impact in Wake County.”

            Hospice will receive $25,500 to create an after-school support program for children of chronically ill parents. Lucy Daniels Center will receive $25,000 to support a free mental health service for children from low-income families. Urban Ministries will be granted $49,500 to provide access to health care in a “medical home” model for low-income, uninsured minority women. Wake Tech Community College Foundation’s award of $25,000 will be used for scholarships and other needs as foster-care youth make the transition from high school to higher education and independent living.

            The Women’s Network of Wake County is a program of the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF) and is designed to maximize women’s leadership in philanthropy by engaging and educating its membership, increasing charitable contributions and strengthening the Wake County community through the impact of collective giving. The Network has awarded $294,000 to Wake County initiatives supporting women and/or children since its inception in 2007.

Members of the Women’s Network agree to contribute $1,200 annually for five years to support Wake County needs. For information about joining the Network or applying for a 2010 grant, contact Jeanne Lawson, NCCF’s regional associate, at jlawson@nccommunityfoundation.org.

About the North Carolina Community Foundation:

The NCCF is the single statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has made nearly $63 million in grants since its inception in 1988. With more than $100 million in assets, the NCCF sustains 1,000 endowments established to provide long-term support of a broad range of community needs, nonprofit organizations, institutions and scholarships. The NCCF partners with 60 affiliate foundations to provide local resource allocation and community assistance in 66 counties across the state. An important component of the NCCF’s mission is to ensure that rural philanthropy has a voice at local, regional and national levels. For more information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org and Facebook.

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News media contact:

Noel McLaughlin, APR

919.256.6901

nmclaughlin@nccommunityfoundation.org