By Darcie Johnson
DULUTH, Ga. | Who would have thought that a challenge given through Leadership Gwinnett, asking participants in 2017 to think of a way they could make a difference in Gwinnett, would have made such an impact on Gwinnett County?
Johnson
Jerri Hewitt Miller and Tracie Cason, LG Class of 2015, collaborated with Margaret Bugbee, of the Northeast Georgia Community Foundation, in establishing a Giving Circle. I had the benefit of being invited to learn more and later would assume the role of secretary. We began working to build the guidelines, mission and vision of the group. The Gwinnett Giving Girls (GGG) was created in 2017, with a mission of supporting emerging nonprofits that support women and children in Gwinnett County. Today, the GGG ladies have given $50,000 in micro grants to local nonprofits making an impact in their community.
When GGG was created, we knew we wanted to create a way that busy career women could gather with minimal impact to their already busy schedules. We did want to help educate the ladies about nonprofits and the resources, serving their community. Therefore, we only meet four times a year. In March, we network and invite new members. For June and September, we hear from three nonprofits at each of these meetings. Finally in December we make a decision to award our grant. We started with a goal of awarding one grant for $5,000. However, through the generosity of these ladies, we have increased this annually.
March 2020, the world was shutting down and most of us were working from home. We got creative and started hosting the events online. Not only was this our most successful year of awarding grants, but we learned from the nonprofits presenting, that they were making great connections with each other. So, we have continued to invite the nonprofits to listen to the other groups presenting the same evening. We record our presenters and place them on our private Facebook page so the ladies can review them, if they are unable to make our meetings, or want to refresh themselves on the presenters for the end of year voting for grant awards.
GGG has grown, many of the nonprofit presenters have opted to join, so they too can learn more about resources in our community, but also to build solid relationships with other women wanting to make an impact in Gwinnett County. We have been so fortunate. Not only have the GGG’s members given their treasures, but they have stepped up to become board members and volunteers, giving of their time and talents as well.
The GGG’s are fundholders with the Northeast Georgia Community Foundation. We ask for a $250 donation from our members, $125 from the nonprofit members and young ladies (29 and younger). We welcome new members from the community at any time and currently are meeting at Cosmo’s Speak Easy in Lawrenceville. If you want further information, please contact me at GwinnettGivingGirls@gmail.com or Donate.
May 2023, I graduated from Leadership Gwinnett, the largest ever. It has been my complete pleasure to have grown this group and awareness to nonprofits in Gwinnett County over the last seven years.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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