#Middlebury #Southbury #ConnecticutCommunityFoundation
Kathy Bower of Southbury, far right, is shown with her daughers, left to right, Grace, Anna, and Julia Bower Richardson. Bower and her daughters are excited to be part of the new Women’s Giving Circle at Connecticut Community Foundation. (Submitted photo)
Women of all ages and backgrounds who want to improve and enrich the lives of women and girls in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills can learn about and address community issues through the new Women’s Giving Circle at the Connecticut Community Foundation.
Learn more about giving circles at one of these information sessions:
- Thursday, July 13, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 400 South St. in Middlebury
- Monday, July 17, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 99 Pond View Drive in Southbury
- Thursday, Aug. 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens at 1 Green Hill Road in Washington Depot
A giving circle is a type of group philanthropy in which individual donors pool their donations with others and then make a collective decision about which charities, projects or areas of interest to support. Giving circles typically focus on an issue area or geographic region and increase the impact a single donor can make. They also offer an educational component as donors learn about and discuss issues and decide together where the funds should be given.
A $500 contribution entitles members to participate in Women’s Giving Circle activities and events and to cast a vote at an annual meeting to decide how the pooled funds should be granted to local organizations. In addition to individual members, groups are welcome to join with a collective $500 contribution, with each group entitled to a single vote.
Kathy Bower of Southbury, Foundation trustee and chair of the Women’s Giving Circle, said, “Giving circles are appealing because they offer camaraderie.”
Over the past four decades, women’s influence on giving decisions has increased, as have the number of giving circles, especially those geared toward helping women and girls.
“We wanted to respond to this trend and bring together multi-generational women of different backgrounds to work together to become change agents in our community,” Bower said.
“As a mother of three teenage girls, I’m excited about being a part of the Women’s Giving Circle and also involving my daughters,” said Bower. “Joining together with like-minded women, we’ll learn about issues affecting women and girls in our region, how to evaluate programs, collaborate with others and make grant-making decisions.”
“It’s an exciting time to join the Women’s Giving Circle. Our first members will help shape the structure and set up the model going forward,” said Bower.
For details or to sign up for an info session or to learn more about or join the Women’s Giving Circle, visit http://bit.ly/2v4GfLL, email Mark Berardi at mberardi@conncf.org or call 203-753-1315, ext. 110.
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