The Power of the Purse, a women’s giving circle sponsored by the Community Foundation of West Georgia, today presented grants totaling $16,000 to eight local nonprofit organizations. A total of $91,560 in grants has been issued by the Power of the Purse since 2009 to nonprofit organizations supporting women’s and children’s initiatives in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties.
This year’s grants were issued to:

• Carroll Ferst Readers – books for pre-school children;
• Communities in Schools – Success for After High School program for senior girls;
• Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum – Kids’ Camp teaching children basic sewing skills;
• Circles of West Georgia – program to help women improve their financial literacy, education, employment and personal endeavors;
• St. Margaret’s Community Outreach – provide meals for families on weekends;
• Rapha Clinic of West Georgia – provide high-quality medical and dental assistance for women and children;
• Heard County Community Partnership – Baby Braves, a home-visit program for newborns;
• Full Circle Rescue – Barks and Books, a program to provide certified therapy dogs for children who struggle with reading.

Power of the Purse offers donors the opportunity to join others in donating funds and then deciding where the money will be used in support of women’s and children’s initiatives. Anyone can be a member with an annual pledge of $100. In addition to membership pledges, the Power of the Purse Fund raises money by sponsoring an event annually such as plays featuring local actors and this year’s show featuring nationally-known comedienne Anita Renfroe. These events are designed to be fun for members and participants in addition to raising funds. A focus group of fund members considers possible initiatives of unmet needs of women and children in the community each year.
For more information about joining the Power of the Purse, contact Community Foundation President Kim Jones at kim@cfwg.net or (770) 832-1462.

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Eight local nonprofit organizations benefitting women and children’s initiatives received a total of $16,000 in grants from the Power of the Purse, a women’s giving circle of the Community Foundation of West Georgia. Pictured are, left to right, Power of the Purse President Anne Ball, Cynthia Langley of Communities in Schools, Martha Saunders of Carroll FERST Readers, Kathy Knowles of Heard County Community Partnership, Mary Hart of Circles of West Georgia, Meghan Bennett of St. Margaret’s Community Outreach, Patsy Barr of Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum, Julie Williard of St. Margaret’s Community Outreach and Jill Duncan of Full Circle Rescue – Barks and Books. Not pictured, Rapha Clinic.