Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Impact 100 Greater Milwaukee

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- This week's everyday heroes prove that there really is strength in numbers.

Impact 100 Greater Milwaukee is a group of women.

For 10 years, they've been pooling their money to make major donations to hometown nonprofits.

With music playing and smiles on faces, this may look like a lot of other holiday parties.

A packed room at the festive Wisconsin Club filled with cheer.

But this is actually a celebration of women, giving as one.

"Women, when we come together, we're unstoppable," said Carla Cummings.

Cummings is president of Impact 100 Greater Milwaukee.

"We're passionate, we care deeply about this community," she said.

The idea behind the organization is simple.

"I don't personally have 100,000, that I can give to one organization and make this impactful grant, but if 99 friends and I all pick the same organization, we can make a huge impact," explained incoming president, Margaret Krei.

The women involved give $1,110. It's pooled together. This year, four organizations were all awarded a $100,000 grant.

"It's just so nice to hear the word yes," said Arts @ Large Program Director Phillip Salat.

This year, Arts @ Large is one of the recipients.

You may recognize their work from the Milwaukee County Christmas tree.

They helped 1,500 kids hand decorate ornaments.

Salat says the mission of Arts @ Large is to make art accessible for everyone.

"It's not every day that you have an opportunity to ask for funding for a dream," he said.

And the grant will let them do that-- creating a mobile media lab-- the first of its kind in the Midwest.

"Literally so many mediums, from music to speaking, to movies to photography, that we're going to be able to engage. Not just youth, but constituents across Milwaukee County," he said.

Martina Gollin-Graves has already put that grant money to use.

"And I couldn't be more grateful," she said.

She is president and CEO of Mental Health America of Wisconsin, which runs a clinic in the Washington Park neighborhood.

"We really prioritize individuals and families who might not otherwise have access to quality care," Gollin-Graves said.

The Impact 100 grant allowed them to hire two new therapists.

"I am truly, truly grateful but I just want to say to them, thank you for believing in what we do and our mission," she said.

"They're the heroes. The work that these nonprofits are doing is incredible," Cummings said.

The power of women coming together is pretty incredible, too.

"This is an organization of women who care, and who like to get things done," Krei said.

Impact 100 had 411 members last year. They're having a membership drive right now. The goal is to get to 500 members so they can award five $100,000 grants. For more information, click here. 

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].