news release
Impact 100 Indian River, one of Florida’s largest all-female philanthropic organizations, celebrated the start of its 17th season with a vibrant Season Kickoff at Quail Valley River Club. The event brought together over 150 enthusiastic attendees, including members, guests and community partners, setting an inspiring tone for the coming year of impactful giving.
The evening began with a New Member Reception, where new members were warmly welcomed by mentors and board members, fostering connections and building excitement for the season ahead. In her opening remarks, Impact 100 Indian River president Suzi McCoy Shriner highlighted the organization’s powerful mission to unite women passionate about collective philanthropy to drive transformative change in Indian River County.
This season’s focus on addressing more of our community’s critical needs was underscored in remarks by Jeff Pickering, CEO of Indian River Community Foundation. Pickering shared many troubling statistics including:
- Almost 50 percent of our population live in poverty or are one paycheck away;
- 55 percent of children starting school are not ready for kindergarten; 42 percent of children are not proficient in third grade reading; 44 percent of children are not proficient in eighth grade math;
- More than 500 students are homeless;
- Hospitalizations due to mental disorders are 50 percent higher than Florida’s average; and
- One out of five emergency room visits could be addressed outside of the hospital if access to care was available.
Diamond Sponsors Chris Hill, President of The Hill Group, and Jennifer Peshke, founder of the Law Offices of Jennifer D. Peshke, highlighted their strong personal and professional commitment to the community while expressing gratitude for the generosity of the organization. Hill noted the meaningful involvement of his mother, Tuny, a founding member of Impact 100, and the lasting impact of the women of Impact 100. Peshke, who serves as a board member and chairs the Governance Committee, echoed these sentiments, adding that women are a driving force for change in our community.
Gold Sponsor Joanne Liakos of Seacrest Wealth Management, also a board member and co-chair of the Fundraising Committee, encouraged members to deepen their support by becoming sponsors themselves.
The highlight of the evening came when Shriner, on behalf of Impact 100 Indian River, presented Meredith Egan, CEO of United Way of Indian River County, with a check for $36,275 in support of the United Way’s Disaster Recovery Fund.
“Collectively, we felt compelled to respond to the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Milton, which inspired the board to establish the Extraordinary Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund,” explained Shriner. “I’m proud of our board for stepping up with a 50 percent matching pledge. Our donation will deliver immediate recovery relief for those most affected by Milton.”
Founded in 2008, Impact100 Indian River is an organization of almost 500 philanthropic women who pool their resources to directly impact non-profit agencies in Indian River County. By combining individual donations of $1,100 with other members, Impact100 Indian River is able to award multiple $100,000 grants every year. These grants are truly transformational for selected nonprofit agencies and the people they serve.
For more information on becoming a part of this impactful community, visit https://impact100ir.com or contact membership@impact100ir.com.
Indian River Guardian 