Make an Impact
by: Ann Lawton Watson (9), special to the Digital Devil
Are you a teenage girl who is interested in impacting our community? If so, you should
join the Impact 100: Next Generation organization. This organization focuses on serving the
community around us and reaching out to others. Sara Hemingway, the President, and Mary
Grace Hemingway, the Co-chair, are the women behind this program. They believe every
teenage girl should be exposed to their community. By joining this organization, you will learn
essential life skills and know how to communicate well with others. “I feel like teens in general
have a lot to offer in our community. I wanted to create something that would inspire them to
get out in the community and become philanthropists,” says Hemingway.
The mother-daughter duo hopes that as many girls as possible get involved. They are
striving to get 50 girls involved in order to earn $5,000. They have not yet decided what they
are planning to do with the grant, but they are going to announce it this upcoming October.
Hemingway says she discovered the idea at a conference in Austin, Texas. She thought this
organization would be perfect to start in Owensboro. She then shared the idea with her
daughter and now the organization is starting to come alive.
Mary Grace Hemingway is planning some activities during the summer and sometimes
during the year. “We are going to hold a dinner, have movie night, take an art class, have a pool
party, do an escape room, play bunko, and anything we can partake in,” says Mary Grace
Hemingway. Over the course of this program, the girls will also learn how to read grant
applications. People should know how to read grant applications so they are aware of
community problems and learn the best uses for charitable dollars.
The Hemingway women have advertised the organization all over the community and at
all the local high schools. Starting soon, they will overlook the applications and contact the
teens to start holding meetings. Once they start holding meetings, they will discuss with the
women about all the scholarship opportunities within this organization. Both Sara and Mary
Grace Hemingway hope this organization lasts forever with momentum from the girls and
continuing support from the community and its mentors.
You are able to sign up on the website listed below. Hemingway wants every girl have a
chance to be involved and “give life” to the Owensboro community. Remember to always serve
your community as they do to you.
Visit the website below to sign up or learn more information.
https://impact100owensboro.org/next-gen/
