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/