100 Women Who Care: West Tennessee is an initiative focused on uniting women to use the power of collective giving and make an impact in our community. Whether you are a seasoned donor or new to charitable giving, this group offers a giving option for you and creates unique opportunities to network, volunteer, and learn alongside women and nonprofits across the region.

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That's A Wrap for the 2026 Awards Luncheon

The Community Foundation of West Tennessee hosted the 3rd Annual Awards Luncheon for 100 Women Who Care: West Tennessee on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The event brought women together with a shared purpose: to give back, connect with one another, and learn more about the nonprofit organizations working to strengthen communities across West Tennessee.

Through this initiative, women pool their charitable gifts to create meaningful grant opportunities for local organizations. The result is a powerful example of collective giving in action.

In January, 31 nonprofit organizations and funds of the Foundation submitted funding proposals for consideration. A committee of 100 Women Who Care members reviewed and scored the applications, selecting three finalists in both the small and large nonprofit categories.

Small Organizations:

• Carroll County Rescue Squad is a nonprofit emergency response organization that has served Carroll County and surrounding areas since 1967. Its mission is to protect and save lives by providing specialized rescue, recovery, and emergency response services to residents and visitors while maintaining the respect and dignity of victims. They are seeking support to install a free Lifejacket Loan Station at Lake Halford to reduce preventable drownings, especially among children and low-income families.
• Rotary Heart and Sole Fund is a fund of the Community Foundation and a project of the Jackson Rotary Club and the Old Hickory Rotary Club. It addresses a critical but often overlooked community issue - students attending school without adequate, properly fitting shoes. This collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment by two Jackson Rotary Clubs to improve student well-being and educational equity.
• YoungLives is a faith-based ministry serving teen and adolescent mothers and their babies in the Jackson area. Established as an extension of YoungLife’s long-standing commitment to reaching young people, YoungLives exists to walk alongside young moms and their children during one of the most formative and challenging seasons of their lives.

Large Organizations:

• ‍ Aspell Recovery was established in 1979 to support vulnerable individuals dealing with substance use, as well as co-occurring disorders. They are seeking support for their program, A Mother's Love. It serves pregnant and post-partum women by offering them an opportunity to enter treatment, ensuring they receive the care they need while allowing them to be transported to the hospital for delivery.
• Hannah's Hope was established in 2003 to serve families through adoption in West Tennessee. They are requesting support to provide parenting supplies, including a diaper bag stocked with diapers, wipes, a baby toiletry kit, and outlet covers, Safe Sleep Kit, an infant car seat, and Safe Feeding and Breastfeeding supplies. Funding would expand capacity to West Tennessee counties.
• United Way of West Tennessee mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. UWWT was established in 1941 as a resource to non-profit agency partners throughout the 15-county region of West Tennessee. Their request is to fund All-Star Readers, a region-wide reading incentive program that encourages students from pre-k through 5th grade to read for twenty minutes per day during three 5-week challenges that take place during the school year.

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Congratulations to the 2026 Grant Winners

This year, $15,000 in grants was awarded to two organizations working to serve families and strengthen community safety.

The Small Nonprofit Grant, totaling $5,000, was awarded to Carroll County Rescue Squad. The funding will support the installation of a Lifejacket Loan Station at Lake Halford, helping reduce preventable drownings, particularly among children and families who may not have access to life-saving equipment.

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The Large Nonprofit Grant, totaling $10,000, was awarded to Hannah’s Hope. Their project will provide parenting and infant safety supplies for families, including diaper bags stocked with essential baby items, safe sleepkits, car seats, and feeding supplies.

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100 Women Who Care: West Tennessee is more than a grant program. It is a welcoming community where women can learn about local needs, build relationships, and take part in accessible philanthropy. Each gathering highlights organizations doing important work across West Tennessee and empowers members to play a direct role in supporting that work.

Join the Impact in 2027

Are you ready to join 100 Women Who Care? Make your annual membership donation today. We offer flexible giving options for women in all walks of life. Donations are payable in installments or as a one-time gift. You may donate online or make checks payable to Community Foundation c/o 100 Women, 74 Directors Row Jackson, TN 38305.

Your level of giving determines the number of votes you receive:

• Member: Join as a member by donating $100 annually and receive 1 vote.
• Friend: Be a Friend by donating $250 annually and receive 2 votes.
• Advocate: Become an Advocate by donating $500 annually and receive 3 votes.
• Champion: Be a Champion by donate $1,000 annually and receive 4 votes.

We also have business sponsorship opportunities available at $500 and $1,500. Our business partners help cover the cost of our annual awards luncheon, allowing 100% of our member's donations to go directly back to nonprofits in the community.

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