The Community Foundation Women’s Fund announced that CASA of South Central Kentucky received the $100,000 Impact Grant during its annual dinner Oct. 23 at the Knicely Conference Center.

This year’s membership of nearly 300 women cast their vote by proxy or in person at the annual dinner.

Three other finalists, the Family Enrichment Center, Glean Kentucky and HOTEL Inc., were each awarded $20,000.

Jennifer Wethington, executive director for the Community Foundation, said in a press release, “It has been gratifying to watch a group of women come together each year to award an impactful grant to our community.”

She said that in the past 11 years, the Women’s Fund has awarded over $1.3 million back to the community.

Melinda Hill, executive director of CASA, said “CASA of South Central Kentucky is very excited and appreciative for receiving the Women’s Fund Impact Grant.”

CASA has already received two new volunteer applications and the Impact Grant will help fund an advocate coordinator for four years.

“The grant and new volunteers will enable us to serve more children in our eight-county service area and help them find a safe and loving forever home,” Hill said.

Family Enrichment Executive Director Nickie Jones said “we appreciate being a finalist this year. With the funding we will invest in our Little Wee Care Learners Early Childhood program with playgroups and curriculum that support their mental health.”

Glean Kentucky Executive Director Jerilyn Bristow said “the Women’s Fund has been game changing for Glean Kentucky. We knew it was a great honor to be a finalist, but we didn’t realize how impactful it would be to our program. We are now recognized as an important agency in Bowling Green and we could not be more grateful for this signal boost.”

Rhondell Miller, director of HOTEL Inc., said “as the recipient of the recognition award from the Women’s Fund it will allow HOTEL INC the opportunity to invest in a new software program. This investment will help us to see trends and challenges in populations that are impacted through experiencing homelessness, being marginalized, or living in poverty. We will also be able to share our findings with other community partners and the community at large. We are thankful to the grant review committee for choosing us to be a finalist this year.”

The Women’s Fund, a fund within The Community Foundation of South Central Kentucky, is both a permanent endowment fund and a nonpermanent fund established to benefit women and children.