WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN. The area's Women's Giving Circle group exceeded $500,000 in grant impact this fall. (Photo via Facebook)

Closing in on its 20th anniversary in 2027, the Women’s Giving Circle has officially exceeded $550,000 in grant impact with its latest grant awards, announced on Nov. 4.

Eleven local organizations received a total of $63,239 in grants from WGC at its Nov. 4 annual meeting. Each grant recipient helps fulfill WGC’s mission of supporting women and children across Eau Claire County. The recipient organizations and programs are:

• Altoona Boys and Girls Club: “Youth Education Technology Access Program”
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW WI: “A Day of Camp at Our Nawakwa”
• Children’s Museum of Eau Claire: “Play for All”
• Chippewa Valley Free Clinic: “Women Supporting Women in Life Saving Health Care”
• Chippewa Valley Museum: History Heroes Children’s Exhibit
• Feed My People Food Bank: Monday Evening Distribution for Working Families
• Friends of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library: Expansion of Books for Babies
• Girls on the Run Chippewa Valley: New Curriculum for Elementary School Girls
• Junior Achievement of WI North and West Central Region: Financial Literacy Partnership
• Literacy Chippewa Valley: Family Literacy Onsite Childcare
• Prevent Blindness Wisconsin: Adult Vision Health Program

WGC members pool their charitable dollars into a fund at the Eau Claire Community Foundation to maximize their philanthropic impact. What began in 2007 with a group of more than 100 founding members each pledging $1,000 to the fund has grown to more than 250 members today, and continues to grow.

Grantees will officially receive their awards at the Gift of Giving Breakfast, a public event that will take place on Dec. 3 from 7:30-9am at the Florian Gardens. The grantees have the opportunity to speak about the program they are receiving funding for at the event.

Anyone can join WGC at any time, with the group’s annual membership contribution set at $250 per person in order to fund the WGC Endowment Fund, the WGC Grant Fund, and the Community Foundation.

Keep up with the Women’s Giving Circle on Facebook and learn more at eccfwi.org.