Impact100 Essex Awards $100,000 Impact Grant to Connections at Home

By Jackie Schatell

Impact100 Essex, a giving circle founded and funded by women in Essex County, awarded its annual $100,000 Impact Grant to Connections at Home (CAH), which has been serving socially isolated, homebound seniors in Essex County since 2014.

Now in its sixth year, Impact100 Essex provides transformative grants to nonprofits serving underrepresented communities in Essex County. CAH provides free, easy-to-use computers and tablets, as well as dedicated social worker support. The $100,000 grant will be used to expand its programs to more seniors.

“Connections at Home is so excited to receive this generous grant,” says Alex Kent, executive director of CAH. “We are so grateful that Impact100 Essex members recognize the need to support the older generation: senior citizens who are homebound, with little or no family support. They are an invisible part of the population who rarely get any attention or grant funding. It means so much to them that we are able to provide them with a free, easy to use tablet or computer, and connect them with their own social worker, who becomes an advocate and friend.”

Helen Mazarakis, a founding co-convener of Impact100 Essex, added “The Impact Grant reveals to us every year the inequities we may not have recognized in our community. We are grateful to support Connections at Home as they connect an overlooked population to the world.”

Connections at Home was chosen from among four finalists by Impact100 Essex members. The other finalists for this year’s Impact Grant were Jazz House Kids, Project U.S.E., and the Transformative Education Network (TEN) at Montclair State. These three organizations will receive grants of $10,000 each.

“We are thrilled to celebrate and acknowledge all the finalists for our Impact Grant,” said Jill Edinburg, co-chair, Grants Committee for Impact100 Essex. “These organizations and their leaders are true change-makers addressing the critical and varied needs of Essex County and transforming lives, both young and old. We’re honored to support them.”

Impact100 Essex is always looking for new members. To learn more or to become a member, send an email to: membership@impact100essex.org.

If you know someone that goes above and beyond, send an email to jackie.subessex@gmail.com