THE GFWC COMMUNITY IMPACT
PROGRAM AWARD OFFERS GFWC
CLUBS FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO
IMPLEMENT PROJECTS DESIGNED
TO IMPACT A SPECIFIC PROBLEM
IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
Introduced in 1949 as the “Build a Better Community Contest,” and
later known as the “Community Improvement Program Award,” this
program has provided GFWC clubs with a platform for developing
and implementing projects that meet the varying and changing needs of their communities. As GFWC’s longest
standing project, it has also presented opportunities for growing club membership, enhancing leadership skills, building
relationships with individuals and groups, and creating public awareness of club activities and GFWC.
Just as communities change, so do clubs. The newly updated Community Impact Program is designed to accommodate
the many ways that clubs currently function and to provide added flexibility in the implementation of up to three
projects that have a meaningful impact on a particular problem, from “done in a day” efforts to those that could require
more rigorous planning and implementation. Additionally, the award entry process has been streamlined and the
monetary awards have been modified to encourage every club to engage with the program. The goal of this award,
however, remains the same—to encourage and recognize the positive impact that a club can have on a specific need in
the community.
IDEAS
Here is an example of how a club can design multiple projects to target a single goal:
Brainstorming and Research:
After convening a club brainstorming session to consider various community issues, club members focus on a remark made
by a teacher, who noted that many of her young students come to school hungry, especially on Mondays. Research reveals
that roughly 40% of the children in the community are nutritionally underserved. Your club decides to plan projects that offer
education and provide resources to make an impact on this local problem.
Resulting Projects:
The club creates a “doable” three-prong plan. Projects include:
• Providing a fun booth at a school event that distributes information on nutritious, budget-conscious, and easy-to-make
meals, along with taste testing and take-home recipes.
• Launching an awareness campaign, “Every Vegetable Counts,” highlighting the local issue and urging home gardeners
and others to donate excess produce to the local Food Pantry.
• Partnering with the PTA to sponsor and manage a weekend brown-bag program for underserved students.
When considering ways to impact the community, take time to discover and carefully consider community needs and then
select and connect a need with your GFWC volunteer projects. Consider implementing partnerships within your community
to address the issue and assist with project development, which can raise the profile of your club and GFWC at the grassroots
level.
2020-2022
COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAM
AWARD
Sharon Oliphant
871 NW 251st Drive
Newberry, FL 32669
Solip561@aol.com
2020-2022 GFWC CLUB MANUAL
COMMUNITY IMPACT
PROGRAM AWARD
AWARDS, CONTESTS, and GRANTS
