The math is easy: 1,025 Pensacola Bay Area IMPACT 100 members giving $1,000 each, totaling $1,025,000.

The hard part for IMPACT 100 members will be deciding which of the 15 charitable organizations will be awarded 10 grants of $102,500.

The local all-women's philanthropy group, the largest in the U.S., began its decision making process in earnest today, announcing the grant finalists during an event at the Pensacola Public Library.

Winners of the 10 grants will be announced Oct. 19 during a gala event at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front..

IMPACT 100 President Holly Jurnovoy prefaced the announcement by noting membership and fundraising in 2014 set a record for the 11-year-old organization.

"In 2014 with this contribution of $1.025 million the total contributed by the women of IMPACT 100, Pensacola Bay Area, is $6,176,000," she said to enthusiastic applause by an audience of more than 100. "This money helps us to further our mission to know and serve the community, to collectively fund significant grants to charitable initiatives and to set an example of effective philanthropy.

"Projects funded through IMPACT 100 grants… encourage others to give their time, efforts and donations to local philanthropic causes," she added.

Here are the 15 finalists competing for the $102,500 grants:

ARTS & CULTURE

• Ballet Pensacola, Inc. Project: Technology and Infrastructure for Production –Moving Ballet Pensacola Forward with IMPACT.
• First City Arts Alliance, Inc. dba First City Art Center Project: Increasing Capacity, Building Community.
• The Santa Rosa County Creek Indian Tribe, Inc. Project: Infrastructure Development of Tribal Grounds.

EDUCATION

• East Hill Academy, Inc. Project: The IMPACT 100 Autism Learning Center: “Use Your WORDS”.
• Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence, Inc. Project: Shoot For The Stars!.
• The Pensacola MESS Hall, Inc. Project: The MESS Hall Express.

ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION

• Miracle League of Northeast Pensacola, Inc. dba Miracle League of Pensacola Project: Field of Dreams: Finishing the Work.
• Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, Inc. Project: Conservation and Protection: Sea Turtle Center Improvements.
• Rotary Club of Pensacola Foundation, Inc. Project: Rotary Centennial Playground.

FAMILY

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Inc. Project: 100 Men in 100 Days.
• Manna Food Bank, Inc. dba Manna Food Pantries, MANNA Project: Preparing for a Brighter Tomorrow.
• Society of St. Vincent De Paul Council of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Inc.dba Society of St. Vincent De Paul, Alfred Washburn Center Project: Living on the Edge.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

• Alzheimer’s Family Services, Inc. Project: Project Lifesaver.
• Health and Hope Clinic, Inc. Project: Strengthening the Safety Net.
• Our Lady of Angels St. Joseph Medical Clinic, Inc. Project: Improving and Expanding Patient Services.

Finalists will present their project at the women’s philanthropic group’s annual meeting on Oct. 19 at the Hilton Pensacola Beach where final voting will take place. To join IMPACT, each woman donates $1,000. The donations are pooled and then awarded as grants of at least $100,000, making a bigger impact on the chosen nonprofit.

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