at 2023 "The Future of Belonging" Event

Event included Keynote Speaker, Graci Harkema, and 2022 grant recipient, I AM Academy. 

HOLLAND, Mich., October 16, 2023 – Women of Color GIVE (WOC Give), West Michigan’s leading philanthropic collective supporting the advancement, development, and promotion of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), hosted their third annual charity event, “The Future of Belonging” on October 12 where they announced the top three nominees for their 2023 grant cycle distributing $65,000. The “Future of Belonging” event also welcomed Graci Harkema as its keynote speaker, and I AM Academy’s founders, WOC Give’s 2022 grant recipient. 

The following three finalists are nominees for WOC Give’s 2023 grant cycle. 

·       Ballet Folklorico

·       Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates

·       Latin Americans United for Progress 

Each organization will present at WOC Give’s annual Investment Night on December 12, 2023 for their part of the $65,000 grant distribution. 

“At its core, Women of Color GIVE believes in investing in its community,” said Rebekah Bakker, vice president of Woman of Color GIVE. “To us, that means donating to those who are dedicated to advancing the BIPOC community on the Lakeshore. We are proud to welcome these three organizations to present their projects to our members at the end of the year.” 

More than 300 guests attended the “Future of Belonging” event, which welcomed Graci Harkema, an international diversity, equity, and inclusion lecturer, and best-selling author as its keynote speaker. 

WOC Give also hosted its 2022 grant recipient, I AM Academy, whose leaders shared their growth since receiving their $25,000 donation last year, offered opportunities to grow the WOC Give Donor Advised Fund, and heard from many local and dynamic BIPOC changemakers, performers, and leaders. 

Women of Color GIVE selected these three local nonprofits out of 22 nominations received from committed Investors during 2023. 

On December 12, 2023, Women of Color GIVE will host its annual Investment night to distribute the $65,000 in grants to their top three nominees. The funds will be awarded as follows. 

·       The first award recipient receives $32,500

·       The second award recipient receives $19,500

·       The third award recipient receives $13,000 

The members of Women of Color GIVE will be the judges of each nominee's presentation and have the final say over the ranking of their awards. 

To learn more about Women of Color GIVE’s annual grant cycle, visit https://wocgive.org/grants/. 

About Women of Color GIVE
Women of Color GIVE is a philanthropic collective based in West Michigan to support the advancement, development, and promotion of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) on the Lakeshore (Ottawa and Muskegon counties). Women of Color GIVE was created for and by women of color who are invested in using their voices to change the traditional giving landscape. Learn more at https://wocgive.org/. 

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