Handbags That Help Membership Deadline September 14

Handbags That Help women’s giving circle is accepting renewal and new memberships through September 14, 2011. The first meeting for the 2011-2012 membership year will be Wednesday, September 14 from 9:30-11:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall.

Handbags That Help (HTH) is a women’s giving circle committed to dramatically improving lives throughout Hancock County by collectively funding significant grants to charitable projects and programs. Every membership dollar donated by HTH Giving Circle members is passed directly on to the community through grants voted on by the members.

In only four years, Handbags that Help has granted $189,669 to support the following eight local nonprofit organizations: Hancock Center for Safe and Healthy Children, Habitat for Humanity, Camp Fire, Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services, Hancock Christian Clearing House, Caughman Health Center, Findlay Hope House for the Homeless, Findlay YMCA, and Century Health.

Grant application information for the 2011-2012 membership year will be available on the Community Foundation website in mid September, with proposals due December 15.

The giving circle is open to all area women. Members are invited, but not required, to attend four meetings (September, December, March and April). The only requirement for membership is a $500 annual contribution. That donation gives each member a single vote as to how the pooled funds will be awarded that year. As an alternative to the $500 Individual Voting Membership, women can share a Joint Membership. With a Joint Membership, 2-5 women split the cost of a membership and share a single vote. Each member is also required to pay a $25 administrative fee to support the expenses of organization.

Handbags That Help was formed in 2007 by a group of women committed to dramatically improving lives throughout the Greater Hancock County community by collectively funding significant grants to charitable projects. The Handbags That Help women’s giving circle is supported by the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. To join or for more information regarding Handbags That Help please contact the Community Foundation at 419-425-1100 or visit their website at www.community-foundation.com.