Newport County's Impact100 chapter has awarded $208,000 to two local nonprofits, the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District and the James L. Maher Center. The grants will support projects in education, health, and wellness, addressing issues such as food access and employment for people with disabilities. The Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District will use its grant to scale its student-led AgInnovation farm in Portsmouth into a farm-to-school system serving public schools across Aquidneck Island. The James L. Maher Center will use its grant to launch 'Harvesting Ability,' a paid employment program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program will allow participants to grow and sell herbs and vegetables at farmers markets, restaurants, and school culinary programs across the island. The two organizations were selected from a field of 29 applicants by a membership that pooled $1,000 contributions to create a $208,000 grant fund. Five finalists presented their projects to an audience at the Wyndam Hotel before members voted at the organization's annual meeting and awards celebration. 'A year ago, this was a vision. Tonight, it became $208,000 in the hands of people doing extraordinary work,' said Maura Lindsay, founding president of Impact100 Newport County. 'That's the power of giving together.' The grants support projects spanning the organization's five focus area committees. In addition to the Maher Center fulfilling the education focus area and the ERICD's AgInnovation project in the health and wellness area, finalists included the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County, looking for an additional van to provide wider access to club opportunities, and the Common Fence Point Improvement Association, for all-inclusive handicap accessible 'Together We Play' equipment. Impact100 Newport County is part of the Impact100 Global Network, an alliance of more than 80 chapters worldwide that have collectively awarded over $178 million in grants. The Newport County chapter, founded in 2024, is the first of its kind in Rhode Island. Membership surpassed its founding goal of 100 members in its first year, doubling anticipated impact from the outset. The momentum shows no signs of slowing. The organization celebrates its first anniversary on June 9 at the Jane Pickens Theater and is already well on its way to raising its first $100,000 for the next grant cycle, a sign that the collective giving model is taking hold as a lasting force in Rhode Island philanthropy. 'We're just getting started,' said Lindsay. 'Every dollar coming in for next year's cycle is proof that this community believes in what we're building together.'