MARCH 2024: Impact 100 Garden State president Debby Seme was honored with the 2024 Seeds of Change Award by the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women at the March 27 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
The award was inspired by the late State Sen. Leanna Brown, who passed in 2016. The honor is intended to highlight and celebrate women who build up other women, including those who volunteer at the grassroots levels in the community.
Since 2020, Debby Seme has been president of Impact100 Garden State, an all-women, all-volunteer organization for collective giving that combines member donations to give $100,000 grants.
During Debby’s tenure, she has led the organization in steady growth in membership and grant-making, a growth that occurred despite the effects of COVID and an economy that has been challenging for donors and nonprofits. For 2024, Impact100 Garden State has a record 408 members and will give four $100,000 grants for the first time in its 12-year history. In total, Impact100 Garden State has donated more than $3.5 million to area nonprofits since 2013.
Over the years, many Morris County residents have been the beneficiaries of these grants, including those served by Cornerstone Family Programs, County College of Morris Foundation, Family Promise of Morris County, Head Start Morris County, Homeless Solutions, Interfaith Food Pantry Network, Roots & Wings and Zufall Health.
Impact100 Garden State serves Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union Counties.