Members of the Women’s Giving Circle of Chautauqua County are pictured at the group’s recent annual meeting.

The Women’s Giving Circle of Chautauqua County celebrated a milestone moment with its inaugural annual meeting held recently at the Chautauqua Golf Club.

The event’s centerpiece was the announcement of the club’s first grant awards. After a full membership vote, $50,000 in funding was split and awarded to two local programs that align with the club’s 2025 funding priority, addressing child care scarcity and access in Chautauqua County.

Grant recipients include:

– Caring Beyond Limits, a YWCA Jamestown and Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. initiative expanding access to child care by supporting providers who serve children with diverse developmental and behavioral needs.

– Child Respite Center (Happy Haven), a Healing Word Ministries Church of God pilot program offering free, once-weekly drop-off childcare. The program is designed to provide parents with safe, high-quality care while they access community services such as job training, parenting classes and addiction support.

Both programs were awarded one year of funding, and representatives will be invited to speak at the Women’s Giving Circle annual meeting in 2026.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event was Lauren Bauer, representing the Erie Women’s Fund, who spoke about collective giving through giving circles and the growing impact of women-led philanthropy. Bauer has been a partner throughout the Women’s Giving Circle’s inaugural year, sharing her time, insights, and expertise.

“This event was a culmination of years of connection, collaboration, and commitment,” said Jane Cleaver Becker, a founding member of the Women’s Giving Circle. “It was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when women come together to invest in their community. We hope the impact of collective giving will continue to shine and grow for generations to come.”

The Women’s Giving Circle of Chautauqua County launched in June 2024 as a member-led philanthropic initiative with a mission to build a better future for women and girls in Chautauqua County. Its members pool resources and experiences to create a greater collective impact in the community. After one year, the circle has more than 110 members and continues to grow. Members contribute at least $500 annually with all of the money invested directly into the community through mission-driven grantmaking.

The Women’s Giving Circle is an independent, member-led effort hosted by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, which provides administrative and back-office support. For more information about the Women’s Giving Circle of Chautauqua County, visit crcfonline.org/circle or email Lindsey Goold at lgoold@crcfonline.org.