Rainbow Village Awarded $34K in Microgrants to Metro Atlanta Families in Need

DULUTH, Ga. - Jan. 9, 2024 - PRLog -- Rainbow Village hosted its 4^th Annual "Better Together" Women's Giving Circle Microgrant Awards Ceremony in December 2023. 109 guests were present for the giving of $34,244 in "microgrants" to help 38 of the families Rainbow Village serves overcome obstacles or achieve milestones on their pathway to self-sufficiency.

"Of course, we didn't do any of this alone," said Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner. "We rely heavily on the 'village' that surrounds our Village. 'Better Together' proved a perfect name for a group that pools its resources and fuels one another's philanthropic spirits to move mountains for families in need. I can't begin to describe the magic that filled that room as each cheer went up and tears of joy flowed freely."

Award recipients included:

700+ Club Award Recipients: 4 Rainbow Village residents worked diligently to achieve a credit score of 700 or higher

ASPIRE Program Recipients: 15 residents received funds to help pay down debt, two to help pay medical bills, and one received funds for a secured credit card to help build credit

THRIVE Program Recipients: three Rainbow Village graduates received funds to help pay down debt and another three to assist with transportation challenges

Neighborhood Cooperative Ministry Program Recipients: As part of Rainbow Village's new outreach program, two families in the community received funds to help pay down debt

Thrive Beyond the Village Housing Award Recipients: Seven resident and graduate families received funds to assist with housing beyond Rainbow Village's borders

Barbara Howard High Achiever Award: Rainbow Village resident Tameka

Tameka came to Rainbow Village with a $500+/month car note, making it impossible for her to achieve her financial goals. At the encouragement of her Success Coach, she turned the car in and was able to obtain a vehicle from Rainbow Village partner Heirborn Servants with no car note. This made it much easier for her to begin to see changes in her financial situation until she was in a car accident at no fault of her own. Sadly, the car was totaled, and while she did receive some money from insurance, it was not enough to obtain another vehicle.

A significant Women's Giving Circle pledge arrived five days before the Microgrant Ceremony. The Rainbow Village team got its wheels turning for the best possible use of the donation. The day before the ceremony, Conner called upon its partners at Subaru of Gwinnett to learn if combining the funds from Tameka's reserves and that latest donation could result in a car purchase. By the night of the Award Ceremony, a 2012 Chevy Malibu belonged to Tameka.

For more information about the Rainbow Village "Better Together" Women's Giving Circle and to register as a new member, visit https://rainbowvillage.org/womens-giving-circle/.