Impact Austin: And the finalists are….

Impact Austin, the women’s philanthropy group celebrating five years of writing big checks to local nonprofits, announced the 10 grant finalists for 2008, five of which will receive $102,000.

That’s a total impact of $1.5 million to the community. Impact Austin members will vote on the five winners at its annual meeting on June 10. Remember, this is the group that asks each member to put in $1000 each year of membership. That money is then pooled to create a fund from which they award the grants.

Here are the 10 finalists:

Culture:
Paramount & State Theatres
Southwest Key Programs

Education:
Austin Academy
Breakthrough

Environment:
Ecology Action of Texas
Austin Parks Foundation

Family:
Wonders & Worries
Goodwill Industries

Health & wellness:
SafePlace
Caritas

Watch for the big check presentation ceremony on June 12.