Essex County, NJ, May 8, 2025 — Impact100 Essex, a giving circle founded and funded by women in Essex County, has awarded its annual $100,000 Impact Grant to Perinatal Health Equity Initiative (PHEI). The award was announced on May 2. Now in its eighth year, Impact100 Essex provides transformative grants to nonprofits serving underrepresented communities in Essex County. Since its inception in 2017, it has granted over $1.2 million to Essex County nonprofits.
“We are humbled to receive this year’s Impact100 Essex grant. Because of this grant, our community is going to have a vital resource providing equitable and safe clinical care for Black moms from pregnancy and beyond,” said Dr. Nastassia K. Harris, Founder and Executive Director of PHEI. “This grant is for our mamas.”
She added, “Raising funds for a capital campaign is a daunting task and the opening of the Lt. Tamesha Dickey Black Maternal Health Center in East Orange would have been in jeopardy if we didn’t reach our phase one funding goal. With support from the women of Impact100 Essex, we have done just that!”
The center is named for Police Lieutenant Tamesha Dickey, a local Black mother who worked for the East Orange Police Department and died from inadequate perinatal care in 2018.
Kristin Stuek, Co-Chair of the Grants Committee at Impact100 Essex, said, “We are pleased to give this $100,000 grant to support PHEI’s opening of New Jersey’s first Black maternal health clinic. We are confident this grant will have a significant impact on the lives of Black mothers and babies.”
PHEI was chosen from among four finalists by Impact100 Essex members. The other finalists for this year’s Impact Grant were The Apostles’ House, Braven, and Project U.S.E. These three organizations will receive grants of $10,000 each.
“We are excited to support PHEI and our other finalists,” added Jill Edinburg, Co-Chair of the Grants Committee at Impact100 Essex. “It’s a thrill to see PHEI, a finalist last year, reapply and be selected as the $100,000 recipient this year.”
About Impact100 Essex
Impact100 Essex is always open to new members. The organization enables members to amplify their philanthropic giving and learn about nonprofits in their own community. Impact100 Essex grants are funded by gifts of $1,150 per member, per year. The organization awards a $100,000 Impact Grant each year, three Equity Grants, and several smaller grants. For more information, visit www.impact100essex.org.
About the Community Foundation of New Jersey
Over our 46-year history, the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) has collaborated with individuals, families, organizations, and businesses to design charitable funds and implement the philanthropic solutions they want to see in their communities. We leverage $1 billion in assets and 1,200 funds to help our partners think boldly and creatively about ways to give — making their philanthropic goals a reality in New Jersey and beyond.
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