Women in Philanthropy, a fund of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, recently announced grants totaling $83,000.

This amount tops the group’s 2015 grant total of $60,000 and is the largest in the history of the fund.

Grants were awarded to five Beaufort County non-profit organizations that provide services to the local community that match this year’s grant theme: Provide Safe Shelter for our Citizens: Crisis, Temporary and Permanent.

Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity received a $50,000 grant toward a “Woman Build” Habitat home in The Glen section of Hilton Head Island. This home will be for a single woman and her family. Women in Philanthropy is proud to be the primary fund source for this home. The project will begin in September and is expected to take four to five months.

Other awards included:

  • Bluffton Self Help received $10,000 to provide emergency financial assistance to the elderly and disabled. The assistance will provide help with rent and mortgage payments and utility bill assistance during months of weather extremes.
  • Deep Well Project received $10,000 toward their Emergency Assistance Program. The funds will enable Deep Well to keep families in a safe and healthy environment. By providing materials and labor such as carpentry, roof repair, plumbing, electric and HVAC, families are able to remain in their homes.
  • Family Promise of Beaufort County received $10,000 toward their “Leap Forward/ Staying on Track” program. This program is committed to finding local housing solutions by networking with landlords to attain more affordable housing units. The funds will assist with transition expenses from homelessness to a permanent housing situation.

A required 90-day life skills counseling program is part of the transition.

  • Women of Faith and Power Ministries received $3,000 to assist individuals in emergency homeless situations with overnight accommodations, and with limited housing expense if a family is on the verge of becoming homeless.

Women in Philanthropy was founded in 2003 by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Its 160 members have built an endowment of nearly $1,000,000.

Grants are made from proceeds of the endowment plus part of members’ annual contributions.

In total, the group has awarded almost $300,000 to Beaufort County non-profit organizations. All local women are welcome to join.

For more information call 843-681-9100 or visit www.cf-lowcountry.org.