Giving Hope Women's Circle Raises $4K for 'Enough SAID'

Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle Board Chair Cynthia Vercruysse, left, and member Jennifer Belveal, right, extend their appreciation to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy following her remarks on the Enough SAID.

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The Giving Hope Women’s Giving Circle handed out $11,250 in grants to local groups and raised more than $4,000 to support the Enough SAID campaign at its annual charity event earlier this month.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy was the keynote speaker at the annual event, held Oct. 7 at Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton and attended by 125 people.

Although the alleged crimes occurred in Wayne County, victims and suspects live across the United States. To date, DNA from the 10,000 tested rape kits has been matched with violent crimes in 38 states.

Funds donated to the campaign included a Giving Hope grant, the event’s “pass the purse” collection and sponsorship from DKSS Partners + Advisors, Canton Creative Marketing and Canton Leisure Services.

Giving Hope also announced the following community grant awards at the event:

• $3,000 grant to The Plymouth/Canton Community Literacy Council
• $8,000 grant to the Students Helping Homeless Students organization through the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
• $250 grant to the Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra for their participation at the 2015 Giving Hope Annual Event

In addition, Giving Hope designated grant recipients that will benefit from its 2016 events:

• Giving Hope’s 2016 Signature Charity Event, to be held April 13, will benefit St. Joseph Mercy Hospital’s “Shape Down” program, which addresses weight management for youth and their families.
• Giving Hope’s 2016 Summer Social “Pass the Purse” collection will benefit the Salvation Army’s “Back 2 School Blitz.”

“Giving Hope is pleased to support the Enough SAID Campaign to continue its important work, as well as assist other community initiatives through our 2015-2016 grants,” Giving Hope Board Chair Cynthia Kabza Vercruysse said in a news release. “We know these programs will have a positive community impact.”

Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle is a donor-advised fund of the Canton Community Foundation that provides grants to address the needs of women and families in the greater Canton and Plymouth area. Approximately 75 women comprise the Giving Circle, which aspires to make a positive community impact through philanthropy.