Our History

Impact100 Wichita Falls was established by a group of women brought together by Paula Perkins, who had heard about similar collective women’s giving networks across the nation. The Founding Board of Directors first met in June 2018. These women capitalized their talents to organize, following the Impact100 model for its tried-and-true replicability and associated results. Outreach was conducted with other Impact100 organizations to learn their best practices which were adapted into the local chapter’s design and process. Impact100 Wichita Falls kicked off its inaugural year in 2019-2020 with 59 members.

Impact100 Wichita Falls’ ultimate goal is to be the area’s preferred women’s philanthropic organization with 500+ diverse and engaged members that return year after year to provide significant support for the important work of nonprofit organizations in the Greater Wichita Falls community.

For more information about how Impact100 started, see our council story.

Our Core Values

Women:  We believe women have the power to effect change.

Transformational Impact We recognize the value of leveraging smaller gifts to collectively achieve the greatest impact.

Philanthropy:  We strengthen women’s financial capacity and confidence to proactively and practically invest resources in high-powered and meaningful ways to effect lasting community change.

Community:  We believe participation in grantmaking efforts develops an increased awareness of and service to our community.

Inclusivity:  Membership is open to all who identify as a woman age 18 or older who wish to help Wichita Falls and surrounding communities.

Diversity:  We embrace members’ varied backgrounds, ages, professions, interests, races, sexual orientations, physical abilities, and financial means and work to effectively integrate the talents and expertise of all members.

Equal Voice: One woman, one gift, one vote.

Engagement: There are no requirements beyond the donation and casting a vote for the annual grant recipient. Service opportunities will be available, as members drive their own participation.

The Impact100 Model

The Impact100 model is readily available to all communities who wish to implement it. The model is designed to empower women to see themselves as philanthropists and overcome the barriers women have historically faced in this arena. The model is designed for transformational grant-making within local communities, with a minimum grant size of $100,000.

At Least 100 Women
Come Together

Each Woman
Donates $1,000

$100,000
is donated to a
Local Charity

Focus Areas

We provide nonprofit organizations with grants in increments of at least $100,000 across five broad Focus Areas:

Arts & Culture

This area includes high-impact initiatives that cultivate, develop, educate, preserve and enrich the arts and cultural climate.

Education

This area includes high-impact initiatives that advance learning opportunities and access to education for children and/or adults.

Family

This area includes high-impact initiatives that strengthen and enhance the lives of children and families.

Health & Wellness

This area includes high-impact initiatives that improve the mental and/or physical wellness of people.

Environment

This area includes high-impact initiatives that enhance or restore natural resources or facilities, including those that encourage research, public awareness, and education relating to the environment and conservation of our natural resources and/or promote animal welfare.

How it Works

The annual $1,000 donations of Impact100 Wichita Falls members are pooled into a grant fund to be given away to nonprofit organizations in our community. The number and size of grants awarded are dependent on our membership, but our goal is to give incremental grants of $100,000 each year. Grants can be awarded in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Family, Health & Wellness, and Environment. Grants are awarded based on a vote of the Impact100 Wichita Falls membership at our annual meeting. Every woman who gives $1,000 or more has one vote.

Executive Board

Paula Perkins
Co-President
Paula Perkins
Co-President

Paula is an Education Specialist at Region 9 Education Service Center. She is also an Occupational Therapist who is Board Certified in Pediatrics and holds a Specialty Certification in School Systems with the American Occupational Therapy Association. Within the community, Paula has led numerous initiatives with the Junior League of Wichita Falls, the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, and the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture. Paula recently completed a two-year term of service as a Board Member and the Governance Committee Chair of the Association of Junior Leagues International.

Marisa Hafley
Co-President
Marisa Hafley
Co-President

Marisa, with her husband and son, has lived in Wichita Falls since 2015. They are active members of First Christian Church, and she is an Education Specialist at Region 9 Education Service Center. With many years of experience in many educational settings across the state of Texas, working with leaders and teachers has allowed her to support schools and impact education in a very meaningful way. Marisa enjoys being a volunteer in WFISD and is also a member of PEO.

Ashley Fitzwater
Secretary
Ashley Fitzwater
Secretary

Ashley is a native of Wichita Falls and anchors the 5, 6, and 10p newscast at NewsChannel 6. She has worked at the station since 2002 and loves how the job allows her to connect with people in the community she calls home. Ashley accepted a board position with Partners in Education in Fall 2020. She has also served on the board of Community In Schools, Texoma Business Women and volunteers her time in the WFISD through PTO and Read to Learn. Ashley and her husband have two kids and enjoy serving in leadership at their church.

Connie Ali
Communications
Dr. Yvonne Hearn
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Dr. Yvonne Hearn
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Dr. Yvonne Hearn has practiced pathology in Wichita Falls for over 25 years. She has been actively involved in the College of American Pathologists to include serving on the CAP Foundation Board and numerous Councils/Committees. She is a Past President of the Texas Society of Pathologists. She has served at United Regional Health Care System since 1998 to include multiple committees, URHCS Foundation Board, two years as President of Medical Staff, Chairman of the Department of Pathology, and three terms on the URHCS Hospital Board. She worked with the Community Healthcare Center as a board member from 2014-2018. Currently Dr. Hearn is excited to be a member of Impact100 WF Board, with the focus of Diversity Equity and Inclusion.

Ruth Jones
Grants Co-Chair
Ruth Jones
Grants Co-Chair

Ruth has worked professionally in the nonprofit world for over 15 years with expertise in fundraising, grant writing, donor relations and communications. She received her Certified Fundraising Executive designation (CFRE) in 2015. Prior to her role as Director of Fund Development at Presbyterian Manor, Ruth was an assistant grants director at a private foundation and began her nonprofit career as the marketing director of a nationally affiliated nonprofit organization. Ruth currently serves on the Texoma Planned Giving Council board.

Rebecca Lammers
Co-Grants Chair
Rebecca Lammers
Co-Grants Chair

Rebecca is a Wichita Falls native and Midwestern State University graduate. She has been involved in many areas of the home buying industry over the last 22 years. Rebecca purchased her Allstate agency in 2019 in the community where she has lived in and built relationships in for over 40 years. Rebecca and her husband, Geoff, are blessed with three beautiful and active girls. She and her team enjoy giving back to the community by volunteering and supporting with several non-profits throughout Wichita Falls.

Selby Lilley
Director
Selby Lilley
Director

Selby Bush Lilley is a recent transplant to Wichita Falls from Houston. She is the Head of Corporate Affairs – Petroleum for BHP, a global top 50 company by market cap. Selby has extensive experience in non-profit leadership and has served on non-profit boards in Tulsa, Houston, and New York City. Selby was named to Oil and Gas Journal’s “40 Under Forty” in 2020 and serves as an appointee on the Louisiana Governor’s Climate Initiatives Task Force. She also serves as an adjunct professor at The Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, where she also serves on the school’s Board of Advisors. Selby resides in Wichita Falls with her husband Dave and their two-year-old son, Conrad.

Emily Payne
Membership Engagement Director
Emily Payne
Membership Engagement Director

Emily is the Director of Operations for Healing Hands Healthcare.  She has served on the Board of Directors for The Arc of Wichita County since 2018, is a graduate of Leadership Wichita Falls, and is a committee member for the Buddy Walk. A North Texas native, Emily has spent most of her life in the greater Wichita Falls area. She and her husband have two children, a boy, and a girl.  With a background as a Registered Nurse, Emily has witnessed the various needs of our community.  Her passion is to enhance the lives of our community through volunteer and philanthropic initiatives.

Leslie Schaffner
Director
Leslie Schaffner
Director

Leslie is a familiar face in the local nonprofit world with 30+ years of experience. Leslie was named President/CEO of the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation in 2018, after 16 years with The Priddy Foundation. She is a founding board member of the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture, a co-founder of the annual Empty Bowls event to benefit the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank and is a past president of the Junior League of Wichita Falls. Leslie and her husband, Alan, have two sons and two grandchildren.

Julie Woolsey
Grants Co-Chair
Julie Woolsey
Grants Co-Chair

Julie and her husband, Brady have lived in Wichita Falls since 1986. They are members of First Baptist Church where Julie plays in the Worship Orchestra. Julie retired from WFISD in 2018 after teaching 32 years and now enjoys volunteering at the WF Area Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, WFISD Read to Learn, Junior League HEART committee sustainer, WFISD Foundation Board, and Impact100.