<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-9289061c-7fff-904f-35f1-ea889dc24044"><p style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">                               </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:249px;height:113px"><img style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" height="113" width="249" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Px4HQjnaKURaqHgRTysRozmD3c982gLu6sRqrDm6DWkLcf8WTFvG2RTHiMdsUiWVBY4FcjYQTEeXnzBGa7mFvzoIYy0NCRP47c62mjqeotNR26R5MnkR1aS4mpBqo66hHPxUdDcdZxzwx5qVIQ"></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">      13-Aug-19</span></p><p style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">************************************************************************</span></p><p style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><p style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">************************************************************************</span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County is accepting applications </span></p><p style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">for its 2019 Grant Cycle!</span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County is accepting applications for its 2019 grant cycle. This cycle will focus on organizations that benefit the environment. The Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County aims to engage women in diverse backgrounds with varying wealth levels to build community and grow philanthropy. </span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Our members vote to decide the focus of each cycle, this cycle the environment was the chosen topic. Our last grant focused on women and children, “ said Nikki Robb, Program Manager at the Missoula Community Foundation. “We are excited to review applications and learn about all the innovate programs in our community that impact our environment</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.”</span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County was formed in 2018 and is a diverse, dynamic and generous group of women engaged in an exciting venture of strategic philanthropy. Organized by the Missoula Community Foundation in partnership with the Women’s Foundation of Montana, women collectively pool their resources in order to leverage their gifts significantly each year for a worthy local organization! The circle is run by its members and the members vote on who receives funding. A donation to the Women’s Giving Circle allows you membership. </span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The mission of the Women’s Giving Circle is to inspire collaborative giving to strengthen our community. Their vision is a community where all gifts have value, all donors have a voice, and all Missoula County benefits. </span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Last year, the Women’s Giving Circle awarded a $10,000 grant with contributions from 80 women to the Missoula Food Bank to benefit a program of theirs focused on engaging women who have lived in poverty. The Lived Experience Voices and Leaders, or LEVL Program is led by women who have experienced poverty and encourages them to find solutions to hunger based on that experience. Learn more about the LEVL Program </span><a style="text-decoration-line:none" href="http://missoulafoodbank.org/programs/help-end-hunger/levl-program/"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I am grateful to be a part of a group of women who are open to new ideas, who challenge my thinking, who build consensus, and who invest in our community quite literally. Their passion, commitment and generosity magnify my own. We give together, we decide together, and together we are changing our community for the better.” – Molly Stockdale, Giving Circle Member and Executive Director at Traveler’s Rest Preservation & Heritage Association. </span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Requests for funding should clearly demonstrate how funds will be used to benefit the environment. They circle also has values that guide their grant making decisions, community, equity, and opportunity. The application period will open August 15</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-size:0.6em;vertical-align:super">th</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and applications are due on September 15</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-size:0.6em;vertical-align:super">th</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Grants will be awarded in November. For more information on how to apply </span><a style="text-decoration-line:none" href="https://missoulacommunityfoundation.submittable.com/submit/032864dc-f0d2-4fa0-9631-dd5f9b1c7a54/womens-giving-circle-of-missoula-county-nonprofit-grant-application"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><br><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It’s not too late to join the circle and vote for this year’s grant winner! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The circle requires a minimum donation of $120 and they have a tiered membership to allow for socio-economic diversity. You can give monthly, quarterly, or all at once. Become a member today by donating online </span><a style="text-decoration-line:none" href="https://missoulacommunityfoundation.org/give/womens-giving-circle/"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(click here)</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> or contact the Missoula Community Foundation, #406-926-2846.</span></p><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Learn more about being a part of the Women’s Giving Circle Missoula via our </span><a style="text-decoration-line:none" href="https://www.facebook.com/WGCMslaCounty/"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Facebook Page</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> or by contacting Nikki Robb at </span><a style="text-decoration-line:none" href="mailto:Nikki@MissoulaCommunityFoundation.org"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Nikki@MissoulaCommunityFoundation.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> or #406-926-2846.</span></span><br></div>