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Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Women to Women Announces Record-Breaking 2025 Community Grants

Women to Women (W2W), a permanent grantmaking endowment of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro (CFGG), is pleased to announce $360,000 in grants to 10 nonprofit organizations serving women and families across Guilford County. This cycle represents the largest single-year investment in the initiative’s history and brings W2W’s total giving to nearly $2.6 million since its founding.

Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Awards a Record $2.3 Million in Grants to Triad Nonprofits

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro (CFGG) announces a record-breaking $2.3 million in grants to 23 local nonprofits advancing community well-being across the CFGG’s core focus areas: cultural vibrancy, economic mobility, health and wellness, and housing. An additional $1.75 million was awarded through the Charles L. “Buddy” Weill Fund, a permanent endowment dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors across the Triad.

Casa Azul shares and preserves Latinx heritage

Census numbers show North Carolina’s Hispanic population increased by 40% in the last decade. It’s the fastest-growing segment of the population in the state, making up more than 10% of everyone in North Carolina.

One agency in the Piedmont Triad believes that’s why it’s important to share Latin culture with everyone. 

“I think that for the longest time, I’ve been in Greensboro since 1997, and for the longest time, we were almost invisible,” says Claudia Femenias, the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Casa Azul. “I mean, nobody really knew that Latinas were here. So this, when we started with this, was very nice to start teaching this. I think that creating this bridge of understanding, creating a safe space, creating culture and art and showing it to everybody, it does create a stronger community.”

Uniting and strengthening the community is Casa Azul’s mission. The nonprofit introduces people of different backgrounds, preserves and promotes Latino heritage, and works to strengthen families through cultural arts.

 

Femenias says Casa Azul began in 2011 with Dia de Muertos, the celebration of the Day of the Dead in Mexico. That used food, dance and music to teach people about the Hispanic tradition. 

Over time, Casa Azul added a Latino arts and education series and even introduced Latin writers into local schools. Volunteer staff now host about 20 different free programs, and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro helps support it with a $40,000 grant. It’s all designed to create a safe space for everyone in a community that values diversity.

“But we also strive to create bridges of understanding, to teach about the richness of Latino cultures, to the non-Latino, to the people in the community, Greensboro Community, High Point community, and Guilford County in general,” says Femenias.

Casa Azul is always looking for financial donations and volunteers to help with programs such as this year’s Dia de Muertos celebration. It kicks off this Saturday evening with a free reception. It will be in the Greensboro Cultural Center in downtown Greensboro. An altar exhibit created by local Latino artists will also be open to the public through November 8.

Help Nourish Our Neighbors This Thanksgiving

Food insecurity continues to impact many families in Greensboro, where nearly 1 in 5 residents face limited access to consistent, nutritious meals. For many families, the holiday season is a time of joy, tradition, and abundance. But for countless neighbors in our community, holidays like Thanksgiving can be a time of deep worry, such as how to put a meal on the table, how to keep up with bills, and how to make the season feel special for their children. This surge in need places an enormous strain on our local nonprofits, who work tirelessly to ensure no one is left behind during this season of giving. As September marks Hunger Action Month, there’s no better time to take action.

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is proud to carry on a cherished tradition through the Ken Conrad and Mary Lacklen Thanksgiving Fund. What began in 2011 as “Community Tables Thanksgiving” has grown into a powerful effort to provide hot meals and moments of connection to our neighbors in need on Thanksgiving Day. This year, the Fund will again award grants to local organizations preparing and serving meals across the city—bringing comfort, nourishment, and dignity to hundreds.

We invite you to join us in this meaningful tradition. You can make a gift by sending a check (designated for The Thanksgiving Fund) to the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, requesting an interfund transfer from your donor-advised fund, or making a secure online donation here.

Together, we can help ensure no one is left out of the table this season. Thank you for being part of the solution.

Exceptional Guilford County Volunteers Receive Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards

The Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors the spirit of volunteerism by recognizing individuals and groups that make a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. Prospective recipients are nominated by the organizations for which they serve, and the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium coordinates the awards for Guilford County.