Brand-New Women’s Group Celebrates Raising $188K for Women and Kids in Need

Brand-New Women’s Group Celebrates Raising $188K for Women and Kids in Need

Alexandra Inman, Kristin Lenoir, Jessica Graham

A UNIQUE NEW philanthropic group with a straightforwardly simple fundraising approach has successfully logged its first big event.


Houston's new chapter of Impact100 had a goal to find 100 women to join and pledge $1,000 each. Instead, the group landed 188 members, exceeding all expectations.

At an awards celebration earlier this month, it divvied up the $188,000 total between four local charities. Angela's House, which provide rehabilitative services and trauma relief for formerly incarcerated women to looking to make a new start, won the largest grant of $100,000. Three other groups — the SPARK school park program, the Chinquapin School for exceptional students in underserved communities, Theatre Under the Stars and Kids' Meals — split the remaining $88,000 four ways.

"I know I speak for the entire membership when I say, we are so honored to be able to bestow these funds to such incredible organizations in the Houston area," said Jessica Graham, president of Impact100 Houston, in a statement. "Our members are passionate about giving back, and what an inspiration it has been to be a part of such a successful fundraising effort with this powerful group of women."

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Carol Dubose, Flor Dimassi

Katie Grahmann and Valerie Ly

Kristin Lenoir, Allison Young

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Parties

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

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How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

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