Meet a past champion in action: the Women’s Community Revitalization Project of Philadelphia

By Gina Gallagher | Citizens Contributor

At Citizens, we believe that when our communities are strong everybody wins. That’s why as part of our commitment to supporting economic development, making financial investments and engaging our colleagues to help make a difference, we created Champions in Action. Through awards and partnerships with local nonprofits, this special program helps advance social equity, close opportunity gaps and make life better for all.

 In celebration of the 20-year anniversary of Champions in Action, we’re proud to highlight the work of the Women’s Community Revitalization Project of Philadelphia (WCRP). Recognized in 2009 for helping promote financial literacy for low-income women and their families, WCRP used the unrestricted funds and publicity awarded from the Champions in Action program to make an even bigger impact.

Read on to learn more about how WCRP was made ready to use the award to further their mission of providing homes and financial empowerment for women and their families.

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Philadelphia is the birthplace of our nation, rich in history and home to some of America’s strongest women who fought for freedom. Yet, for too long, many women living in the city haven’t had a place to live, enough money or food to support their families.

The Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) was created to change that. Founded in 1986 as the first-and-only, women-led community development organization in Philadelphia, the organization has become an innovative developer that has 282 units of affordable housing and has invested $66 million in some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

Putting the Champions in Action award to "good" work

With limited budgets and personnel, nonprofits face a myriad of challenges. We created Champions in Action to provide organizations with funding, promotion, publicity and volunteers to help them carry out their missions and meet the ever-changing needs of our communities.

That’s precisely what WCRP did.

The $35,000 in unrestricted funds from the Champions in Action program, which was granted when the country was reeling from the Great Recession of 2008, helped WCRP expand its services and support for families experiencing the financial fallout.

“Low-income women, and especially poor women of color who are single heads of household have the longest recovery period after an economic crisis,” said Carolyn Haynes, Resource Developer and Communications Manager, WCRP. “Going into such an event, they typically have the lowest salaries, the fewest assets and sole responsibility for the financial well-being of their families.”

To meet this need, WCRP was able to expand its support programming and offer financial literacy, housing counseling and free tax preparation. This helped 48 families improve their financial situations and 29 households receive more than $165,000 in tax refunds and credits.

What’s more, the publicity from key media outlets offered through Champions in Action resulted in a 33% increase in individual donations for WCRP. Further, it helped the organization secure additional federal funding to provide housing counseling services to families experiencing homelessness and boost its profile to become a powerful voice for those living in homelessness and poverty.

Building on the momentum of Champions

The Champions in Action award also kickstarted more recognition and advancement for WCRP, including a three-year grant that provided general operating funding and technical assistance. This past fall, WCRP received an award that offers substantial public relations/communications support to further boost visibility for the organization.

Celebrating 20 years of impact

The great work of WCRP and the support of the Champions in Action award is a powerful example of how we can accomplish more together. Since Champions in Action was founded 20 years ago, we’re proud to have provided more than $10 million in unrestricted funds to more than 360 deserving nonprofits like WCRP to help them carry out their missions. That’s a win for all!

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