Through our Nation of Neighbors program, we empower community leaders by recognizing and supporting their work to serve women and girls through a nonprofit, business, or program. Each year, $100,000 in grant money is distributed to Nation of Neighbors recipients, helping them expand their impact.
Mara Fleishman, CEO
Chef Ann Foundation, Boulder, Colo. – $20,000
Mara Fleishman and the Chef Ann Foundation are transforming how America feeds its children by training and empowering the 93% of women who make up the school food workforce. The grant supports Colorado’s Healthy School Food Pathway, advancing training and leadership for women in school nutrition.
Tamekia Hunter Ross, founder
Faith Strong, Sumter, S.C. – $20,000
Before her passing, breast cancer survivor Tamekia Hunter Ross built Faith Strong to ensure no one faces breast cancer alone. The grant honors her legacy by expanding programs like The BREASTies support group, care bag deliveries, and retreats that uplift survivors with hope and faith.
Lynda Sargent, founder
Heart of Hope Ministries, Rock Island, Ill. – $20,000
When Lynda Sargent saw families in her Rock Island neighborhood struggling with food insecurity and limited access to basic needs, she turned her faith into action. Through Heart of Hope Ministries, Lynda Sargent and her team serve more than 22,000 people annually with food, clothing, and youth programs. The grant expands her Food Plex initiative, which provides nutritious, medically tailored meals and kitchen tools to help women take charge of their health.
Ann Wilkinson, founder
WeBUILT, Clackamas, Ore. – $20,000
Ann Wilkinson created WeBUILT (We Build Unique Independent Lives Together) to provide inclusive, supportive housing for adults with disabilities. With this grant, she will develop The WeBUILT Blueprint, a guide to help families nationwide build empowering, independent living communities.
Jenny Halupnik, Carmen Fish, and Dakotah Smith, leadership team
One Eighty, Davenport, Iowa – $10,000
Led by Jenny Halupnik, Carmen Fish, and Dakotah Smith, One Eighty offers recovery and housing programs for women overcoming addiction, incarceration, and trauma. The grant supports Stability Homes and family restoration retreats that help women rebuild their lives with confidence and purpose.
Joanne Braccio, founder
Love Thy Neighbor, Monmouth County, N.J. – $10,000
After a personal loss, Joanne Braccio founded Love Thy Neighbor to restore dignity and stability to families in crisis. The grant strengthens her outreach, helping expand warehouse operations and support programs for women and families facing hardship.
From inclusive housing and breast cancer support to school food reform and community renewal, these leaders exemplify what it means to lead, support women, and serve communities. Together, they represent the next chapter in Royal Neighbors’ 130-year history of social good.
