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Meet Your Neighbor: Maureen Romito
By: Callie Thomas
One of the newest non-profit organizations to be launched in Las Vegas is all about the numbers, that is, strength in numbers. An 89128 resident, Maureen Romito, is at the helm of this new group as the founder of Impact Las Vegas, a membership of 100 women throughout the community who aspire to make a substantial difference by giving vital resources to charitable organizations in need.
Romito is a thirty-year Las Vegas resident and a “retired” Regional Human Resources Director who had found that while climbing the ladder in reaching her career goals, it didn’t leave a lot of time for developing new friendships or reaching out more in the community. Although time prevented her from participating and volunteering as much as she would have liked in charitable organizations, she continued to support many through donations such as United Way and the American Heart Association. It was when she decided to “make a career change” by developing Impact Las Vegas that she started the ball rolling and moved her life in a different direction.
Women of all ages and backgrounds are invited to make a difference in the lives of others and participate in this transformational grant making organization. Each year, the goal of Impact Las Vegas is to provide at least one grant of $100,000 to a Southern Nevada non-profit organization that is focused in one of the five criteria areas of culture, education, environment, family or health and wellness. Romito and current members have scheduled multiple networking events over the next few months to introduce Impact Las Vegas to potential members. She talks with us about her inspiration for developing the organization, what it means to give back and how she’s finally adjusted her pace to not only spend more time with loved ones, but to create lasting friendships as well as an indelible impact on the Las Vegas community.
What was your inspiration in developing Impact Las Vegas?
“It really started as a wish to mean more; to make a bigger difference in the community than just what I could do alone. I founded the organization just last year after hearing about and meeting with Rebecca Powers, the founder of a similar and highly successful organization, Impact Austin. There are now more than fifteen Impact organizations in cities throughout the U.S. They have cumulatively given grants of more than $15 million, improving their communities and empowering and educating women in the process.”
How does Impact Las Vegas work?
“The non-profit giving circle is made up of 100 women who each donate $1,000 each year by December 31. Member donations are pooled to fund an annual $100,000 grant to a local worthy non-profit organization.”
So there really is “strength in numbers?”
“Absolutely! Most of us are not in the financial position to expand a day care program, provide free or low cost services for low-income families or to help a senior community center purchase a new roof and build a larger recreational room. All of us want to make a significant impact in the community and this way we can.”
Each of the members is an integral part of the organization and you’ve made some new friends?
“Yes, each member gets a voice in deciding which cause will be the recipient of the combined grant but we also have an opportunity to connect with other amazing women who are concerned about making this a better place.”
Why is it important for you to give back?
“This community has been my home for more than thirty years and where I have experienced personal and professional success. I want to make our community a better place to live.”
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
“The love of my life, my husband of 38 years, and I have a regular “date” with another couple we have been good friends with for years. We rotate weekly who chooses where we go but the rule used to be that it had to be someplace we’ve not been to, but we actually stopped that so we could go back to the places we really liked!”
For information about joining Impact Las Vegas visit www.impact-lv.org.
