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Royal Neighbors of America empowers women and serves communities nationwide.

Rock Island, Ill. (Sept. 22, 2023) – Royal Neighbors of America, a women-led fraternal benefit society based in Rock Island, Ill. presented Nancy Blount, affiliate leader of I Support the Girls (ISTG) - Tampa Bay with a Nation of Neighbors℠ empowerment award and grant.

Royal Neighbors offers life insurance and annuity products to its members and is driven by its mission of supporting women and serving communities. Nation of Neighbors is Royal Neighbors’ signature women’s empowerment program and recognizes and supports women who work to empower women and girls through a nonprofit, business, or program. Nation of Neighbors recipients are influential leaders who exemplify the Royal Neighbors “neighbor-helping-neighbor” mission of community service. They are nominated by Royal Neighbors members.

ISTG is an international organization that collects and distributes essential items, including undergarments and hygiene products for women and girls in need. Each affiliate determines how the items are collected and distributed in their community.

“ISTG - Tampa Bay serves three Florida counties (Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco) that have an average homeless population of 4,000 individuals on any given night - 30% (1,200) are women,” said Nancy.

Since starting in 2019, ISTG - Tampa Bay has donated 414,300 women’s hygiene products, 27,000 bras, 15,000 pairs of underwear, and 53,700 other items to 225 organizations serving women and girls who are impoverished or in distress in their community.

“Schools, domestic violence shelters, group homes, clothing closets for foster families, detention centers, and safe houses all request and receive products,” said Nancy. “We also donate products to migrant farmworkers outside of the Tampa Bay area and most recently to victims of Hurricane Ian.”

ISTG relies solely on the community for product donations. As the need continues to grow, there are times when they must start a waiting list due to insufficient resources. The Nation of Neighbors grant will allow the organization to purchase products and fill in the gaps when supply is low.

“This grant will help us supply women and girls with properly fitting undergarments and hygiene items promoting an ‘I am worthy and I’ve got this’ attitude,” said Nancy.

“Nancy understands how imperative a person’s self-esteem is to their general wellness and overall success,” said Royal Neighbors CEO and President Zarifa Reynolds. “Her dedication to supporting this community embodies the mission of our ‘neighbor helping neighbor’ philosophy which was established by the women founders of Royal Neighbors of America nearly 130 years ago. Our judges were inspired by Nancy’s drive to make a lasting and meaningful impact.”

To date, Royal Neighbors has awarded more than $2.5 million in Nation of Neighbors grants nationwide.

More about Royal Neighbors of America

Royal Neighbors was founded in 1895 as a membership organization by nine pioneering women who recognized the need to insure the lives of women and children. Now, with more than 250,000 members nationwide, Royal Neighbors of America offers life insurance and annuity products to its members and is driven by its mission of supporting women and serving communities. The organization’s employees, members, and chapters across the country drive the mission through localized volunteerism and philanthropy programs making social impact the cornerstone of their work. In 2020, Royal Neighbors was upgraded to “A Excellent” (3rd highest out of 13) by the AM Best Company for overall financial strength and ability to meet ongoing obligations to certificate holders. The rating was affirmed as of November 30, 2021 and once again in 2022. In 2022, Royal Neighbors delivered $24.5 million in social good, record revenue and received an all-time high score from the Great Place to Work® employee survey, achieving their sixth Great Place to Work Certification. For more information about Royal Neighbors of America, go to royalneighbors.org.