By Linmary Green
Columnist
Some women talk about making a difference. Others roll up their sleeves, rally the community, and build a network that turns good intentions into real impact. Kim Colegrove, President of Ladies 327,Inc. is definitely the latter. With contagious energy and an unwavering heart for service, she leads an organization that reminds Sanford what’s possible when people come together with purpose, passion, and just a pinch of sass.
On a crisp, bright afternoon, I sat across from Kim Colegrove at CFS Coffee in Lake Mary, where her calm confidence set the tone for an afternoon steeped in purpose. What began as a simple conversation about a local women’s group quickly unfolded into a journey of grassroots service, heart-led leadership, and community impact.
“Ladies 327, Inc. turns 10 this year,” Kim smiled. “It started as a simple dinner invite in Sanford—42 women showed up looking for connection. That moment of shared curiosity turned into something much bigger.”
That “something bigger” is now a thriving nonprofit with over 3,100 members in a private Facebook group—an evolving space for women of all backgrounds to connect, give back, and serve local needs. What began as casual suppers became a launchpad for meaningful engagement. From supporting Cookies for Kids Cancer - Florida to partnering with Boys Town Oviedo, Safehouse of Seminole and Rescue Outreach Mission, the Ladies 327, Inc. community began to respond to the overlooked needs right in their own backyard.
By 2016, the group had transitioned into a formal nonprofit. Their impact? Nothing short of extraordinary. Their annual Cops for Christmas initiative in partnership with the Sanford Police Department and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 140—now a full-circle production of breakfast, shopping, lights, sirens, and Santa—brings holiday joy to children referred by school resource officers and the community. “I get goosebumps talking about it,” Kim shared. “I was one of those kids.”Through signature events like the CaddyShack Golf Tournament and Jazz in the Park, the organization raises vital funds to support their year-round mission. “Everything we raise goes right back out,” Kim said, humbly noting she’s received the My Sanford Magazine Best Local Charity Organization award five years running and also the Humanitarian Award for three years with the same magazine. She was also honored to have received the Non-Profit Business of the Year award in 2023 at the Seminole Business Awards hosted by the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce.
But it’s not always easy. “Volunteers and board members come and go,” she admitted. “There are days I want to quit.” Yet her resolve remains. “I grew up extremely poor. My dad was killed when I was five. My mom was never the same. I’ve been in an abusive marriage. I’ve been cold, hungry… forgotten. That’s why I fight—to make sure someone else doesn’t have to feel that way.”
From food truck festivals to Hispanic outreach events, from Easter egg hunts to mentoring new nonprofit leaders through The Learning Movement, Ladies 327, Inc. is a trusted name across Seminole County. Kim often says, “We’re the event coordinators for nonprofits.”
Her work is a reminder that service, when done with heart, changes lives. And she’s not doing it for the spotlight. “I’d rather be under the table than on top of it,” she chuckled.
Collaboration is at the forefront of what Ladies 327, Inc. represents. I asked what she’d like Community Leaders to know about nonprofit organizations’ efforts. She responded, “Don’t just show up for the large number events, let the nonprofit organizations feel seen by the leaders in the very city they serve. Bring in some of these organizations and get to know them. For the smaller nonprofits that don’t get the deserved recognition, feeling seen alone makes a big difference and recharges nonprofit leaders to continue to do the work.”
To get involved, vetted nonprofits can join their closed Facebook group, where connections and collaboration flourish. As for the future? “It’s hard to say. Some days are just heavy,” she admitted. “But then I remember the kids. The moms. The ones like me who just needed someone to care.”
And that’s exactly what Ladies 327, Inc. continues to do—care deeply, serve fiercely, and light the way for others to follow.
In a world that can feel disconnected, Ladies 327, Inc. has mastered the art of meaningful connection—one event, one partnership, one act of kindness at a time. Kim Colegrove’s vision is not just about programs and planning—it’s about people, purpose, and progress. Her story, and the mission behind Ladies 327, Inc. is a standing invitation to all of us: show up, speak up, and serve where it counts. Sanford is growing stronger because people like Kim keep showing us how.
Want to support the work of Ladies 327,Inc. or get involved in a community that believes in lifting others as they climb? Visit www.ladies327.org to learn more about their upcoming events, programs, and ways to serve. Sanford’s strength lies in its people—and the door is wide open for you to be a part of something bigger.
