A local nonprofit recently received $1 million from one of the world's richest people, and thousands of women and students stand to benefit from the donation.
"I think I was in shock for a minute," said Connie Graham of Women's Services of Meadville. "Bruce (Harlan) came out and told me as I was getting out of the car in the morning and I think it took me a minute to wrap my head around it. Then, just incredible excitement for all the possibilities. "
For 35 years, Graham worked to educate young people to prevent domestic and sexual violence.
That effort, just got a massive boost thanks to MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Jeff Bezos, who donated $1 million to the organization as part of a $640 million philanthropic effort.
 "We can continue this work without the fear that grants may change or the topics may change," said Sarah Miller. "When money is restricted like this, we can go where the need is instead of what the money is saying you have to pay for."
Miller says she was just as thrilled but not surprised.
She says the staff at Women's Services believes in their work, and they were confident Scott's foundation would too.
"There is kind of this philosophy in social services that when someone's self-esteem is low, we will believe in you until you believe in yourself. We were doing that with this grant. Anytime someone said 'if we get the million dollars', no, 'When we get the million dollars.' We were believing this before it was real, so when I got the news, it was like, of course. Of course, that's happening. We believed in this before we even knew it was happening. "
Now, with those dreams a reality, it's time to get to work.
Executive Director Bruce Harlan has big plans.
Now, he has the money needed to focus on prevention, not treatment, addressing root causes of trauma and violence.
"We are typically plucking people out of the river as they are coming downstream," he said. "At some point, you have to ask why are they falling in? That is what I mean by moving up stream. What is causing people to flounder, to be traumatized, to be victims of violence? Can we get out those root causes?"
The nonprofit plans to reach into communities, foster discussion – and promote a sense of belonging.
It takes time, a lot of work, and a lot of money.
A million dollars, staff say, is a license to dream. 
"To know that all of these ideas or possibilities that we thought of as our big dreams, as a big, hairy, audacious goal. It's nice to know that they are not just big dreams. They are not just goals. They are actual possibilities now," said Marisa Rosado-Husband. 
The nonprofit already facilitates outreach and education programs while maintaining an 18-bed shelter for violence victims.
Now, it plans to do more work for human trafficking victims, incarcerated women and at-risk students, especially students with special needs. 
To learn more about its mission, visit https://womensservicesinc.org/services-programs.