100 Women concept harnesses the power of the chequebook
Area women are donating thousands of dollars to local charities.
No muss, no fuss.
100 Women Who Care South Georgian Triangle is not an organization, really. In fact, the goal is to keep administration to a minimum and facilitate donations to area charities with the most efficiency possible. And the idea is spreading.
Members only need commit to four hours and $400.
“Four times a year we get together and hear from different organizations that have been nominated by the membership and we vote,” said steering committee member Susie McLeod, a Duntroon area resident and Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI) teacher.
“I see it everyday, working with youth, the challenges that families have in this area but for me it’s connecting these people new to our area because they don’t know that Collingwood and area, Clearview Township, Wasaga Beach and Thornbury-Meaford, there are a lot of families that struggle,” she said.
Members donate directly to the selected charity.
At the inaugural meeting in September, more than $12,000 was donated to Home Horizon’s Barbara Weider House, which offers housing and services for homeless youth,
At the second meeting in November, the money went to the Salvation Army’s Emergency Assist program.
The concept is spreading through word-of-mouth and personal invitation. At last count, there are 147 members, meaning there is potential for almost $15,000 to be raised per meeting.
Because each member has the opportunity to nominate a charity, there is an incentive to go out in the community and learn about what organizations are out there and learn more about their programs.
Three organizations are chosen by random draw and representatives are invited to attend the next meeting and make a pitch.
“It’s a bit of a reveal,” said McLeod. “You go to the meeting not knowing who has been selected and who is going to speak.”
Members vote based on the pitch and everyone supports the chosen charity.
McLeod said there are spin-off benefits for the organizations that are not selected in that they have had a chance to promote their organization, may gain volunteers and in some cases people are writing cheques to them on the side.
“Eventually they will be selected. I feel their time will come. If they weren’t selected and their name goes back into the draw for the next meeting,” said McLeod.
McLeod first learned of the 100 Women Who Care concept when she and her mom, Cyndy Reycraft, who is also a member, were visiting a friend in Nova Scotia. The friend was talking about the meeting she had attended when they supported an organization that was using the money to purchase fentanyl recovery kits. The organization was founded by a Michigan woman and now, The 100 Who Care Alliance helps connect people – whether they are women, men, people, teens or children. McLeod and her mother both liked the idea.
By coincidence, McLeod’s co-worker, Glen Huron resident and CCI principal Charlene Scime, was also interested in the concept and when she looked into it, they discovered that an application had been made to start a local chapter.
They were connected with Catherine Daw, another Clearview resident, and the rest of the steering committee.
“It’s been lovely working with them,” said McLeod. “People are from all different backgrounds, some people are local and some are new to the area and want to get involved.”
She said there are no overhead costs because the Collingwood Legion donates a meeting space.
The next meeting is April 25 at the Royal Canadian Legion, Collingwood. Anyone interested in finding out more is welcome to show up. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting is from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Visit www.100womensouthgeorgiantriangle.com.
