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Powell River fundraising organization boosts impact

100+ Women Who Care aim to raise $100,000 by 10th meeting
100+ Women Who Care Powell River
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: At its ninth meeting, 100+ Women Who Care Powell River members Liz Matthews [left] and Selena Smith presented a cheque for $7,700 to Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association president Nellie Valentine [centre]. Contributed photo

Small groups can power big change. At its ninth meeting on Thursday, August 15, 100+ Women Who Care Powell River metto hear presentations from Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association, Powell River Community Foundation and Powell River Friends of the Library. 41 members attended the meeting to vote to pledge a collective $7,700 donation to Powell River Therapeutic Riding.

Members unable to attend the meeting still have the opportunity to make a pledge. Donations received by August 30 will be matched by thePowell River Community Forest Matching Grant, bringing the total donation up to $15,400, according to organization chair Tara Chernoff.

100+ Women Who Care had its start in 2006, before crowdfunding swept the internet as a means of quickly raising money. Karen Dunigan of Jackson, Michigan, raised more than $10,000 in an hour by hosting a meeting of 100 women where each wrote a cheque for $100. It enabled the group to buy 300 new baby cribs for an organization in their city.

Since then, chapters of 100+ Women Who Care have sprung up around the world. The concept is simple: women who join the group are asked to nominate a local charity or non-profit organization they would like to donate to. A few weeks before the meeting a committee comes together and randomly selects three organizations that are then asked to make five-minute presentations to the assembled group. Members vote for the organization they want their $50 cheque to go to and the group with the most votes becomes the main recipient. Meetings take place four times a year.

“100+ Women Who Care is a simple yet effective way to raise funds for local non-profit organizations,” said Chernoff. “Although the collective donation is the focus, the impact of the group goes far beyond the money. Members experience the power of collaboration; that by choosing to work together we can be a powerful force for good.” 

Non-profit organizations receive a platform to connect with more than 100 community-minded members, which leads to increased awareness of local social services and capacity-building as new relationships are formed, she added. This November the group will have its 10th meeting and is hoping to reach $100,000 in collective donations that night.

“Anyone is welcome to join,” said Chernoff. “We'd love to see as many people as possible at our November meeting so we can celebrate our collective impact together.” 

For more information, go to 100womenpr.com.