On the 100+ Women Who Care Victoria website is a quote from United Nations Foundation CEO Kathy Calvin that says, “Giving is not just about making a donation. It’s about making a difference.”
This week the Victoria chapter of the fundraising initiative presented the Victoria Literacy Connection with a cheque for $23,600, hoping to do just that – make a difference.
100+ Women Who Care is a group dedicated to making immediate, direct and positive change in their local communities. With a one-year commitment, each member writes a $100 cheque four times a year and every three months the group meets for just one hour, to decide on a local non-profit organization to support.
“It’s a really diverse group and a like-minded group really,” co-founder Denise Grant says. “We have busy lives and meeting for one hour four times a year is wonderful. It educates us on what local charities are out there, and who needs help.”
Grant says supporting four charities every year makes a significant impact, and 100+ Women would like to see that grow. Their next meeting, slated for Dec. 4, is the annual “bring a guest” gathering that Grant says has been successful in bringing more women to the effort.
The Victoria chapter has grown to close to 250 members since starting in 2014 and has raised over $346,500 for local charities including the Mary Manning Centre, Connections Place and Bridges for Women Society, among others.
“Many of us have helped with non-profits in the past and we’ve seen how much work and how many people it takes to raise even a small amount of money,” Grant explains. “In some cases, $25,ooo has helped them keep their doors open all year.”
For more information on 100+ Women Who Care, check them out online at 100womenvictoria.com.