Our sixteenth meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph demonstrated that even during the hazy hot days of Summer, our members are committed to supporting local community organizations!  In spite of a torrential rainstorm which deluged Guelph an hour before our quarterly meeting, members braved the elements and joined us for a chance to listen to eloquent speakers making inspiring presentations for their chosen charities.

We started off the evening with refreshments and a networking event sponsored by Irene Szabo of Home Group Realty and Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre, valued members of 100WWCG.

Sharon Lewis delivered introductory remarks to the group, noting that at this last meeting of year four, 100 Women Who Care Guelph has 150 committed donations (individual donors and teams) and that the thermometer total at this time stands at $182,450.  She also noted that at the conclusion of the meeting, we would have the opportunity to award 3 year pins to another 23 members.

Sharon informed members that we have encountered a challenge related to the venue we use at our quarterly meetings.  Due to a corporate ownership change, the Guelph Delta Hotel has re-evaluated our arrangement with them and will no longer be able to provide free accommodations for those meetings.Sharon outlined three options which face the group moving forward:

1. 100WWCG could continue to hold meetings at the the Delta and every member would pay a nominal fee (approximately $10 per year) to cover the cost of room rental.
2. We could continue to hold meetings at the the Delta, but seek sponsorship from area businesses to cover the cost.
3. We could search for another location which would be available to 100WWCG, at no cost.

Members present were given an index card and asked to vote on these three options.

We are asking any member who was unable to attend last evening’s meeting to take a moment, follow this link and fill out a brief survey which will let us know your opinion on this critical issue.  Deadline for completion of the online poll is
July 31st, 2018. 
Once all votes have been tallied, we will notify all members by email.

After  a thorough discussion of this issue, members listened to presentations from three very inspiring nominators:

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1. Amber Wood presented on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, an organization which mobilizes volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. Habitat for Humanity offers a zero down payment, interest-free mortgage, with payments which are geared to income.

2.   Suzanne Longpre presented on behalf of  Shelldale Family Gateway, a community hub located in the Shelldale Centre.  Their multicultural approach strives to meet the needs of the Onward Willow community, offering programs and client support in more than 29 languages.  With a focus on children, they offer residents of this underprivileged neighbourhood a variety of programs including preschool and early literacy programs, a breakfast club, an after school program for teens, adult ESL, a women’s circle and a summer camp program.

3.   Karen McElroy presented on behalf of Pet Protect Guelph, a pet fostering program to help people who are precariously housed, women fleeing domestic violence, individuals recovering from a medical procedure and those who are seeking addictions treatment. Through their affilliation with  Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition, it is the organization’s mission to provide a temporary, safe home for pets with selected foster families, while using science-based practices to optimize animal welfare.

Following each presentation, members asked a variety of questions about each organization, the clients they serve and their funding models.  This is a very important aspect of our meetings, because the more we know about the charities who present, the better we will understand their mission and value to the community.  Your engagement with our presenters is essential to our mission.  Most important, our members’ continued generosity is key to 100WWCG’s success and the success of the charities we sponsor.

Teresa Waldner, Manager, Community Support Services for the VON, says “Thank you!” for our April Donation.

While member votes were being counted,  Teresa Waldner, the manager of Community Services for the VON Waterloo Wellington Dufferin (Victorian Order of Nurses), delivered an enthusiastic “Thank you!” to the group, She told members that VON rarely sees single donations of this size and that the funds donated will be used to provide increased service levels in our area, particularly related to program accessibility and mobility.  To read the full transcript of her comments, follow this link.

Sharon and Diane present the “Big Cheque” in recognition of our April donation to VON Waterloo Wellington Dufferin

A ffew days after the meeting, children at Shelldale Family Gateway express their thanks for being chosen to receive 100WWCG’s Meeting 16 Donation.

Following this heartfelt presentation, we learned that our July selected charity is Shelldale Family Gateway. When pledges come in from all members, our contributions will be directed towards providing  support to valuable ongoing services for families in the Onward Willow Community.   You can read more about these exciting plans in Tannis’s press release online.   We look forward to hearing about the impact of that donation at our next meeting, in the Fall of 2018.

Congratulations on receiving your three year pin!

As the last order of business for the evening, Sharon handed out 3 year pins to qualified members and photos were taken of pin recipients in attendance at the meeting.
If you missed the meeting, you’ll find instructions about how to send in your cheque below.  We are also offering the option of making your payment online! 

Please arrange to make your donation as soon as possible.

Our Third Meeting of Year Four

Three uplifting presentations and one successful charity!

 If you missed the meeting, we’re happy to provide a recap…
AND
If you still have to submit your cheque, payment instructions are at the bottom.
You are now able to make payments online, as well!

Our fifteenth meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph once again demonstrated the commitment of our 165 members, to supporting local community organizations!  In spite of an ice storm which forced the postponement of our quarterly meeting, members rearranged their schedules and came out one week after the original scheduled date, for a chance to listen to enthusiastic speakers making compelling  presentations for their chosen charities.

We started off the evening with our new pre-meeting networking event sponsored by Irene Szabo of Sotheby’s Realty and Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre, valued members of 100WWCG.

Diane Nelson delivered introductory remarks to the group, thanking everyone for rearranging their schedules and gave special thanks to the Delta Hotel, for making it possible for us to re-book our meeting on short notice.  She also informed members that representatives from Best Version Media (Guelph) were in the audience and would be interested in taking a photograph of our group for publication in one of their local neighbourhood magazines. In light of the fact that there were several new members present, Diane reviewed the charity selection and voting process and took this opportunity to remind members that they have the option of making their donations by cheque or online through our website.

We listened to presentations from three very passionate nominators:

1. Joan Bruder presented on behalf of The Julien Project, a community-based charitable
   

   Joan Bruder presented on behalf of “The Julien Project”

   organization that provides social and therapeutic gardening opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds and abilities, enabling personal growth, community membership, and environmental well-being.  Based at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, the initiative offers a variety of horticultural programs designed to heal people holistically.  Programs are offered to schools, special needs clients and people served by Hope House.

2. Cathy Bulych presented on behalf of  VON Waterloo Wellington Dufferin (Victorian Order of Nurses), a charitable home and community care organization which offers home care, personal support, and community services designed to help people of all ages to get healthy and stay healthy.  Volunteers provide respite care, Meals on Wheels and transportation to medical and rehab programs for seniors and those dealing with long term illness.
3. Stacy Cooper presented on behalf of  Habitat for Humanity, an organization which mobilizes volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. Habitat for Humanity offers a zero down payment, interest-free mortgage, with payments which are geared to income. All partner families and individuals and individuals are required  to contribute up to 500 hours of “sweat equity” by volunteering in construction, office work and fundraising.

Following each presentation, members asked a variety of very insightful questions.  This is so important, because the more we know about the charities who present, the better we will understand their mission and value to the community.  Your engagement with our presenters is essential to our mission and as always, our members’ continued generosity is key to 100WWCG’s success and the success of the charities we sponsor.

Steve Kraft says “Thank You!” on behalf of Guelph Public Library…

While member votes were being counted, Steve Kraft of Guelph Public Library gave a wholehearted “Thank You!” to members for our January donation, which was used to purchase Early Literacy Stations for branch libraries within the system.  These stations, valued at approximately $4,000 a piece, provide a wide variety of learning experiences including reading, writing, phonics, math, science and social studies to children aged 2 to 8 years.   Most important, the units provide a learning experience which is engaging and entertaining for children, fostering a love of the library experience and incredible enthusiasm for learning.  The library had a goal of installing two of each of these ELS in each branch and our donation has substantially helped to achieve that goal.

Three year pin recipients were honoured and photographed. Congratulations!

Following his very entertaining presentation, Stephanie Birt of Blue Ocean Office Supplies handed out 3 year pins to qualified members and photos were taken of pin recipients and of the members in attendance at the meeting.

Once these activities disbanded, we learned that our April 2018 selected charity is VON Waterloo Wellington Dufferin (Victorian Order of Nurses).  When pledges come in from all members, our contributions will be directed towards providing subsidies for seniors and disabled clients who lack adequate funding to make use of their services. We look forward to hearing about the impact of that donation at our next meeting, on July 16, 2018.  You can read more about these exciting plans in Tannis’s press release online.

If you missed the meeting, you’ll find instructions about how to send in your cheque below.  We are also offering the option of making your payment online! 

Our Second Meeting of Year Four

Three inspiring presentations yield one successful charity!

If you missed the meeting, we’re happy to provide a recap…
AND
If you still have to submit your cheque, payment instructions are at the bottom.   You are now able to make payments online, as well!

Our fourteenth meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph once again reaffirmed the commitment of our 136 members to supporting local community organizations!  In spite of inclement weather, members turned out for an opportunity to listen to inspiring speakers making enthusiastic presentations for their chosen charities.

We started off the evening with our new pre-meeting networking event sponsored by Irene Szabo of Sotheby’s Realty and Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre, valued members of 100WWCG.

Following this valuable get-together, Sharon delivered brief remarks and informed those present that our donation total is now $157,225.  She also took this opportunity to remind members that if they have missed making a quarterly donation there is always an opportunity to make it online through our website.

1. Lisa Hood presented on behalf of Guelph Public Library, Ontario’s oldest free public library, with a membership of more than 59,000 people.   At least 39,000 are enrolled in programs at the library annually, with at  least 25,000 hours of learning logged, making GPL a leader among library participation within Ontario, for the past 7 years.  The library’s ongoing mission is expansion of collections and programming, including new technology and equipment.
2. Tara Kanerva presented on behalf of Beginnings Family Services, a charity which provides pregnancy counseling and adoption services to clients of all ethnic backgrounds, religious affiliations, and walks of life.  Services also include life skills training and provision of basic supplies for new parents.  This organization also implements educational programs within the local school boards.
3. Barb Tremblay presented on behalf of Hope House, a poverty relief organization which provides compassionate assistance, with the emphasis on providing clients with “a hand-up, rather than a handout”.  This organization’s initiatives include backpack and hamper drives, art therapy programs and a free choice food market, as well as a community garden/horticulture therapy program  for those experiencing addiction, trauma or loss.

A wholehearted shout out to everyone who provided thoughtful and insightful questions after each presentation.  Your engagement with our presenters is essential to our mission!  Most important, our members‘ continued generosity is key to 100WWCG’s success and the success of the charities we sponsor.

After these inspiring presentations, members voted, and the selected charity was Guelph Public Library.  When pledges come in from all members, our contributions will be directed towards expanding digital workshops for senior adults and providing additional literacy computers for the young.  We look forward to hearing about the impact of that donation at our next meeting, on April16, 2018.  You can read more about these exciting plans in Tannis’s press release online.

Ann Caine. President and Volunteer Fundraiser says, “Thank you!” on behalf of Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre.

 While we were waiting for the results of our voting, members had the pleasure of listening to an inspiring presentation by Ann Caine, nominator of Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre, who gave a very moving “Thank you!” to the group, for our October donation. She emphasized the significant impact our financial assistance will bring to the kids Sunrise serves, through the purchase of a new horse (which she assured us would be done as soon as one that is temperamentally suitable can be found).  The funds also sponsor horses and classes, providing subsidies which will make it possible for more children to enjoy the freedom, camaraderie and exhilaration of spending time in nature, engaging in physical activities and experiencing the joy of connection with the animals they love.

Please arrange to make your donation as soon as possible.

Three-year pin recipients were happy to receive their pins and commemorate their accomplishment with a photograph. Sponsor Stephanie Birt of Blue Ocean Office Supplies and Solutions (far right) participated in the ceremony.

Finally, Sharon and Stephanie Birt of Blue Ocean Office Supplies & Solutions presented three year pins to all members who had fulfilled a commitment to donating to chosen charities for a full three years.

Stephanie Birt, owner of Blue Ocean Office Supplies & Solutions is the sponsor of our commemorative pin initiative.

Blue Ocean is 100WWCG’s newest sponsor, committed to supporting our commemorative pin program.  We are proud to engage in this exciting partnership because we believe that the mission alignment between both organizations will allow us to have a big positive impact now.  As the video on their website demonstrates, 100WWCG members who make purchases through Blue Ocean Office Supplies & Solutions, will see their chosen charities benefit as well!

Our Second Meeting of Year Four

Three inspiring presentations yield one successful charity!

If you missed the meeting, we’re happy to provide a recap…
AND
If you still have to submit your cheque, payment instructions are at the bottom.   You are now able to make payments online, as well!

Our fourteenth meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph once again reaffirmed the commitment of our 136 members to supporting local community organizations!  In spite of inclement weather, members turned out for an opportunity to listen to inspiring speakers making enthusiastic presentations for their chosen charities.

We started off the evening with our new pre-meeting networking event sponsored by Irene Szabo of Sotheby’s Realty and Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre, valued members of 100WWCG.

Following this valuable get-together, Sharon delivered brief remarks and informed those present that our donation total is now $157,225.  She also took this opportunity to remind members that if they have missed making a quarterly donation there is always an opportunity to make it online through our website.

1. Lisa Hood presented on behalf of Guelph Public Library, Ontario’s oldest free public library, with a membership of more than 59,000 people.   At least 39,000 are enrolled in programs at the library annually, with at  least 25,000 hours of learning logged, making GPL a leader among library participation within Ontario, for the past 7 years.  The library’s ongoing mission is expansion of collections and programming, including new technology and equipment.
2. Tara Kanerva presented on behalf of Beginnings Family Services, a charity which provides pregnancy counseling and adoption services to clients of all ethnic backgrounds, religious affiliations, and walks of life.  Services also include life skills training and provision of basic supplies for new parents.  This organization also implements educational programs within the local school boards.
3. Barb Tremblay presented on behalf of Hope House, a poverty relief organization which provides compassionate assistance, with the emphasis on providing clients with “a hand-up, rather than a handout”.  This organization’s initiatives include backpack and hamper drives, art therapy programs and a free choice food market, as well as a community garden/horticulture therapy program  for those experiencing addiction, trauma or loss.

A wholehearted shout out to everyone who provided thoughtful and insightful questions after each presentation.  Your engagement with our presenters is essential to our mission!  Most important, our members‘ continued generosity is key to 100WWCG’s success and the success of the charities we sponsor.

After these inspiring presentations, members voted, and the selected charity was Guelph Public Library.  When pledges come in from all members, our contributions will be directed towards expanding digital workshops for senior adults and providing additional literacy computers for the young.  We look forward to hearing about the impact of that donation at our next meeting, on April16, 2018.  You can read more about these exciting plans in Tannis’s press release online.

 While we were waiting for the results of our voting, members had the pleasure of listening to an inspiring presentation by Ann Caine, nominator of Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre, who gave a very moving “Thank you!” to the group, for our October donation. She emphasized the significant impact our financial assistance will bring to the kids Sunrise serves, through the purchase of a new horse (which she assured us would be done as soon as one that is temperamentally suitable can be found).  The funds also sponsor horses and classes, providing subsidies which will make it possible for more children to enjoy the freedom, camaraderie and exhilaration of spending time in nature, engaging in physical activities and experiencing the joy of connection with the animals they love.

Please arrange to make your donation as soon as possible.

Finally, Sharon and Stephanie Birt of Blue Ocean Office Supplies & Solutions presented three year pins to all members who had fulfilled a commitment to donating to chosen charities for a full three years.

Blue Ocean is 100WWCG’s newest sponsor, committed to supporting our commemorative pin program.  We are proud to engage in this exciting partnership because we believe that the mission alignment between both organizations will allow us to have a big positive impact now.  As the video on their website demonstrates, 100WWCG members who make purchases through Blue Ocean Office Supplies & Solutions, will see their chosen charities benefit as well!

Our First Meeting of Year Four!

Three outstanding presentations yield one successful charity!

 If you missed the meeting, we’re happy to provide a recap…
AND
If you still have to submit your cheque, payment instructions are at the bottom.
You are now able to make payments online, as well!

Our thirteenth meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph once again confirmed the commitment of our 141 members to supporting local community charities!We started off the evening with our new pre-meeting networking event sponsored by Irene Szabo of Sotheby’s Realty and Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre, valued members of 100WWCG.Following this valuable get-together, we listened to presentations from three animated and eloquent nominators:

1. Ann Caine presented on behalf of Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre, a Puslinch-based organization whose mission is to develop the full potential of children and adults with special needs and lead them closer to independence through therapy, recreation, horse riding, life skills and farm related activity programs.
2. Marissa Teeter presented on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph, a child and youth mentoring charity.  Big Brothers Big Sisters facilitates life-changing relationships that inspire and empower children and youth to reach their potential, both as individuals and citizens.  In co-operation with local school boards, the Guelph chapter has been working hard to expand its efforts to include in-school mentoring programs.
3. Laura Greenway-Balnar presented on behalf of Hopewell Children’s Homes, a residential program which provides service to individuals with varying developmental needs, who require complex medical or behavioural support. Their facilities and care model  offer individualized services, providing meaningful lives for children, youth and adults, as well as support for their families.

Thank you to everyone present, for your deliberate and well considered questions.  Your engagement with our presenters is essential to our mission and your continued generosity is key to 100WWCG’s success and the success of the charities we sponsor!

Liz Kent, Executive Director of VSW says “Thanks!” to 100WWCG for their July donation to “Project Lifesaver”.

After these thoughtful and enlightening presentations, members voted, and the selected charity was Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre. When pledges come in from all members, our contributions will be directed towards purchasing and sponsoring therapy horses for the centre. Funds may also be directed towards sponsorship of riders and development of facilities for horse care.  We look forward to hearing about the impact of that donation at our next meeting, in January 2018.  You can read more about the program in Tannis’s press release online.

While we were waiting for the results of our voting, members had the pleasure of listening to a fascinating and touching presentation by Liz Kent, Executive Director of Victim Services Wellington, describing  their Project Lifesaver program.  Liz noted how challenging it is nowadays, for charities to secure grant money and how thankful she was to receive the donation made by 100WWCG in July.  Funds have been used to purchase new transmitters, eliminating the need for a waiting list for clients who qualify for the Project Lifesaver program, along with additional receivers for emergency services personnel within our community.  She described the positive outcomes that she has observed through the program and was happy to report that remaining funds will be directed towards purchasing more equipment to support the program in Guelph.

Co-founder Sharon Lewis (left) and nominating member Robin Smart (right) present the 100WWCG big cheque to Liz Kent of VSW for our July chosen charity, “Project Lifesaver”.

If you missed the meeting, you’ll find instructions about how to send in your cheque below.

 We are also offering the option of making your payment online!
Please arrange to make your donation as soon as possible.

Meeting Four of Year Three!

Three phenomenal presentations and one successful charity!   In case you missed the meeting, here’s a recap…
AND
If you still have to submit your cheque, payment instructions are at the bottom.
You are now able to make payments online, as well!

1.  Claire D’Arville presented on behalf of Focus on Nature, a local organization which brings trained volunteers and photographers into classrooms to engage students in creative workshops, hands-on nature and photography activities, plus photo editing and feedback sessions.  Their mission is to inspire young people to explore and connect with the natural world, using these outdoor experiences to enhance development of technical photographic skills.
2. Robin Smart presented on behalf of Victim Services Wellington, in support of their Project Lifesaver  program, which provides wrist transmitters to families dealing with members suffering cognitive impairment due to a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, Down Syndrome and acquired brain injury.
3. Suzanne Longpre presented on behalf of Better Beginnings, Better Futures, a community hub located in the Shelldale Centre.  Their multicultural approach strives to meet the needs of the Onward Willow community, offering programs and client support in more 29 languages.  Specifically, they offer residents of this underprivileged neighbourhood a variety of programs including preschool and early literacy programs, a breakfast club and a women’s circle.

Diane Nelson congratulates Robin Smart, nominator of Victim Services Wellington’s “Project Lifesaver” program.

After these engaging and informative presentations, members voted, and the selected charity was Victim Services Wellington, in support of their Project Lifesaver  program. When pledges come in from all members, our contributions will be used to purchase new transmitters, which would eliminate the need for a waiting list for clients who qualify for the program, as well as additional receivers for emergency services personnel. We look forward to hearing about the impact of that donation at our next meeting in October 2017. You can read more about the program in Tannis’s press release online.

Dawn Matheson, interdisciplinary artist and former board member of Ed Video, says a wholehearted “Thank you!” for our April donation, which purchased audio and video equipment to support upcoming local video projects.

Many of those in attendance joined us for our after-meeting networking event sponsored by Irene Szabo of Sotheby’s Realty and Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre, valued members of 100WWCG.

Meeting Three of Year Three!

Three fascinating and uplifting presentations and one successful charity! 

In case you missed the meeting, here’s a recap…
AND
If you still have to submit your cheque, payment instructions are at the bottom.
You are now able to make payments online, as well!

Our eleventh meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph demonstrated the incredible commitment of our 146 members to giving generously to local community charities! We value our members and thank everyone present for their engagement and for their insightful questions. Most important, we would like to thank all of you for your continued generosity!

Last night we listened to compelling presentations from three very passionate nominators:

1. Robin Smart presented on behalf of Victim Services Wellington, in support of their Project Lifesaver  program, which provides wrist transmitters to families dealing with members suffering cognitive impairment due to a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, Down Syndrome and acquired brain injury.
2. Greta Haanstra presented on behalf of The Life Centre (Daily Bread For Everyone).  Each week this downtown mission provides up to 600 meals and a variety of programming, at no charge, to anyone who is in need.
3. Liz Dent presented on behalf of Ed Video, an organization which, since 1976, has helped members create video-based projects that represent the diversity, spirit and viewpoints of the people in our region.

After these engaging and enlightening presentations, the membership voted, and the selected charity was Ed Video. When pledges come in from all members, our contributions will be used to purchase new audio, video and lighting equipment to support current and upcoming programs within our community. We look forward to hearing about that impact at our next meeting on July 10th, 2017. You can read more about the program in Tannis’s press release online.

While we were waiting for the results of our voting, members had the pleasure of listening to an inspiring presentation from Marie Dennison, Regional Director of Start2Finish Running and Reading Clubs.  Marie expressed her gratitude for the donation made by 100WWCG in January, to the Guelph chapter of Start2Finish, to assist with the creation of a new running and reading club at Westwood Public School.  

Funds were used to purchase shoes, shirts, fitness equipment and books for the program participants.  Membership is currently 36 kids and it is anticipated that up to 60 children will be welcomed into this exciting and innovative project.

After the meeting, many of those in attendance joined us for our after-meeting networking event sponsored by our very own members, Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre and Irene Szabo of Royal City Realty.

Meeting Two of Year Three!

Three informative and inspiring presentations and one successful charity!

In case you missed the meeting, here’s a recap…
AND
If you still have to submit your cheque, payment instructions are at the bottom.

You are now able to make payments online, as well!

 Our Tenth meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph reinforced the commitment of our 151 members, to giving generously to local community charities!  We welcome our new members and thank everyone present for their thoughtful questions. Most important, we would like to thank all of you for your continued generosity!

Last night we listened to well-prepared presentations from three enthusiastic nominators:

1. Wendy Clayson presented on behalf of Start2FinishGuelph.  Start2Finish Running and Reading Clubs provide a supportive environment for children to accomplish academic and physical goals, as part of a 32 week program which culminates in the Start2Finish 5K Running & Reading Challenge, at the end of the school year.
2. Irene Szabo presented on behalf of Trillium Waldorf School, an institution which provides a developmentally appropriate and experiential-based approach to education, to inspire life-long learning and enable children to fully develop their unique capacities.
3. Carol Tyler presented on behalf of The Seed, a collaborative initiative of community partners in Guelph & Wellington with the shared vision of strengthening the local emergency food system through the distribution of healthy fresh food to local providers and their clients, community kitchen & garden programs, and healthy food education and cooking programs

Diane Nelson congratulates Wendy Clayson, nominator of Start2Finish Guelph, the successful recipient of our Meeting 10 donation.

After these thoughtful and informative presentations, the membership voted, and our selected charity was Start2Finish Guelph. When pledges come in from all members, our contributions will provide a substantial portion of the $20,000 start up costs for the new Westwood Public School running and reading program, including the purchase of books, running shoes, and t-shirts for up to 60 kids. We look forward to hearing about that impact at our next meeting on April 10th, 2017.  You can read more about the program in Tannis’s press release by following this link.

While we were waiting for the results of our voting, members had the pleasure of listening to a heartfelt presentation from Randy Betts, Head Parenting Coach, and a volunteer for the Guelph chapter of APSGO (Association of Parent Support Groups Ontario). His talk was an inspiring description of the significant contribution APSGO has made to supporting the lives of parents and young people in crisis. Randy expressed gratitude for the contribution that 100WWCG made at their October meeting.After the meeting, many of those in attendance joined us for our after-meeting networking event sponsored by our very own members, Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre and Irene Szabo of Royal City Realty.

Our Ninth meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph kicked of 100WWCG’s third year!

Our membership count now stands at 150 committed membership pledges. We welcome our new members and thank everyone present for their thoughtful questions and all of you for your continued generosity!

On the evening of October 3rd 2016, we listened to well-prepared presentations from three enthusiastic nominators:

1. Irene Szabo presented on behalf of Trillium Waldorf School, an institution which provides a developmentally appropriate and experiential-based approach to education, to inspire life-long learning and enable children to fully develop their unique capacities.
2. Robin Smart presented on behalf of Victim Services Wellington, in support of their Project Lifesaver  program, which provides wrist transmitters to families dealing with members suffering cognitive impairment due to a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, Down’s Syndrome and acquired brain injury.
3. Rosemary Fernandez-Walker presented on behalf of the Guelph chapter of the Association of Parent Support Groups of Ontario.  APSGO is an organization of parents of disruptive youth who have joined together to provide support and empower parents to deal with their situation. The organization provides weekly meetings, workshops and other resources to assist parents in acquiring the skills to help themselves and their children.

Sharon Lewis presents our Meeting 9 donation to Rosemary Fernandez-Walker, nominator of the Guelph chapter of Association of Parent Support Groups of Ontario (APSGO),

After these fascinating and inspiring presentations, a vote was taken, and our selected charity was Association of Parent Support Groups of Ontario ( APSGO)  When pledges come in from all members we will be contributing $15,000 to fund a conference in Guelph. We look forward to hearing about that impact at our next meeting on January 9th, 2017. You can read more about the program in Tannis’s press release online.

Executive director Michelle Martin and program co-ordinator Thayna Walker express their thanks to 100WWCG for their July donation

We had the pleasure of listening to an inspiring presentation from Michelle Martin, executive director of  Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington and Thayna Walker, program co-ordinator.  They gave us a moving description of how our July 2016 donation to their Minds in Motion  program has improved the lives of people with dementia and their care partners. Our $15,100 donation has really made a difference and changed some lives!

Post-meeting networking is a great way to connect!

After the event, many of those in attendance joined us for our after-meeting networking event sponsored by our very own members Sandra Lastovic of The Mortgage Centre and Irene Szabo of Royal City Realty.