100 WWCG Press Release – Tuesday, April 12, 2016

100 WWCG donate $14,100 to North End Harvest Market

The story of a local grassroots organization creating a market to offer free fresh fruits and vegetables to low income individuals and families in order to meet their healthy food needs touched the hearts of 100 Women Who Care Guelph. The North End Harvest Market, a part of the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition here in Guelph, was the recipient of  a $14,100 donation from 100 WWCG.

The goal of the Market is not only to help improve the diets of their clientele by providing healthy food alternatives, but also to feed their souls by creating a welcoming community where they are treated with dignity. The volunteer run organization provides a fun, family centred experience by offering entertainment for the children while shopping at the Market. There are 150 people per week served by the Market, which is supported by donations of food from local farmers, or funds from groups such as 100 WWCG, who have whole heartedly embraced the concept of investing in our local community by supporting such groups as the North End Harvest Market. Visit their website www.100womenwhocareguelph.com for more information or to become a member.

100 WWCG Press Release – Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2016

Family & Children’s Services gets seed money for new program from 100 WWCG

Children are among the most vulnerable in our society, a fact Family & Children’s Services here in Guelph knows all too well. A youth who has been in their care who reaches the age of 18, and does not choose to continue their education, can suddenly find themselves bereft of all forms of support, both emotional and financial, and very much alone in the world.

The transition from youth to adult is tricky for everyone, but without “the bank of mom and dad”, even the smallest of setbacks can make that process a much more difficult one. Two very poignant stories led to 100 Women Who Care Guelph awarding $13,800 to Family & Children’s Services.

In one case, a young man had procured employment, but needed $300 for car repairs in order to get to work. No car – no job, as simple as that.

In another, a 21 year old woman diagnosed with breast cancer was in desperate need of funds to purchase medication and a prosthesis, along with covering travel expenses to and from life saving medical appointments.

In response to these needs, and many others like it, Family & Children’s Services is seeking to start a fund called the Transitioning Youth Program, which can be accessed at need to help these young men and women and ensure a successful transition into adulthood. Supporting those most in need is the reason 100 WWCG come together every three months, and they are proud to be a sponsor of that fund.

Dunara Homes for Recovery got a major boost to aid in their mission to assist those among us living with mental illness last night in the form of a $12,400 donation from 100 Women Who Care Guelph. The road to recovery is a fragile one, full of speed bumps and detour signs, where even the simplest things like buying a bus pass, doing your own laundry, or learning social skills that many of us completely take for granted can be enough to stall that journey. Dunara Homes offers an essential service to those coming from institutional care as they learn to reengage with the community and live fulfilling, healthy and independent lives. They have been quietly doing this valuable work in our community since its formation in 1981 by the original members of the Schizophrenia Society of Guelph. The description of that work obviously resonated with the members of 100 WWCG, who were delighted to offer their assistance. There is so much stigma surrounding mental illness on the negative side of the balance sheet, 100 WWCG made the decision to contribute to the positive side instead. Not equal yet, but a step toward balance.

100 Women Who Care Guelph completes it’s inaugural year with a donation of $12,500 awarded to Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis, bringing the total amount invested in Guelph charities this year to $46,600. This group was created in the hope it would have a big impact on our local charities, and has proven to be successful on all counts.

GW WIC Transitional Housing and Support Program is the fourth charity to be awarded funds by the group. This program provides counselling and levels of services so desperately needed by women and their children who are experiencing or have experienced abuse, helping them to start over, with both practical and emotional support.

This was the fourth quarterly meeting of 100 WWCG, which has seen its membership grow steadily from an initial 88 members in October 2014 to their current 125 members. Word of the group is spreading throughout the community, thanks in part to appearances on Rogers Inside Guelph program on October 27, 2014 and Talk Local Guelph on April 7, 2015, as well as the members themselves encouraging their friends to join.

The next meeting will be held Monday, October 5 from 7 – 8 pm at the Delta on Gordon. There is no upper limit on membership, so visit www.100womenwhocareguelph.com to sign up, and help make an even greater impact on our local charities.

It was another successful meeting of 100 Women Who Care Guelph, held at the Delta on Monday, April 13, where Rainbow Day Camp was voted the winner and received $12,700 to assist their efforts in providing a unique summer day camp experience offering a variety of camp activities for children from Guelph and surrounding areas.

They offer two distinct programs: Children’s camp which is a summer day camp experience in an inclusive and fun environment for children of all abilities from age 4 – 10; and Teen Camp program which provides opportunities for teenagers with special needs to have a summer camp experience with one-on-one support in a caring and open environment which embraces diversity and encourages personal growth, according to each individual’s uniqueness, strengths, needs and abilities.

The donation will allow Rainbow’s Teen Camp program to rent a larger space from the University of Guelph, where their summer camps are held, essentially allowing them to almost double the available spaces and offer more teens this invaluable experience.

This was the third quarterly meeting of 100 WWCG, which has seen its membership grow steadily from an initial 88 members in October 2014 to their current 127 members. Word of the group is spreading throughout the community, thanks in part to appearances on Rogers Inside Guelph program on October 27, 2014 and Talk Local Guelph on April 7, 2015, as well as the members themselves encouraging their friends to join.

The next meeting will be held Monday, July 13 from 7 – 8 pm at the Delta on Gordon. There is no upper limit on membership, so visit www.100womenwhocareguelph.com to sign up, and help make an even greater impact on our local charities.

you can read the entire Guelph Mercury story here: http://www.guelphmercury.com/community-story/5867064-women-who-care-make-donation/

It’s the pregnant and parenting young women staying at Michael House who will benefit from the latest 100 Women Who Care meeting.

On Jan. 12 the fundraising group voted to donate $11,900 to Michael House, which provides shelter and emotional, physical and spiritual support for mothers who need assistance, said a news release.

The January meeting was the 100 Women Who Care’s second meeting, and 119 women attended. All members nominate a charity of their choice, and three are chosen from a hat. Then everyone votes for one of the three charities, and the one with the most votes receives the donation.

Four meetings are held a year, and at each one members make $100 donations, says 100 Women Who Care on their website. That means more than $40,000 will be distributed to four different local charities between October 2014 (when the first meeting was held) and October 2015.

The next meeting will be held 7 p.m. April 13 at the Delta hotel. For more information visit, 100womenwhocareguelph.com

You can read the story on the Mercury Website here http://www.guelphmercury.com/community-story/5869648-guelph-100-women-who-care-takes-off/

A new group of local women who have come together for the sake of supporting local charities has made its first donation – $9,700 to Hospice Wellington’s art therapy program.

The group, called 100 Women Who Care Guelph, based on similar groups in other cities, was started by friends Sharon Lewis, Diane Nelson and Tannis Sprott.

“The concept is simple,” said Sprott in an email. “One hundred women meet four times a year (once per quarter) and each time agree to donate $100 each to a local charity that is nominated by and voted on by the membership. That means $40,000 per year invested in local charities right here in Guelph.” The group, which was working toward its initial goal of recruiting 100 members, held its inaugural meeting at the end of October and ultimately chose Hospice over the Rainbow Chorus and Ed Video.

The organization is now continuing its membership drive, hoping to recruit a total of 125 women by its next meeting, which is set for Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Delta Guelph Hotel. For information about joining, visit 100womenwhocareguelph.com.