The meeting commenced with welcoming attendees and thanking sponsors, highlighting the contributions of Sandra from Skip the Bank and The Delta. 100WWCG celebrated reaching 200 active members and acknowledged a total of $571,008 in donations since 2014!  Service pin awards were distributed – (7) Three-Year pins, (10) Five Year pins, and (13) Ten Year pins.

Bequest Awarded

A special bequest from the estate of Gale Dudnick was awarded to three runner-up charities from the past three years – North End Harvest Market, Guelph Chamber Choir and Ignatius Jesuit Centre Farm. Each charity received $8,333.33

1. North End Harvest Market ( Charity representative: Barb McPhee & Nominator: Peggy Brightwell)
2. Guelph Chamber Choir (Charity representative: Charlene Pauls, Artistic Director & Nominator: Megan Hodge)
3. Ignatius Jesuit Centre (Charity representative: Lisa Conroy, Farm Educator & Nominator: Maya Wariyar)

Please note: A couple of caring members noted at the meeting that Ignatius Jesuit Centre has been reported as closing and asking what was to be done with our donation. We have clarified and have spoken with Ignatius Farm, the program originally nominated. They are in receipt of our cheque. Loyola house is closing but the property will continue to operate as a spiritual and ecological center. Ignatius Farm assures us the farm education program has been operating virtually and will continue to do so. Indeed, with our donation they hope to get back to delivering live farm training. They have offered to report back in October and we’ve encouraged them to do so.

The Three Nominated Charities

Here is a quick overview of the charities that were nominated for the meeting and the presentations:

1. Guelph Youth Music Centre (GYMC) (Nominated by Tannis Sprott & Presented by Damian Weston, ED)

 The Guelph Youth Music Centre (GYMC) presented their case for funding, highlighting their work in providing low to no-cost music programs for children, including those with disabilities and marginalized youth. Executive Director Damian Weston shared a personal story about the impact of music in his life and emphasized the importance of providing meaning and community through music education. He specified that funding would primarily support the Beat Making program and address the need to replace residential toilets with industrial ones. GYMC primarily relies on revenue from music lessons and rentals, along with some grant funding, and collaborates with Free to Grow for financial assistance to low-income families.

2. Guelph Youth Singers (Nominated by Heather Mair & Presented by Karie Rippin Bilger, Board Chair, and Emily Petrenko, Artistic Director)

The Guelph Youth Singers (GYS) presentation highlighted the organization’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality choral training to children, emphasizing the positive impact of music education on academic achievement, mental health, and social skills. They discussed the unequal access to music education in schools and how GYS fills this gap by offering various choir programs. GYS is introducing a scholarship program to enable more children to participate, particularly those from equity-deserving communities, and is seeking funding to support this initiative. The organization is actively working to rebuild its membership after a decline due to COVID-19 and has reduced tuition fees to attract more participants.

3. Michael House ( Nominated by Terrie Jarvis & Presented by Karen Kamphuis, ED)

Michael House provides resources, housing, and support to single mothers and their children, aiming to transform lives through residential and supportive housing programs. They offer 24/7 support, parenting and life skills training, and counseling, particularly addressing mental health needs and trauma. Impact stories from women in the program highlight newfound confidence and the ability to rebuild their lives. Funding would support vital programming and counseling to continue building into the families’ lives.

Our Chosen Charity – Michael House!

If you haven’t sent in your $100 donation yet, please do so by June 30th.  Remember there are two ways to make your donation:

1) Online at our 100WWCG Fundraising Page (please add $4 for processing fee) OR
2) Send a cheque to Liz Brant (made out to Michael’s House) at 10 Wood Duck Court Guelph ON N1C 1B1

Thank You from Chosen Charity – Chalmers Community Services Centre

The meeting included a presentation from Crystle Avery, Executive Director of Chalmers Community Services Centre, expressing gratitude for being chosen as the charity and highlighting the growing needs in the community. Chalmers is using the donations to provide more food, including healthy options like oranges, eggplant, and cheese, to meet the increasing demand at their pantries and cafes. You can find Crystle’s full comments here

Other Notes

• You can view the Press Release for the meeting here
• The next meeting is scheduled for October 15th at the Delta.  Hope to see you there!