A passionate group of women who meet as a fundraising club for mid-Island causes has donated $12,500 to the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association.
The recently formed 100+ Women Who Care Mid-Island met in Nanaimo last month for its third meeting since the chapter was founded last June.
“I am so impressed by the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association,” said Leanne Kelly, chair of the non-profit organization. “I live in Ladysmith and I see the difference the LRCA makes in the community. There is a good reason why the organization is known as the ‘heart on the hill’.”
Currently, 100+ Women Who Care has attracted 124 members.
“We actually have a member in New Zealand,” said Vicki Swan, spokeswoman.
Regardless of where the members live, the group’s beneficiaries must be registered charities based in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Ladysmith, Gabriola Island and communities in between.
“One of the things about this organization is we keep it super simple,” Swan said.
At each meeting, members submit forms nominating charities for donations. Three nominations are then drawn from a basket and the members who submitted them make a short presentation about their charity. Members then vote, by secret ballot, for one of the three nominees and all members write a $100 cheque to the charity that received the most votes.
LRCA executive director Shannon Wilson said the funds will be put to good use.
“Our organization is in critical need of funding in several areas right now, so the timing is incredible,” she said. “This gift is very significant and will have a huge impact on our ability to serve the community. We are so grateful.”
The centre, formed in 1992, operates a soup kitchen, all weather shelter, prenatal and seniors programs and more.
“They’ve got loads and loads of things going on there,” Swan said.
So far the meetings have generated $34,400 for local charities, including a $10,300 donation to the Ladysmith Family and Friends at the June 8 meeting.
The 100 Who Care movement started in the U.S. in 2006 and now has more than 400 chapters across North America, including one in Cowichan.
“The more members we have the more money we can give away,” Swan. To learn more visit www.100womenwhocaremidisland.com.
With files form Chris Bush