100 Women Who Care CBRM raise big money in first two years
Group has raised $100,000 in two years for local charities
The 100 Women Who Care phenomenon has hit some impressive fundraising heights in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
As it meets for its quarterly meeting in Sydney, the group is celebrating an achievement of $100,000 raised for charities since it started two years ago.
Shelley Bennett-Trifos, who has been a member since the beginning, told CBC Cape Breton's Information Morning the group has supported many different charities.
They include the Every Woman's Centre, Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Alzheimers Society of Cape Breton and the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board's breakfast program.
The group meets four times a year and upon registration each member commits to making a donation of $100 at each meeting, even if she is unable to attend. All the money goes to charity and there are no administration costs.
"One Hundred Women Who Care do this voluntarily," Bennett-Trifos said.
Eye-opener for members
She said each member can nominate one charity every quarter, and each nomination is "vetted to ensure the charity is registered and can issue a tax receipt."
The names are put in a hat at each meeting and three names are drawn by an independent party. Each of the three charities is then given an opportunity to make a five-minute pitch for the money.
At the end of the meeting the members vote and one charity walks away with the money collected.
Bennett-Trifos said quite often the pitches can be an eye-opener for the members. She remembers the presentation made by the Alzheimers Society of Cape Breton.
"What I didn't realize is how difficult it is for individuals, families and caregivers, particularly in the more rural areas, to access support," she said.
She said joining the group can be done through Facebook, by email or by attending a meeting — and membership, despite the name, is not limited to 100 women.
And she emphasizes, since everybody's time is valuable, they stick "rigidly" to short meetings that last no more than an hour.