JOIN:
Founder's Invitation to Join
Quite a few years ago, I was sitting in a doctor's office reading a magazine article about a group of friends who periodically would get together for some wine and a potluck dinner. Their purpose was to have a girls night out and do some good at the same time. The concept was brilliant in it's simplicity…get together with friends for a social evening and raise some quick money for local charities. Fun and collective giving to make a greater impact in their community!
When I had read the article, I happened to be pursuing my masters so I put the idea in my back pocket. Then a year ago, my dear friend Laurie Richter told me she was starting a chapter of 100 Women in north suburban Chicago. When she explained what it was, I told her about the magazine article I had read and that I thought one day I would start something like that. Unlike when I first read the article, the timing was right for me to get a chapter going…So here we are!
The concept of 100 Women Who Care was started by a group of women in Michigan. In one hour, this group raised over $10,000 and literally saved a local women’s shelter from having to close its doors due to a lack of funds. Having worked in non-profit as a social worker/therapist, I have seen first hand how many agencies, programs and organizations face these types of situations in Chicago. Local and state budget cutbacks, dwindling contributions, and other circumstances make this a sad reality for many organizations.
Like the Michigan chapter, as well as the other chapters that have sprung up since then, we can have that same transformative impact here in Chicago. When you donate $100 to a Chicago charity, you may wonder if you're making a difference. But when 100 people donate $100 at the same time, the group accomplishes collectively what few of us can accomplish on our own -- making a $10,000 donation that can enable a charity to complete a project or attain a goal that had been out of reach. That's real impact. And it only takes an hour.
Here’s how it works:
No volunteering, no telemarketing, no event planning, no silent auction donations to solicit. It’s simply a great way to give back right in our own community.
I know that everyone gives in their own way to their own favorite charities. You may already be doing something that works for you. But if you think you might be one of 100 women (or more) who wants to join with me and my Executive Committee of Deborah Ballis Hirt, Pam Loewenstein, and Paula Berkery, we would love for you to become a member.
The power of 100 women having local impact. Come join with us.
Sincerely yours,
Sherry Silvers
Founder, 100 Women Who Care-Chicago
Sherry100Women@gmail.com
When I had read the article, I happened to be pursuing my masters so I put the idea in my back pocket. Then a year ago, my dear friend Laurie Richter told me she was starting a chapter of 100 Women in north suburban Chicago. When she explained what it was, I told her about the magazine article I had read and that I thought one day I would start something like that. Unlike when I first read the article, the timing was right for me to get a chapter going…So here we are!
The concept of 100 Women Who Care was started by a group of women in Michigan. In one hour, this group raised over $10,000 and literally saved a local women’s shelter from having to close its doors due to a lack of funds. Having worked in non-profit as a social worker/therapist, I have seen first hand how many agencies, programs and organizations face these types of situations in Chicago. Local and state budget cutbacks, dwindling contributions, and other circumstances make this a sad reality for many organizations.
Like the Michigan chapter, as well as the other chapters that have sprung up since then, we can have that same transformative impact here in Chicago. When you donate $100 to a Chicago charity, you may wonder if you're making a difference. But when 100 people donate $100 at the same time, the group accomplishes collectively what few of us can accomplish on our own -- making a $10,000 donation that can enable a charity to complete a project or attain a goal that had been out of reach. That's real impact. And it only takes an hour.
Here’s how it works:
- We get together four times a year to nominate worthy local charities
- Any member of the group can nominate a local charity
- Three nominations are randomly chosen, and after a short presentation by the nominating member, the group votes on which charity to support
- Each member writes a $100 tax-deductible check on the spot to the winning charity
No volunteering, no telemarketing, no event planning, no silent auction donations to solicit. It’s simply a great way to give back right in our own community.
I know that everyone gives in their own way to their own favorite charities. You may already be doing something that works for you. But if you think you might be one of 100 women (or more) who wants to join with me and my Executive Committee of Deborah Ballis Hirt, Pam Loewenstein, and Paula Berkery, we would love for you to become a member.
The power of 100 women having local impact. Come join with us.
Sincerely yours,
Sherry Silvers
Founder, 100 Women Who Care-Chicago
Sherry100Women@gmail.com