Beverley Varcoe stands on the stage under the glare of the spotlight, pitching to the audience of women who are carefully assessing every word she utters.
She is hoping to garner a donation for the St. John Ambulance therapy dog program, and she has done her homework.
“Wow, that’s a lot,” is the supportive comment heard from a woman sitting near the stage, impressed as Varcoe reels off the statistics that highlight the organization’s local impact.
Volunteers have given more than 15,700 hours to share the benefits of pet companionship with children and adults who are hospitalized, adults residing in long-term care facilities, children struggling with reading, adult and child victims of trauma and crime, students stressed from school challenges, and individuals in shelters.
Next up is Bonnie Munslow, who begins speaking about York Support Services Network’s Community 310-COPE, a crisis response service for residents in York Region and South Simcoe who are having a mental health crisis, and their family or friends.
The room seems to go quiet, as her voice cracks with emotion at the mention of a family member who turned to the service when he was feeling suicidal.
Munslow highlights the short-term crisis beds located in Newmarket and the constant need for donations of furniture and clothing.
With the presentations complete, a buzz of conversation quickly fills the high-ceilinged room of the Market Brewing Co. in Newmarket, where the Central York chapter of 100 Women Who Care convene for two of its quarterly meetings.
At each meeting, each member, or a team composed of two or four members, contributes $100 toward a local charity — accumulating to a total donation of more than $10,000 each to four non-profit organizations annually.
Having teams that share the annual $400 donation ensures membership is broad and financially within reach of anyone wishing to give back.
Team members Lori Hoyes and Luciana Palumbo lean toward each other as they intently discuss which organization will receive their vote tonight.
When the votes are collected and tallied, 310 COPE has been chosen as the recipient, and when the cheques are counted up, the donation is $11,100.
Founder and president Laurie Brakeboer was inspired in August 2015 to launch the local chapter of 100 Women Who Care immediately after hearing about the nationwide movement while having coffee with a friend.
“That’s pretty much all it took,” she said. “I thought, ‘I can sit around and wait for someone to do this, or I can get it done’.”
Then working as a mortgage specialist, Brakeboer said she knew the community well and its capacity for compassion and generosity.
“I really believed it would work in this community,” she said.
And it did, with the group reaching 100 members within the first year. The size of the chapter continues to grow along with the goodwill, with about 160 members from Newmarket, Aurora, King, East Gwillimbury and Toronto signed on, and its affiliated 100 Youth Who Care chapter just celebrated its second anniversary.
“We’re all here to make a difference,” she said.
More than $100,000 has been given to 12 local charities, nominated by members usually because of a personal connection, Brakeboer said.
Recipients include MOBYSS, New Leaf, KC's Cancer Cushion Fund, Marquee Theatrical Productions, the Character Community’s Slap Shot program and Routes Connecting Communities.
“We typically choose a charity that pulls at our heart-strings,” she added, noting it's always organizations that don’t have professional fundraising staff and for which a donation of $10,000-plus will have a big impact.
But it's not only about giving.
“It’s so much more than that, I tell people ‘you have to come and experience it’,” Brakeboer said. “You have to come and sit in a room full of women whose only reason to be there is to enjoy each other and give back — there’s an energy in the room, a camaraderie, you’ll make new friends, reconnect with others.
“I get goosebumps when I think about it,” she adds with a smile.
Because all of the money goes to charity, the group relies on local businesses to provide the locations required for the meetings and some supplies. Currently, Market Brewing Company and Silver Lakes Golf and Country Club are the venue sponsors.
The first 100 Women Who Care group was launched in November 2006 by Karen Dunigan in Jackson, Michigan, as a brilliantly simple way to raise money efficiently and quickly for local charities.
“Karen saw people for their strengths and realized that when 100 or more people come together in a room, each person becomes a powerful force for doing good work while lifting up your community,” the 100 Who Care Alliance website states.
Beyond the desire to make a difference, most of the women in the chapter share a common reality.
“Everybody is so busy,” Brakeboer said. “We lead full, busy lives, but we can take one hour, four times a year, to learn about a charity and make a donation, and then go on with our lives.”
Munslow readily agreed, “You’re in and out of here in an hour or so, and you get to hear about these amazing organizations in our community. We have the ability, together, to change someone’s life with a donation.”
“I could give $100 to a charity, or I can bring together 150 people and write a $10,000 cheque,” Brakeboer added.
It’s easy to understand why there are now more than 600 chapters of 100 Women Who Care across North America, with donations tallying more than $1 million to their local charities.
The concept has expanded to 100 Men Who Care, 100 People Who Care, 100 Businesses Who Care, and 100 Kids Who Care groups.
The 100 Who Care Alliance shares tips and tools for best practices for chapter leaders and holds an annual leadership conference in the United States.
#thePOWERof100, indeed.
Join 100 Women Who Care - Central York Region at its next meeting, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at Market Brewing Company, 17775 Leslie St., Unit 4, in Newmarket — new members are always welcome.
