The Boys & Girls Club of Saint John Executive Director Amy Shanks and club members holding 100 Women's donation cheque from September 2020 (Credit: 100 Women Facebook)
100 Women Who Care of Greater Saint John is preparing its annual pitch meeting where one-hundred women will select a local charity to bestow its last quarterly donation.
“We’ve got such a giving community in Saint John, we’ve had so many members that have stayed on right from the beginning,” said Co-founder Debbie Rathwell. “I always say, ‘my gosh, it’s 100 women who care and we’ve got over 200’ – it’s a good problem to have.”
Since its beginning in June 2013, 100 Women Who Care of Greater Saint John has donated $724,009 to 30 local charities with a goal of donating a cumulative $1-million to charity.
The group meets four times a year to hear pitches from three local charities all nominated by its members who later vote to select their choice of charity. December’s pitch meeting will be the third 100 Women has held since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“We all know that COVID has affected so many people financially and so many households and it’s just a great indicator of how committed our members are to continue giving,” said Rathwell. “I think people realize if you’re in a position to give, now is really the time to step it up and really give back.”
Each woman who attends the meetings writes a $100 cheque contributing to an average $20,000-to-$25,000 donation.
Due to COVID-19, 100 Women Who Care’s December pitch meeting will be virtual, (on Zoom) Tuesday December 1 from 5:30-6:30pm. Anyone who wants to join and participate can contact Debbie Rathwell via 100 Women’s Facebook page by noon on December 1.
