CORNWALL, Ontario – The second annual 100 Women Who Care event in Cornwall, taking place at the Best Western on Thursday, June 13, has almost surpassed 100 attendees.
Organizers Donna Chisholm-Forget and Tracey Veinotte are looking forward to hosting local women who are ready to support local charitable organizations.
“While organizations may not get the money, it creates great public awareness for their cause,” said Veinotte.
The concept of the event entails 100 local ladies bringing chèques of $100 each to donate to a cause that they feel is most in need. So far this year, nine local organizations have been approved to give presentations about why they should receive funding from the attendees. The organizations include the following: Canadian Cancer Society, Habitat For Humanity, Agapè Centre, Warm Up Cornwall, Roy and Cher’s Rescue Farm, Beyond 21, Friends of the Sanctuary, Victim Services of SDG, and the Alzheimer Society of Cornwall & District.
Once each organization has made their pitch, each attendee will choose one organization for their donation. The organization with the most votes will receive the funding value they requested, and if there is leftover donations, the organization with the second most votes will receive the funding value they requested or the remaining money. With 100 women in attendance, a total of $10, 000 will be donated.
“South Dundas had started one in 2015 and it was a phenomenal event for them,” said Veinotte. “Each year they have surpassed 100 women who registered who were willing to come out and donate to local causes…it is such a success, why not carry it into the Cornwall area?”
Last year, Maison Baldwin House and the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation (CCHF) benefited from the event in Cornwall. This year, those organizations will each give a presentation to attendees to explain how funding from the event was used for local projects.
“I think it makes accountability (obvious) for the women who are kind enough to donate…and it shows the positive impact,” said Veinotte.
“I think when you go to the larger cities, there’s the budget for community improvement and initiatives…in a small community like ours, we have to heavily rely on volunteer efforts…in addition to that, there’s the betterment of the community, and it’s also a wonderful networking opportunity,” said Veinotte about the benefits of the event.
One more organization is eligible to step forward to vy for donations. Organizations have to be able to issue income tax receipt.
Additional to 100 Women Who Care, Organizer Chisholm-Forget’s daughter suggested that an event 100 Kids Who Care be held to prepare the youth population for volunteerism. Thus far, no children’s organizations have stepped forward to compete for funding donations.
To find out more about both events or purchase tickets, visit www.womenwhocarecornwall.com and www.kidswhocarecornwall.com.
