(Photo above: by Kimberly Teichrow Photography)
100+ Women Who Care of Central Oregon recently presented a check for more than $27,000 to the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. The 100 Men Who Care of Central Oregon chapter also launched this month.
Veterans plan to raise sheep on the ranch and grow gardens to help feed veterans who receive care at the ranch. Supportive housing and specialized care for veterans at the end of life will be available at COVR beginning late this year or early next year. With this money the ranch will be able to furnish the housing quarters so veterans can move in.
This check rounds out the first year of giving for 100+ Women Who Care of Central Oregon. Since its first meeting in September of 2014 the group has given more than $98,000 to charities in the tri-county area.
“The support and enthusiasm of local women has been overwhelming,” says Lisa Connors, co-founder of the Central Oregon chapter. “We hoped to have 100 women attend. We had 180 at our first meeting. Now we have nearly 300 members. I have heard consistent feedback that our members love to see their $100 donations turn into significant contributions to local non-profits.”
“This model gives people a simple way to magnify their impact on their community,” says Lisa Shropshire, co-founder of the group. “A year ago we never dreamed we’d be able to pump almost $100,000 into the non-profit economy of Central Oregon.”
Awards from 100+WWCCO funded a month of housing and meals for 12 families at the Bethlehem Inn; allowed the Central Oregon Disability Support Network to make zone changes and building improvements so they could move into their new center in downtown Redmond; and helped Oregon Adaptive Sports purchase a bus to transport their clients to activities.
The 100 Men Who Care of Central Oregon chapter launched this month. On October 20, 75 men met at the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend and voted to give $7,500 to Saving Grace, which provides services to people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.
Based on the 100 Women Who Care model, people gather, each prepared to write a check for $100, then vote on which Central Oregon non-profit will receive their collective donations.
The money raised stays local. To be eligible a non-profit must serve Deschutes, Crook or Jefferson counties.
100+ Women Who Care of Central Oregon meet four times a year. They meet next on December 9 at the Boys and Girls Club in downtown Bend. Social Hour begins at 5:30pm, the meeting begins at 6:30pm and ends promptly at 7:30pm.
Learn more about the Central Oregon chapter on their website. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to get updates on upcoming meetings and how the group’s money is working in our community.
Contacts: Lisa Connors
Email: 100wwcco@gmail.com
541-410-5171
http://100wwcco.com/
