by Elizabeth Wehman, editor
JOINING THE MISSION to make a difference to nonprofits in the greater Durand area are these women (front, from left) Shari Demo and Karla Luchenbill, (back row, from left) Debra Lintz, Leslie Dietrich, and Kathy Wilson are holding the group’s check used to replicate the monies gathered from the newly formed group called, 100 Women Who Care/Greater Durand Area. Group members not available for the photo include Kasey Fiebernitz and Linda Greeson. The group is now seeking other women who want me make a huge impact in the community. (Independent Photo/Elizabeth Wehman)
Women from Durand, Bancroft, Gaines, Lennon, and Byron now have the opportunity to give through the efforts of seven local women wanting to make a “huge” difference for many area 501c3 nonprofit groups. The group is following the lead of many such organizations created throughout the state of Michigan and now countrywide who want to make a huge impact in the community with the least amount of effort and time. Kathy Wilson, Karla Luchenbill, Shari Demo, Leslie Dietrich, Debra Lintz, Kasey Fiebernitz, and Linda Greeson have formed the 100 Women Who Care/Greater Durand Area and will soon be holding their first meeting on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Durand First United Methodist Church at 10016 E. Newburg Road.
The group is being encouraged by the 100+ Women Who Care/Greater Owosso Area women who started their efforts this year in the Owosso area. Their efforts have resulted in $33,700 going toward two local organizations this year alone from just two meetings held in Feb. and May.
“It’s simple, in an hour, in and out, women can write a check to an organization to help them,” says Deitrich. “Money is more powerful when you can join with multiple women. $100 alone doesn’t go very far, but by joining with other women, the amount increases as well as the benefits to the local organizations,” added Lintz. For this and many other reasons, the women have formed the group.
The concept of the group is simple. Women sign commitment forms, which for the Durand group are found on their website at 100womenwhocare-durand.org. By signing the commitment form, each women pledges to give $100 at each meeting where they learn about three nonprofit, local groups and then at the end of the hour long meeting, vote on their favorite. Whichever organization gets the most votes, each women then writes a $100 check directly to the nonprofit. There are no overhead costs, no food, no decorating expenses, just a simple meeting to hear about the organizations being suggested. Group members need not even be available to attend the meeting, but are willing to give their $100 to the voted upon group. The Durand group members need to commit to just $100 for 2016 and then make a $200 commitment for 2017 with two meetings held on March 23 and Sept. 28.
