10/22/2026
A little blast from the past. Copy and Pasted below is a news article by Chris Hall November 2015. Read about some of the 100Men History below!
SCUGOG — Caring is becoming contagious in Scugog.
In a span of just over a year, a pair of community groups in Scugog has raised and then donated more than $50,000 to various charities in a matter of hours, with members gathering four times a year to socialize and then support a charity of their choice.
The Scugog chapter of the 100 Women Who Care got off the ground first, in November 2014, and quickly convinced their community colleagues to form a men’s group three months later, in January 2015.
Essentially, members gather every three months, chat for a bit and then hear pitches in support of local charities. A vote is then held, a charity is selected and each member writes a cheque for $100.
“It’s just building, it’s kind of cool,” said Richard Gauder, who co-founded the 100 Men of Scugog group. “Everybody gives a little and then together we can give a lot.”
The men’s group currently has a roster of 47 individual members, while the women’s side boasts a membership of more than 100 as members join in groups.
The 100 Women Who Care followed in the footsteps of the neighbouring Uxbridge group and it wasn’t long before Janet McGhee was twisting Mr. Gauder’s arm one night at a Scugog Chamber of Commerce function, trying to convince him a men’s group was also needed.
“I kind of put the challenge out to him,” said Ms. McGhee, a co-founder of the Scugog women’s group and also a member of the chapter in Uxbridge.
It didn’t take long, said Mr. Gauder, for the idea to gather support as 14 local men pledged their commitment that night.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this thing’s got legs’,” he recalled. “Even if we only got 10 guys, that’s a $1,000 and that would still be good.”
An information session attracted a couple dozen interested members and by the first official meeting 35 men stepped forward, contributing $3,500 to their community in just 35 minutes.
The 100 men’s and women’s groups are appealing to members, continued Mr. Gauder, because it does not require a regular commitment. Instead of joining a local service club that meets weekly or monthly, the 100 club only needs four hours a year and $400, he stressed.
“There will always be a need to have dinners and fundraisers and all of that, but there’s also a need to have something quick and easy and different and a way to give back to the community in an effortless way,” said Mr. Gauder. “You get the busy people, the people who can do an hour and want to give an hour to support their community.”
Included in that hour-long meeting is a short explanation from a recipient of the previous meeting’s charity of choice, who outlines what the funds were used for.
“It’s really moving to see how (the funds) can affect someone,” said Ms. McGhee, adding the effort has also opened her eyes to charities she was unaware of in the past.
Organizers of charity events “put in hundreds and hundreds of hours into a fundraiser and sometimes what we can raise in a night can be more than what they can raise,” said Ms. McGhee. “You really see a significant impact in what you can do, instantaneously.”
“That’s where the hearts come out,” added Mr. Gauder. “That’s where everyone just feels good.”
He also hopes that caring spreads south beyond Scugog’s borders. Mr. Gauder is hopeful that other chapters start in south Durham communities, pointing to the inaugural men’s meeting in Oshawa on Nov. 26 at the GM Centre. There’s already a women’s group in Oshawa, as well as Ajax, Brooklin and Whitby, he said.
The Scugog women’s group meets next on Feb. 16 at Sunnybrae Golf and Country Club, 1430 King St. Registration starts at 6:30 and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. The men’s group will meet again on Jan. 12, also with registration at 6:30 and the meeting at 7 p.m. A location has yet to be determined.
For more information on the groups, visit www.100womenscugog.com or www.100men.ca .
HOW THIS IMPACTS YOU
- The 100 Women Who Care has contributed $35,000 to the Scugog community, over five meetings.
- The 100 Men of Scugog has raised $17,000 over four meetings
- The women’s group has made donations to Operation Scugog, North House, the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation, Community Living Durham North and Community Care Durham.
- The men’s group has supported WindReach Farm, Operation Scugog, Durham College (bursaries for Scugog students) and Big Brothers-Big Sisters of North Durham.
