The history of 100 Women Who Care
It’s a very simple concept: We gather 100 women who care to make a $100 donation during a 1-hour meeting. The impact: $10,000 to a local charity, four times a year! This grassroots movement began with one inspired woman, Karen Dunigan, who realized that when 100 or more people come together in a room, each person becomes a powerful force for doing good work while
lifting up that community. The rules were simple. Any member could present a need in the community, but the need had to be immediate and the money had to remain local. Members vote and then all the checks are written to the same cause. Meetings are held four times a year. People who care spread the word everywhere. In a ten-year span, Karen’s chapter has blossomed into about 350 chapters worldwide
The Gainesville Area Chapter
Our chapter came to fruition in February of 2016. Co-founders Julie Beal and Hasna Ridwan were inspired by the simplicity of the model and the ability to make such a tremendous impact on their local community. They recognized both an array of local needs and the generous spirit of local women who would be willing to make this chapter a success. And so became Gainesville Area 100 Women Who Care. We had 25 women turn out for our first meeting and when all the checks were in, we raised $3,400 for our first cause! Our goal is to reach, and ultimatey surpass, 100 members. We call ourselves the Gainesville Area chapter because of our meeting locations (centrally located in Gainesville/Haymarket). We welcome all area women to join forces with us, and currently have members from Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties. Our area also offers the Northern Virginia chapter of 100 Women Who Care, which meets in a range of locations around Fairfax County. For information about our meetings, guidelines, and impact on our community, please visit our website at http://100womengainesville.com
