100 Women Who Care Johnston/Grimes

09/15/2026

Celebrating a delightful 100 Women Who Care Johnston/Grimes meeting last week and the women who make it possible!

We welcomed back SAFE Center of lowa to hear about their incredible work and how the money from our group will be put to use. Shannon Knudsen, Executive Director, and her team are building a first of its kind facility in the State of lowa to support victims of sexual assault.

We also heard from:
Happy Hearts and Hooves
Adventures in Social Development-ASD
CultureALL

In just two years this group of women have awarded over $58,000 to organizations and humans doing impactful work in our community!

We hope to see you and any wonderful new faces interested in joining us at our last meeting of the year on December 3rd!

08/25/2026

Our 3rd presenter and winner of Q2 was S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa!

Shannon Knudsen, BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P is the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Coordinator for both the Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and the Iowa State University/Story County SART.

We're all about helping Iowans in need.
Clinical treatment and follow-up exams will reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections. Onsite counseling will improve mental health outcomes, decrease the risk of su***de, and decrease likelihood of post-assault substance use disorders. Co-located sexual assault advocacy will provide access to supportive resources that improve client social and economic stability.

Our mission is to be Iowa’s experts in delivering coordinated, comprehensive, and compassionate care to survivors of sexual assault through clinical care, client support, and education.

07/08/2026

Johnston has lots to be proud of, but June’s speaker The Director of Nutrition for the Johnston school district LaRae Doll joined us to share some numbers we could use some help with. We learned so much from LaRae about school lunch debt within our community. While no child goes without a meal, even if their account is at a zero balance, there is a negative balance that will accrue for the child. This follows them from elementary school all the way through high school and collectively across the district is approximately $90,000. While the district cannot clear the full balance every year, they strive to clear the balance of the seniors through donations. Unfortunately, this debt, if not paid, is passed on to collections and follows the child into adulthood. If any of you serve on your child's PTO, could certainly be worth suggesting using PTO funds to help clear balances too. You can add a donation to your child's meal plan or simply make a donation yourself anytime.

07/01/2026

Speaker highlight ✨

Betsey Young, founder of Building BrAve Teams, joined us to share more about the organization she started when her son, Sage, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 4 years old. Betsey was inspired to start this organization when she couldn't find child-friendly resources to help prepare him for treatment - so she wrote BrAve Team guidebooks for herself and others. Those books became the foundation for a nonprofit dedicated to helping other families facing pediatric cancer feel informed, supported, and less alone. In addition to these free educational guidebooks, Building BrAve Teams provides peer support, care packages, financial assistance, and resources that help children and caregivers navigate treatment with confidence and hope. If you are interested in getting involved or making a donation to support gift baskets and guidebook production, please do.

Our mission is to help families build their own BrAve Team following a pediatric cancer diagnosis by providing support & education through our BrAve Programs. Building BrAve Teams understands the challenges faced by children affected by a pediatric cancer diagnosis. That's why we utilize real life e...

06/23/2026

Our June meeting was filled with joy connecting with one another and learning about 3 new organizations that are making a difference and could benefit from our help. We welcomed Tori’s Angels Foundation back to receive their check as the Q1 winner.

05/13/2026

We all know Maycember is REAL! Be sure to put our upcoming meetings on your calendar now!🗓️

Our meetings are more than just a gathering they’re uplifting, encouraging, and full of genuine support for organizations that help our residents. It’s a space where you can connect with incredible women in our community, build meaningful relationships, and leave feeling recharged. ❤️

Learning about the amazing local charities making a difference right here around us. It’s inspiring to see the impact and be part of something bigger together.

05/05/2026

Spring brings new activities and interactions! If you find yourself chatting up someone new we’d encourage you to invite them to our next 100 Women meeting to see what it’s all about! 🫶🏻