Nine years ago, a few women came together to form a chapter of 100+ Women of Whatcom and provide a way for locals to come together and donate to nonprofits of the group’s choice.
There was a simplicity to the goal: to get 100 or more women each donating $100 to a need in the community.
Now, the group is 192 strong, consistently donating $100 each twice a year to Bellingham-area nonprofits. An offshoot for girls formed last year, 100+ Girls of Whatcom, which also brings significant donations to organizations of interest to 9- to 17-year-olds.
About 60 women gathered at the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center on Oct. 8 to learn about how their previous donation of $16,000 to Law Advocates was used, and to decide where their new donation would go.
Ann Beck was one of the original founders of the 100+ Women group, which launched in the fall of 2015 with around 63 members. The organization hosts two events a year, in the fall and spring, and members are expected to make two $100 donations to the nonprofits the women choose every year.
“It’s not super fancy or anything,” Beck said, referring to the biannual events, “but people enjoy getting to be around other civically minded folks that are interested in doing good things for community.”
Meg Metzger, a member of about two years, commented that the process was “very democratic.” At the meetings, the people who nominated the three nonprofit finalists have the opportunity to present briefly about the nonprofit, and then all members drop tokens into jars labeled with their preferred nonprofit’s name. The one with the most tokens wins. Members then send a $100 donation to the chosen nonprofit.
On Tuesday, members chose PNW Plateful as their nonprofit of choice. Over the next few weeks, $19,000 should trickle into the organization, which provides 800 meals every week to people in need.
Chair of PNW Plateful Stephanie Bowers said as a young nonprofit, it doesn’t have a “rainy-day fund” or a savings account.
“This kind of money is just amazing,” she said. “This will help us through the end of the year and then some.”
‘Kids helping kids’
100+ Girls of Whatcom started last fall, when Beck’s daughter Marigny DeLeon connected with Emi Hull, the daughter of another 100+ Women of Whatcom member.
DeLeon, 12, said seeing her mom making a difference in the community through 100+ Women of Whatcom made her feel like she could do it, too.
On Oct. 11, about 20 girls gathered at the Bellingham Public Schools District Office and selected Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY) as their nonprofit this fall. Beck said they’re expecting about $800 in donations from the girls, who all contribute $5, and their families. One woman from the 100+ Women of Whatcom chapter agreed to match any amount the girls raised, up to $1,000, so they will likely be able to donate more than $1,600.
Hull, also 12, said it’s been great to see in person how the money they donate is used, and said she likes that their events spread awareness about local nonprofits, even if they aren’t chosen that year.
Their first donation of $200 went to Skookum Kids, a nonprofit supporting kids in foster care. Hull said that was special because it was “kids helping kids.”
“I felt some happiness in seeing that these organizations are so thrilled to get this money and that I’ve been able to make a change in our community,” DeLeon said. “People have also seen that we’re wanting to make a difference and that we can help others make a difference as well.”
Beck said she had pictures of DeLeon from when she was 3 or 4 years old at 100+ Women of Whatcom events, and said it was special to expose her to an environment where people want to contribute to their community.
“Even if you’re just one person, you can have a larger impact, especially if you focus with other people who are going to do that work, too,” Beck said. “… For the kids to hear that because they decided to do this thing, this other great thing gets to happen — it’s a powerful thing.”
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
