How significant? Over $1 million donated to local non-profits since 2007 was raised in just 76 one-hour meetings by the “100+ Women Who Care of Dayton” and the similarly named men’s group. Forty-eight non-profits in the Miami Valley benefited from those gifts.
“The timing is significant, too,” says Kathy Banwart, who founded the local women’s chapter in 2007. “This was during the period of years where some regular sources of funding couldn’t be counted on as much, as they were hitting hard times.”
How it started
The two Dayton groups now total over 300 members, combined. The local women’s chapter was the third chapter in the country, after Karen Dunigan of Jackson, Mich., came up with the amazingly simple idea in 2006. Dunigan was worn out from the time and angst spent in most fund-raising, so she came up with the idea of streamlining the process. She was present for Dayton’s first meeting in April of 2007. In 2008, Dayton area men’s group was the first chapter ever, anywhere.
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The concept has blossomed and in April both Dayton-based groups were represented at the second “100 Who Care Alliance” conference in Chicago. Banwart, Pam Browning, Carolyn Dodok, and Kelly Lehman represented the Dayton women and Joe Lehman represented the men.
“The statistics provided to the nearly 100 members who attended the Alliance were inspiring,” Joe reports. “For example, the Alliance now counts about 490 chapters in the United States, Canada, and 11 other countries. Further, one new chapter, on average, begins somewhere in the world each week.” The total dollars donated to charity by all the 100+ chapters worldwide may well exceed $50 million.”
Ohio now has 21 chapters, which operate like big giving circles. Interestingly, the combined donations of the first three groups ever formed (in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio’s Dayton Women’s group) have raised a total of $2,050,100. It’s impressive that over $800,000 of that came from the Dayton Women alone.
The specifics
Both the Dayton-area women and men groups meet quarterly from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at McGohan Brabender, 3931 S. Dixie Drive, Dayton. The women meet on the third Tuesday in January, April, July, and October. The men also meet on third Tuesdays, but in February, May, August, and November.
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At each of their meetings the groups nominate three charities. After hearing three five-minute presentations about the charities from the nominating members, those in attendance vote. Each member commits to donating $100 to the winning charity from each quarterly meeting. With a membership of over 200, the women’s group presents over $20,000 each quarter. The men, at just over 100 members, award their winning charity over $10,000 each quarter. Totaling the donations, at least $120,000 is donated to Dayton non-profits each year from the local 100+ chapters.
For both groups, 100 percent of every donation goes to charity. McGohan Brabender donates the use of their conference room. All other costs associated with running each group meeting are also provided at no cost.
“We’ll never forget the 65-member increase after your first Make a Difference article about us,” says Banwart, who adds that joining is still easy. “You are welcome just to attend a meeting to check it out.”
The next meeting of the women will be on Tuesday, July 18, and the men on Tuesday, Aug. 15. To nominate a charity, you must become a member, which you can do by signing a commitment form at the meeting. You can find out more by contacting Kathy Banwart via email at lkbanwart@gmail.com, or on Facebook, 100-women-who-care-dayton; men can contact Joe Lehman at joseph.r.lehman@gmail.com or by calling (937) 760-8095.
ABOUT THIS FEATURE
Each week Meredith Moss writes about the nonprofit organizations in our area and their specific needs. At its recent Human Rights Celebration, Dayton Church Women United honored Meredith and the column with its Human Rights Award.
If your organization would like to be featured in Make a Difference, contact Meredith at Meredith.Moss@coxinc.com.
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