With the $8,300 donated to the Vernon branch of Special Olympics, the 100 Women Who Care group from Vernon have contributed $350,000 to local organizations.
It's the milestone 10th year for 100 Women Who Care – whose membership is significantly higher than 100. The group gathers quarterly to hear three, five-minute presentations from local organizations and charities. At the end of their meeting, the women vote for which group they will each donate $50 or more.
The August cheque was made out to Special Olympics, after spokeperson Marc Fisher and his Special Olympian athlete son, Darren, shared with the women how Special Olympics pays for everything the athletes need to participate in regional, provincial, national and, if so qualifying, world competitions (last one was pre-COVID in Chile, in 2017).
"The benefits for the athletes does wonders for their social integration and self-esteem," said Fisher, whose son was a double medallist at the Special Olympics B.C. Games in Prince George in July, and was "over the moon" happy when Special Olympics was selected as the recipient of this quarter's funds.
Fisher collected the cheque from 100 Women Who Care's Judy Rose, Shell Christensen, aj jaeger, and Noelle Crombie on Thursday, Sept. 4.
The women had to choose between the Salvation Army, the Literacy Society of the North Okanagan, and Special Olympics.
"What a wonderful evening we had at our meeting," said 100 Women Who Care on its Facebook page, of the gathering held at Okanagan College. "We had three excellent speakers passionately sharing the mandates of the charities they represent."
Paul Bielby spoke on behalf of the Salvation Army and its ongoing plans to expand their soup kitchen, which is moving to the north end of Vernon near Walmart, and how there are always hungry mouths to feed.
Debbie Nurse shared how The Literacy Society's efforts with Interior Health makes such a huge difference in so many families by giving their children their first book, opening the wonders of story-telling, parental bonding and the power of education in so many children's lives.
100 Women Who Care will hold the final meeting of its 10th year in November.
