International Women’s Day shines a spotlight on women making change in their communities — and a growing group in Niagara-on-the-Lake is proving what that can look like locally.
The town’s 100+ Women Who Care NOTL held its first meeting last October and has raised $33,900 in its first two meetings. A third meeting is planned for next month.
Under the giving-circle model, members meet quarterly, each donating $100 to a charity chosen by the group and pooling the funds into a single large donation.
“Shows that women get stuff done,” said co-founder Audrey (Pellett) Webber.
The group donated $15,100 to Hospice Niagara at its Oct. 22 meeting and $18,800 to Wellspring Niagara on Jan. 19.
Webber, Julia Buxton-Cox and Penny Milligan launched the group to bring women together to support local charities in NOTL.
“Penny Milligan was a founding member in Saint John, N.B., and my sister had been a member in Waterloo region,” Webber said.
“We thought that this was a great way to get women together to make a difference in our community.”
The idea quickly caught on.
“I’m so happy with the support of our community,” Buxton-Cox said. “We have surpassed 200 members.”
The group has since added a plus symbol and changed its name to 100+ Women Who Care NOTL.
For Webber, the most powerful part of the group has been seeing women show up for their community — even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
She said the turnout at the group’s Jan. 19 meeting — a day she described as having “a pretty big snowstorm” — still saw women “come out strong,” something that overwhelmed the organizers.
“I just love that over 100 women can get together for an hour and make such an impactful difference.”
Buxton-Cox said the strong support from members has been encouraging as the group prepares for more donations.
“We’re excited for our third meeting,” she said.
The group launched a new website, 100womennotl.ca/, built and sponsored by NOTL resident John Gallant.
“We’re so grateful for his amazing talent and sponsorship,” Buxton-Cox said of Gallant.
She said the group is also “thrilled to have Vintage Hotels sponsoring our meeting space each quarter,” adding that Ferox and Konzelmann wineries donated wine and a gift basket as door prizes for members at the January meeting.
For women who want to give back but may not know where to begin, Webber said getting involved can be the first step.
“Join us,” she said.
“You may find a cause that is near to your heart that compels you to want to do something more.”
As Buxton-Cox put it, the formula behind the group’s growing momentum is simple: “Great women plus good vibes equals big impact.”
