At its final virtual meeting this year, 100 Women Peterborough raised around $8,000 for Peterborough GreenUP, an environmental non-profit charity with programs for home energy efficiency, green economy, active transportation, green space development, and youth education.
The collective philanthropy group met on Zoom on Tuesday (December 14) to raise funds for an organization in need. Prior to the pandemic, the group met in person four times a year, with each of the members committing to donate $100 at each meeting. The group has been meeting virtually during the pandemic, with attendance at meetings optional in recognition of the financial impact of the pandemic on some members.
Whether meeting in person or virtually, the group hears presentations from three organizations randomly drawn from a larger list of organizations nominated by the group’s members. The organization receiving the most votes from members receives the donations contributed by the group’s members.
The three organizations that presented to 100 Women Peterborough at Tuesday’s virtual meeting were GreenUP, Shared Dreams for Independent Living, and The Mount Community Centre, with GreenUP chosen by majority vote to receive the funds.
Specifically, the donation from 100 Women Peterborough will fund GreenUP’s Girl’s Climate Leadership Program in 2022. Piloted in the summer of 2020, the program gave a small cohort of girl-identified youth aged 11 to 13 the opportunity to learn about the impacts of climate change, develop strategies to support action in their lives, and learn from inspiring local climate leaders who identify as women.
“GreenUP is grateful to 100 Women for their donation to support GreenUP’s climate action education and the Girl’s Climate Leadership Program,” GreenUP executive director Tegan Moss said. “The donation helps us invest in both the climate action we need today and also the climate leadership we need to build a better tomorrow. With their support we can keep growing programs that offer more youth the chance to build the skills and confidence needed to become climate leaders.”
This past summer, GreenUP more than doubled the capacity of the program, with participants learning about food security, low-carbon building methods, water protection, active transportation, and ecosystem restoration.
“In 2022 we will be able to introduce dozens of young girls to green building, food security, cycling skills, climate adaptation, and water protection,” Moss added. “Your generosity has made
this possible. Thank you to each of the 100 Women for choosing to support GreenUP.”
100 Women Peterborough was founded in February 2018 by Rosalea Terry, Catia Skinner, Wendy Hill, and Alyssa Stewart, who were inspired by similar groups in other communities.
“We are so happy to be able to support yet another important local initiative as a group to make a collective impact,” Terry said. “Being part of a giving group is powerful because it means that your dollar is multiplied. The women in our group are empowered to work with one another to create meaningful change in our community.”
The concept of collective philanthropy began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the “100 Women Who Care” group. After their first meeting, the women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization.
The movement has grown over the past 15 years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with more than 210 chapters in Canada alone.
Since its formation, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated more than $130,000 to 15 local organizations: Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Youth Unlimited, One Roof Warming Room, New Canadians Centre, Cameron House, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Casa De Angelae, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, Community Care Peterborough, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Community Counselling and Resource Centre, Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services, Heads Up for Inclusion, Kawartha Youth Orchestra, and Peterborough GreenUP.
Women interested in joining 100 Women Peterborough should visit www.100womenptbo.ca for more information.
