At its first meeting of 2025, 100 Women Peterborough has chosen Camp Northern Lights to receive a donation of more than $10,000 that will support the charity’s wilderness summer camp experiences for disadvantaged youth.
The collective philanthropy group met on Tuesday (March 18) at The Venue in downtown Peterborough. At each of its quarterly meetings, members hears presentations from three non-profit organizations randomly drawn from a larger list of organizations nominated by the group’s members. Each member commits to donating $100, and the organization that gets the most member votes receives the collective donations.
The three organizations that presented to 100 Women Peterborough at March’s meeting were Camp Northern Lights, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, and Peterborough Veterinary Outreach, with Camp Northern Lights chosen by majority vote to receive member donations.
Founded in 1972, Camp Northern Lights is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization that provides wilderness summer camp experiences for disadvantaged youth to foster resilience, leadership, and a deep connection to nature. Every year, the charity provides around 250 youth from the Peterborough area the opportunity to experience a transformative experience at summer camp that many would otherwise be unable to access.
“Our program has provided over 13,000 campers and 3,000 high school students with life-changing outdoor experiences,” Camp Northern Lights board chair Mary Jane Smith told 100 Women Peterborough during her presentation with treasurer Randy Riel. “The support from 100 Women Peterborough will allow us to welcome even more youth to camp and help fund critical improvements, including the construction of new docks to ensure safe waterfront access for swimming and water activities.”
Families are asked to contribute $40 of the total cost of around $600 per camper for a week at summer camp if they are able to do so. Camp Northern Lights operates on an annual budget of $150,000, relying on community donations to continue its mission of empowering youth through outdoor education.
“Charities are struggling to meet growing needs and organizations like Camp Northern Lights provide crucial experiences for youth in our community,” said 100 Women Peterborough co-founder Rose Terry in a media release.
“Through collective giving, we can ensure that these programs continue to make a difference in the lives of children who might not otherwise have access to them. The strength of 100 Women Peterborough is in our ability to act quickly and make a significant impact in just one evening. By pooling our resources, we’re not just making a donation-we’re investing in the future of our community.”
At Tuesday night’s meeting, 100 Women Peterborough members also received key updates on the group’s philanthropic achievements and had a forward-thinking discussion on sustainability. Members participated in a live poll to determine whether future voting should transition from traditional paper ballots to an electronic QR code system — an initiative aimed at reducing paper waste while maintaining efficiency.
Since its formation in 2018, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated over $233,000 to 26 local organizations.
Organizations that have received member donations include YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Vinnies Peterborough, 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, Peterborough GreenUP, Bridges Peterborough, YMCA Strong Communities, Homeward Bound Peterborough, Good Neighbours Care Centre and Food Bank, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, Camp Kawartha, the Teachers For Kids Foundation, Hearts 4 Joy, and Camp Northern Lights.
100 Women Peterborough is part of a growing collective philanthropy movement that began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the “100 Women Who Care” group. After their first meeting, those women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization. The movement has grown over the past 18 years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with hundreds of chapters in Canada alone.
For more information about 100 Women Peterborough, visit www.100womenptbo.ca.
