It’s a December to remember for 100 Men Kawartha Lakes and three charities in the Kawarthas region.
During its most recent meeting last Thursday (December 5) at the Lindsay Agricultural Society building in Lindsay, members of the men’s collective philanthropy group donated more than $15,000 — $10,000 to the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation to fund summer camps, $2,500 to the Canadian Council of the Blind’s Peterborough chapter, and $2,500 to the Kawartha Lakes Pregnancy Centre.
As happens ahead of each of the group’s quarterly meetings, three nominated organizations are drawn at random and a representative from each organization attends the meeting to make a brief presentation on their organization’s work and how the group would spend and benefit from a donation. Members then vote on which charity should receive the group’s largest donation.
“Seeing three charities all take home a substantial donation” was a definite highlight of the night, 100 Men Kawartha Lakes member Brad Campkin told kawarthaNOW.
Campkin said another rewarding moment was the fact the group hit a membership goal of 170 men. 100 Men Kawartha Lakes welcomed eight new members and also several men said they would be inviting more people to join them, with the next membership target of 200 men in mind.
Overall, the group met “a huge milestone” as 100 Men Kawartha Lakes has now donated more than $300,000 to the community since its inception.
“It’s incredible when you think it started with a few guys saying ‘Let’s start this thing and keep it simple’,” Campkin said.
For Campkin, his motivation for being involved 100 Men Kawartha Lakes is straightforward.
“We simply help local charities and we impact our local community,” he said.
Campkin hopes the group will add 30 more members in 2026 to reach the 200 membership goal.
“Many guys worry about not being able to make the meetings. That’s the beauty of our group. You commit to (give) $102 four times, but you don’t need to commit your time.”
He added the group is ideal for men who don’t have time to spare but want to help, and can do so by turning their $102 into more than $17,000 in one night.
In other news, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes – Haliburton also made an appeal to 100 Men Kawartha Lakes as they are “desperately needing help,” Campkin said. “They will close after 45 years in the City of Kawartha Lakes without financial help.”
The organization has launched a holiday fundraising campaign asking for $45 donations in honour of its 45th anniversary. As a result, 100 Men Kawartha Lakes donated over $2,500 to help the organization get through the holidays.
Also during the meeting, 100 Men Kawartha Lakes heard from men who are part of local charitable groups, including the Kinsmen Club of Lindsay, which is running a toy drive and toy mountain on Saturday (December 13) at Canadian Tire in Lindsay. Members also heard about the Lindsay Optimist Club and the work its doing both over the holidays and year-round.
Since the group’s formation in 2018 it has donated to more than 35 organizations. For more information about 100 Men Kawartha Lakes and to join, visit 100menkawarthalakes.ca.
