He is only one man willing to donate $100 four times a year, but Brad Campkin is part of a group of 174 men who are collectively making a much bigger impact on the community in Kawartha Lakes.
Campkin is a member of 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes, which has raised more than $250,000 over the past seven years for local charitable causes.
The collective philanthropy group held its fourth meeting of the year on December 5. With each member donating $100, the group raised $17,400 for three local charities. Kawartha Lakes Food Source took home a cheque for $10,000, and will receive another $5,400 once all donations are collected. Meanwhile, the Lindsay Agricultural Society and the IE Weldon Secondary School robotics team each took home $1,000.
Prior to the meeting, each member of the 174-member group was given the opportunity to nominate a registered charity in the Kawartha Lakes.
“I’m involved because this is my way of turning my $100 into $17,400 and knowing local charities are getting 100 per cent of our donation,” Campkin told kawarthaNOW, noting there are no administrative costs connected with the $100.
Ahead of each of the quarterly meetings, three of the 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 organization would spend and benefit from a donation. Members then vote on which charity should receive the group’s donation.
“There are several guys who help out, getting venues, being a liaison with charities, sending out emails, and making sure the donations come in a timely manner, and also just making sure we have a sound system and guys at the door for registration at meetings,” Campkin explained. “We have no titles or board. We are a giving circle who meets four times a year. That’s it.”
Campkin’s roles encompass master of ceremonies and media relations duties.
This year, 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes partnered with the Kawartha Lakes Community Foundation, as the burden on charities to process so many individual $100 donations from the group’s members was labour-intensive and costly, Campkin noted.
Group members can now pay for a year in advance and tax receipts are generated automatically at one contact point.
“We add $2 to each $100 to cover this,” he explained.
The December 5 meeting was held at One Eyed Jack in Lindsay. Past events have been held in Fenelon Falls, Omemee, and Bobcaygeon at various venues.
“We move to different venues in the Kawartha Lakes, so members get a chance to host in their own backyard,” Campkin said.
The year 2024 marks the group’s seventh year, after beginning in 2018 with 34 members and raising $3,400.
“As we have grown, we have made it so that all three charities take home a donation — $1,000 for the two charities that did not receive the majority of votes, and the balance to the top vote-getter.”
“We get the chance to hear from all three charities,” Campkin noted. “We learn what they do and the challenges they face. We all learn, and we all win. Seeing tears in the eyes of our charity spokespersons’ eyes is always very emotional.”
Looking ahead to 2025, 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes has a goal of hitting the 200-member mark.
“At that time, we will take a vote from our members as to whether we stay as one group or create two or three smaller groups,” he said.
100 Men of Kawartha Lakes has no maximum number of members so “the more the merrier,” Campkin added.
“It’s important for all members to know even if you cannot make a meeting, your participation is crucial to our success. Several of our members rarely make the meetings but their donation is integral to our success.”
The 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes group was formed by Richard Gauder, who also began 100 Men in Scugog, Oshawa, Clarington, and Whitby.
The group meets four times each year in March, June, September, and December. All men are welcome to join the group.
Those interested in joining 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes can visit 100menkawarthalakes.ca.
