Last June, 100 Women Who Care Mississauga, which formed in April 2021 during the pandemic lockdowns, held its first in-person Giving Circle. We were referred to the Irish Club of Mississauga by one of our members and went to check out the space and meet with the club organizers to see if they could accommodate our needs for hosting an in-person event.
To say we were pleasantly surprised would be an understatement! The Irish Club’s President (at the time), John Barry, was welcoming and incredibly accommodating to our needs, and the June Giving Circle was a huge success, both as a charitable giving event and as a social night. Because of the welcome we were given and how well our group was accommodated by them, 100 Women Who Care Mississauga has come together with The Irish Club of Mississauga to become our home for our Giving Circle Meetings.
There are several parallels between 100 Women Who Care Mississauga and The Irish Club of Mississauga. Both are community organizations that are small communities within the larger Mississauga community. Both are volunteer led, but member-driven, meaning all leadership is comprised of volunteers, but the activities undertaken are driven by the membership. And, while our main objective is charitable giving, many of The Irish Club’s activities are driven by their desire to be of service to the community.
About The Irish Club of Mississauga
The Irish Club of Mississauga was founded as a social club in 1993, with a mission to provide social and recreational activity for members and to promote Irish heritage and culture. Having said that, you do not have to be Irish to join—everyone is welcome! Located in Northwest Mississauga, the Irish Club offers a prime location with ample free parking and a fully equipped facility that is fully accessible. Facilities are available for rental events ranging from birthdays and anniversaries to fundraisers. They have a full kitchen and serviceware, offering in-house catering, or you can bring in your own catering for any event. They also have a full bar available to guests.
One of the principles followed by the Irish Club is that, as a community group they need to serve the community whenever possible. They have an affiliation with The Eden Food Bank, hosting an annual fundraiser and food drives. This year they are hosting their 7th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Get-Together on December 3 (at 7:30pm). Prizes will be awarded and all proceeds will be given to the Scott Mission to help provide Christmas dinner to their clients. Finally, when COVID shutdowns ceased all club activities, the leadership felt they had to do something to help their members, especially the seniors in the group, so they started an outreach program consisting of a Phone Tree, to reach out with personal contact, offering assistance to their most vulnerable members, and a weekly email newsletter, which continues to this day, offering news and information and maintaining the important contact and interaction they used to have in person.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Irish Club, you can go to the Membership page on their website, or you can contact John Barry at johnbarry@rogers.com with any questions.
Our Next Giving Circle
As our official Donation-In-Kind Sponsor for the venue, the next 100 Women Who Care Mississauga Giving Circle is being held at the Irish Club, 4120 Ridgeway Drive, #39, Mississauga on Wednesday, November 9th, at 7:30pm. (Doors open at 7:00pm for time to mix and mingle amongst members, meet our sponsors, and chat with the charity representatives.) Our three presenting charities are Vita Centre, Lady Ballers Camp, and Start2Finish. We know that one of these worthy charities will be leaving that night with a donation of up to $10,000. While only members of the 100 Women Who Care Mississauga are allowed to vote to determine the winner, guests are encouraged to attend to learn more about our group and to enjoy the incredible atmosphere that is generated by participating in local philanthropy with this wonderful group of women.
If you would like to learn more, go to our website at 100womenwhocaremississauga.com. To register to attend the November 9 Giving Circle, click here. To become a member as an individual or a team, click here. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for all our latest news. For more pictures from our many online and in-person events, please check out our Gallery.
