ABOUT
Who We Are
100 Women Who Care Mississauga gathers three times per year to raise money for local charities. Since its inception in April 2021, our Chapter has raised $58,000+ for Mississauga-based charities from only six Giving Circles.
How it Works
We bring together 100 women in Mississauga who care about local community causes and are committed to community service, for one hour three times per year. Members nominate local charities which have an immediate need, they are vetted according to our chapter’s guidelines, and three are chosen at random one week before each Giving Circle. At our meetings, the three charities present their cause and we vote to determine who will receive our entire collective donation. Then, that very night, we each write a cheque or e-transfer to the charity with the most votes.
We’re ALWAYS looking for more members to join us to support those who provide programs and services in our community.
Join Us
If you:
- Are committed to helping others in our community, but stretched for time
- Want 100% of your donations to go directly to local charities
- Want to be part of a powerful group of local, like-minded women making an immediate, direct, and positive impact on the Mississauga community
- Want to learn more about many worthy charitable organizations serving the Mississauga area
Then join 100 Women Who Care Mississauga!
History
The Story Behind 100 Who Care
Karen Dunigan always found it interesting that one of her greatest ideas was born from something as simple and basic as baby cribs. At a lunch one day in 2006, in Jackson, Michigan, with the executive leadership from the Center for Family Health, fundraising matters were being discussed. When the Center’s CEO mentioned a need she learned about at a staff meeting earlier that morning regarding new mothers and portable cribs. Karen’s ears perked up and she told the CEO that would be something she would like to know more about and another lunch was scheduled to specifically discuss the need.
During the follow up lunch, details were shared on how new mothers were bringing their babies home and placing the sleeping infants in boxes, dresser drawers, or in their own beds because they could not afford a proper crib. Some of these babies didn’t survive the night. Karen was presented with a list of how many cribs were needed, the cost of mattresses, blankets and beds. In all, a total of $10,000 was needed.
As Karen began thinking about the Center for Family Health’s need, she knew there had to be a way to quickly and easily meet the financial request that was presented. With all of her involvement in the community, Karen knew she could call ten people and ask them to write $1,000 checks, but she also figured she knew 100 women who would each give $100. She began making phone calls and scheduled a meeting. At that first meeting, in one hour, a group of Karen’s friends heard the story and each wrote checks to the Center for Family Health, resulting in a $12,800 donation, more than requested, to supply new mothers with the simplest need: a crib.
Karen recognized that she was on to something special and that it, too, was in its own infancy and needed to be nurtured to grow. She founded the first 100+ Women Who Care and scheduled quarterly meetings. The rules were simple, any member could present a need in the community, the need had to be immediate and the money had to remain local. The idea was that a worthy cause benefits many in the community.
Karen’s legacy lives on through the expansion of 100+ Chapters throughout the world. There are now more than 700 chapters either fully operational or under development, and they include women, men, people, kids, and teens chapters. Karen saw people for their strengths and realized that when 100 or more people come together in a room, each person becomes a powerful force for doing good work while lifting up your community. We are each strong in our own right, but together we are stronger. Karen knew this, applauded it and was so very proud of 100+ Women Who Care.