100 Women Who Care CBRM raise big money in first two years

The 100 Women Who Care phenomenon has hit some impressive fundraising heightsin the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

As it meets for its quarterly meeting in Sydney, the group is celebrating an achievement of$100,000 raised for charities since it started two years ago.

Shelley Bennett-Trifos, whohas been a member since the beginning, told CBC Cape Breton's Information Morningthe group has supportedmany different charities.

They include theEvery Woman's Centre, Cape Breton Regional Hospital, AlzheimersSociety of Cape Breton and the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board's breakfast program.

The group meets four times a year and upon registration each member commits to making a donation of $100 at each meeting, even if she is unable to attend. All the money goesto charity andthere are no administration costs.

"One Hundred Women Who Caredo this voluntarily,"Bennett-Trifos said.

Eye-opener for members

She saideach member can nominate one charityevery quarter, and each nomination is "vetted to ensure the charity is registered and can issue a tax receipt."

The names are put in a hat at each meeting and three names are drawn by an independent party. Each of the three charities is then given an opportunity to make a five-minute pitch for the money.

At the end of the meeting the members vote and one charity walks away with the money collected.

Bennett-Trifossaidquite often the pitches can be an eye-opener for the members. Sheremembers the presentation made by the Alzheimers Society of Cape Breton.

"What I didn't realize is how difficult it is for individuals, families and caregivers, particularly in the more rural areas, to access support," she said.

She said joining the group can be done throughFacebook, by emailor by attending a meeting and membership, despite the name, is not limited to 100 women.

And she emphasizes, since everybody's time is valuable, they stick "rigidly" to short meetings that last no more than an hour.