100 Women Who Care give to drug awareness program

The first meeting of 100 Women Who Care in Charlottetown has resulted in a big cheque for a youth drug awareness program in the city.

The women in the group each donate $100, destined for a local charity.Selected charities make presentations, and the group votes, right away, on who to give the collected money to.

"This is a really easy way, with a minimal amount of time, each year to contribute," said group founder Aileen Matters.

Matters started up the group after participating in one in Saint John.

The first Charlottetown meeting, Tuesday night, resulted in a $11,200 cheque forthe DARE program. DAREwas selected after the women's groupheard pitches from threedifferent hopeful charities.

Led by Charlottetown police Const. Tim Keizer, DAREeducates young people on the dangers of drug abuse.

"This is a huge donation for us," said Keizer.

"I can't begin to tell you how surprised I am that we were chosen and how fortunate I feel."

Matters said DARE appeared to strike a chord with the mothers and grandmothers in the group.

100 Women Who Care will meet again in September to pick the next lucky charity.

The groups that were not selected this time could get another shot.