100 Women Who Care will make a difference AGAIN on Feb. 12

For release:           February 1, 2014

                                                                                                                                 Contact:               Amy Whipple, amynwhipple@gmail.com

                                                                                                                                                                (586) 254-1560

                                                                                                                        Amy DiCresce, amydicresce@gmail.com

                                                                                                                        (586) 291-2208

100 women. $100 each.

$10,000 to a single charity in a single hour.

That’s the concept of 100 Women Who Care.

On February 12, 2014, at least 100 women from the Rochester area will meet for one hour and award $10,000 to a local charity that is yet to be named. This will be the third time the group will make a sizable, surprise, swift donation to meet urgent needs.

Although there are dozens of 100 Women Who Care groups throughout the state, the Greater Rochester group was newly formed this year and met for the first time in June 2013. They all follow the same efficient formula to bring immediate financial support to local charities. Here’s how it works.

One hundred women (or more) come to an hour-long meeting, committed to writing a $100 check before they leave. Each woman is allowed to submit the name of her favorite charity (usually one to which she is somehow personally connected) and if chosen, is prepared to “pitch” that charity to the group. Three slips are randomly selected each meeting and those three women give a five-minute presentation about what their charity needs. Within the hour, a vote is taken, a single charity is selected, and 100+ women each write a $100 check directly to the chosen charity. Just like that, the $100 checks add up to a $10,000+ donation that provides an immediate windfall to local people in need—that very day!

“It does a lot for needy organizations, but it also does a lot for the women who are giving,” said Barbara Donohoe, one of the founding members of the Greater Rochester group of 100 Women Who Care. “It is eye-opening. It is heartfelt. It is empowering.”

The next meeting of the 100 Women Who Care-Greater Rochester Area will be Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, from 7-8 p.m., at St. John Fisher Chapel in Auburn Hills. (Located at 3665 E. Walton Blvd)

The new Greater Rochester group, under the leadership of longtime friends, Amy Whipple, Linda Chayka and Barbara Donohoe, is proud to be part of an effort where 100% of the donations go directly to the chosen charity.

The Rochester group meets four times per year, with each member pledging to donate $100 per meeting for an annual total of $400. It is not too late to join and they are happy to exceed 100 members.

The first winning charity was the New Day Foundation for Families, which helps families affected by cancer to deal with practical burdens like household expenses, mortgage payments and groceries, during an urgent medical crisis. The second and most recent winning charity was Operation School BellÒ and the Assistance LeagueÒ of Southeastern Michigan, which provide warm clothes and necessary supplies to needy school children in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties.

 “We are helping families in need provide basic necessities to their children, and the children are treated to new school clothing, coats and mittens, and other personal items. They are always so excited and thankful to us. And, likewise, we are extremely grateful to the 100 Women Who Care for providing these necessary funds to keep our kids warm this winter,” said Barb Bakker, president of Assistance League of SE Michigan.

For more information on the 100 Women group or to sign a commitment form, visit the website: www.100womenwhocare-greaterrochester.org, or contact Amy Whipple at amynwhipple@gmail.com or (586) 254-1560.

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Editors note: The following are available for interviews and features:

·         Rochester 100 Women co-founders: Amy Whipple, Barbara Donohoe, Linda Chayka

·         New Day Foundation founder and executive director, Gina Kell Spehn, and representatives form Operation School Bell and Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan—past donation recipients

·         100 Women logo available at: www.100womenwhocare-greaterrochester.org