Like many working mothers, naturopathic doctor Jennifer Salib Huber wanted to make a difference in her community.
Finding spare time to volunteer was a struggle for the working mother of three, so when she heard about the 100 Women movement last year, Salib Huber and her friend Colette Robichaud formed a Halifax chapter.
Although their first meeting isn't until March 19, the 100 Women Who Care Halifax group already has more than 80 members and counting. It will be the first in Atlantic Canada.
"We'd love to have as many women as possible onboard, the more the merrier... We definitely don't close the door at 100 women," said co-founder Salib Huber.
"The bulk of our members so far are in the professional field, women who are time crunched... There are no dues, no long meetings, it's all very grassroots."
The concept of the 100 Women initiative is simple. A minimum of 100 women get together four times each year. At each meeting, members are required to each write a $100 cheque.
In advance of the meetings, members nominate local charities. They must be registered charities in HRM whose efforts are 100 per cent locally based.
The nominees are put into a hat, three are selected, and someone from each of those three charities is invited to attend the meeting and make a five minute presentation.
It has to be quick. Salib Huber said no glitzy presentations or slides are allowed. The non-profit groups vying for the money are asked to simply outline what they'd do with the donation in five minutes or less.
The charity that receives the majority of votes walks away with the $10,000.
The women meet four times a year, amounting to community donations of at least $40,000 annually.
"Basically in an hour long meeting, one charity walks away with upwards of $10,000. That could be the bulk of a charity's dollars for the entire year," Salib Huber said.
"It's the gift that keeps on giving."
Interested women must register in advance via www.100womenhfx.com.
"Some people have said they can't commit in this way so what else can they do. This isn't the venue for everyone to donate, but you can help by spreading the word," said Salib Huber. "We're also always looking for venues, so if a company or group has space to host 100 women and will donate the space we'd be grateful."
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
100 Women Who Care Halifax
What: First meeting
When: March 19, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Where: The Ashburn Golf Course.
Find out more:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/100WomenHalifax?fref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/100WomenHalifax
Email: 100womenhalifax@gmail.com
