Recently, I was asked why I co-founded 100+ Women Who Care NRV. Truthfully, I hadn't really thought about it in depth at the outset - it simply sounded like a good idea. But, I have come to learn that among the many reasons, the biggest is because I wanted to strengthen our community.
There is no single solution to breaking the cycle of poverty. By helping to create community conditions that support this region’s most vulnerable families, 100+ aims to increase the chances of these vulnerable neighbors of having stable housing, finding employment, building a secure future, and raising healthy children who will succeed in and out of school.
The organizations we support, and whose impact to the community we hope to increase, need to work well together. They need to be shaped by the families that benefit from their work. They need reliable sources of funding and public policies that support their work. As a 100+ member, you have taken steps to provide funding and in order to ensure that your donations are as powerful and effective as possible, you should also consider the latter (public policies) when you cast your vote at election time.
The goal of 100+ Women Who Care NRV is to help create pathways to opportunity for every child and family in the New River Valley. We believe that strong and inclusive communities can more effectively help families and children reach their full potential. Our donations have provided funds to help families in transition, increased educational opportunities and helped with the daunting costs of medical care for the poor.
To address the immediate needs of families and children, and to develop strong community partnerships, we provide direct donations to local non-profit organizations that work with specific target populations. These organizations use their local knowledge and strong networks to address the unique needs of their communities. However, on the way to lifting up our entire community, we are building a network of friends and family. There isn't a day that goes by that I do not run into one of the amazing women who are part of the 100+ group or a recipient of funds from us, and it always brings a smile to my face. It feels great to live among people who are willing to give to help our community create opportunity and solve its own problems. With a willingness to donate and develop partnerships with local philanthropic institutions, we are better able to understand and address the needs of our community and the vulnerable families that live here.
Thank you!
