100 People Who Care Brant donate over $100,000 to charities

100 People Who Care Brant celebrated its four-year anniversary with a Meet and Greet at Stillwaters Plate & Pour on March 24th. The celebration also acknowledged the group’s collective effort to raise $105,120 for 13 different charities and organizations in the community. Pictured left to right are Steering Committee Members Callum Thomas, Shawna Sharp, Donna Ireland and Andrea Clendening. Absent from the photo, Kim Allardyce.

By Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

What began as a pandemic project to boost local charities has blossomed into a shared community initiative that’s raised more than $100,000 in donations. To celebrate that milestone, 100 People Who Care Brant hosted a triumphant meet and greet at Stillwaters Plate & Pour Restaurant on March 24th. Not only was it a chance to celebrate their accomplishments over the last four years, but also an opportunity to meet fellow members in person, said Andrea Clendening, donations coordinator. 100 People Who Care Brant was formed in the height of the pandemic so, like most things in those days, it started as a virtual group. That virtual platform remained in place post pandemic as members found it was time effective as people returned to their busy daily lives.  In the four years since its inception, the dynamic group of individuals from Brant County, Brantford and Six Nations of the Grand River have raised $105,120 for 13 different non-profit agencies in this region. The group’s principal model is simple, members make a nominal donation each giving cycle emphasizing the power in numbers.Non-Profit organizations reach out to 100 People Who Care Brant and the steering committee screens potential applicants to determine eligible beneficiaries for each giving cycle. Members ultimately vote on the recipient, always with a special focus on local charities making an impact in the community they live in. The impact is great as many of these organizations are underfunded and the financial donation enables them to boost projects or support vital programs. Philanthropy comes in many forms, so the group focuses on education to highlight the services these charities and organizations provide in the community to spur volunteer opportunities for members who want to give more than money. Donna Ireland, one of the founding members, recalls it all started with a dire need to support charities and organizations who struggled the most to keep up with the skyrocketing demand for services throughout the pandemic.“We looked in our own wallets and thought, ‘Well my $25 donation is nice.. but it’s not exactly shaking the world,’” she explained.  “That’s when the lightbulb moment hit. What if we pooled our resources? What if a whole bunch of us gave together – could we turn a trickle into a tidal wave?”The answer was yes! Just ask the 13 recipients: Food4kids Brant-Haldimand, The Salvation Army Paris Food Bank, Why Not Youth Centres, Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, Victim Services of Brant, Special Olympics Brantford, Crossing all Bridges Learning Centre, Kids Can Fly, The Brantford Blessing Centre, Brant Food for Thought, Willowbridge Community Services and The Salvation Army Brantford-Paris Foodbank. The most recent giving circle in support of Organized Kaos Life & Trade just wrapped up with a $8,310 donation. 100 People Who Care Brant’s Steering Committee consists of four people – Clendening, Ireland, Shawna Sharp, Kim Allardyce and newest member, Callum Thomas. Thomas just joined the effort this year taking on a new role as director of social media. Operating as an online group, it’s important they maintain a strong digital presence. Thomas said his main reason for joining was to become more involved in the community. “I’ve got a lot of extra time so why not spend it on the community I live in?” said Thomas.100 People Who Care Brant’s membership has remained strong throughout the years, said Clendening, but they’re always recruiting and welcoming new members to continue to expand their footprint in the community. The more members, the bigger the impact. Membership is open year-round. You can follow the group on social media or visit their website www.100peoplewhocare.ca for more information.