100 Women Who Care Wilmot donate $10,000 to Waterloo-Oxford Student Assistance fund

Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A group of Wilmot women recently put together a $10,000 donation to help Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School (WODSS) students from low-income families fully participate in school programming, regardless of financial barriers.

At their November 2024 meeting, 100 Women Who Care Wilmot members each contributed $100 toward the WODSS Student Assistance Fund.

“This contribution will ensure all students have the opportunity to fully participate in their school experience,” said WODSS principal Carolyn Salonen in a press release. “These funds help provide financial assistance to cover extracurricular fees for families facing challenging times, removing barriers and fostering an inclusive environment. Whether it’s joining a sports team, participating in music programs, or attending school trips, this funding helps every student engage and thrive, regardless of financial circumstances.”

At the November meeting, the group of generous Wilmot women heard from three, randomly chosen local charities in need of financial support. After listening carefully to each presentation, the women voted to donate the $10,000 collected that night to the WODSS Student Assistance Fund.

“The principal from the school is actually also a member of 100 women,” said 100 Women Who Care Wilmot co-chair Angie Hallman. “She also did the presentation, which I think was interesting. … So, she got to wear two hats that night; she got to be a passionate community member and a passionate presenter. It’s really great when we have those presentations by our membership.”

Hallman said Salonen asked the room how many of those in attendance also attended WODSS as a student or knows someone who has been or is currently a student at the school. The response was an overwhelming majority, with just about everyone in the room raising their hands. Following that up, Hallman said Salonen explained how the money in the Student Assistance Fund is used.

“It’s to fill the gaps. I’m a mom of three kids myself and I have two kids who go to (WODSS), and my son just joined the fishing club – that’s $150 to participate,” Hallman said. “And there’s so many different clubs. Carolyn Salonen was explaining how there are some families that just don’t have the extra funds to give their children the full experience that can come from participating in everything at high school.

“Times are tough and that fund has dwindled completely. It was just kind serendipity that (WODSS) was chosen out of a hat and they were the successful recipient.”

Hallman says 100 Women Who Care Wilmot meets quarterly and she encourages local women who have $100 to spare and want to give back to their community to consider joining the group. For more information and to join, visit www.100womenwilmot.ca.

Similarly, Wilmot men who would like to give back to their communities can visit www.100menofwilmotwhogiveadamn.com to learn more about that organization, which operates in the same way the women’s group does.