Jessica Ussher
Investigative Journalist
On January 17, the local women’s organization “100 Plus Women Who Care,” held their quarterly giving circle meeting at the Corporate Room in Wildomar. The organization is a dynamic and impactful group of 160 women who are committed to making a difference in their community through collective donations to local charities.
The local group was started in 2016, but Wildomar resident Tracy Steffen took over leadership in 2019 with 29 members. Steffan said, “It took about a year to get the numbers up to 100 because of COVID. I had to learn how to use Zoom.”
The group prides itself on facilitating the philanthropic active participation of female business owners.
Members of the organization meet at giving circle meetings quarterly which provide a forum for local female business owners to hear from three charities and collectively decide where to donate. These nonprofit presentations allow members to gain an insight into various causes and make informed decisions about where they feel their collective contribution will have the most significant impact. At the recent meeting, members heard updates and project summaries from a range of charities including SAFE, the Oak Grove Center and the Global Society for Female Entrepreneurs and decided that the Oak Grove Center should receive this quarter’s collective donation.
The funds used to donate to charities come from a $400 yearly / $100 quarterly membership contribution. This contribution stands even if members are unable to attend quarterly giving circle meetings. Furthermore, as the donation is confirmed by popular vote, all members despite their views on the selected nonprofit, will donate individually, and 100% of the cumulative donation goes directly to the winning nonprofit. The organization encourages members to bring friends to events, however only members have voting power.
Outside of the monetary contributions and commitment, the giving circle meetings serve a dual purpose. Members also use meetings to deepen their understanding of local issues and network with like-minded women who share a passion for giving back to the community. The meetings also foster an environment of female solidarity with business owners encouraging one another and spreading kindness. Overall, the organization owes the majority of its success to the community’s generosity. All the work of the founding team is done on a voluntary basis.
The mission of the winning nonprofit Oak Grove Center is to “rebuild the lives of at-risk children and their families through education, healing, restoring relationships, building character and instilling hope.” The center was founded in 1989 and is a nonprofit residential, education and treatment center serving multiple campuses for special needs and at-risk youth. The center serves over 800 children and teenagers each year, and offers a variety of services which include but is not limited to sports and arts programs for autism, independent living, partial hospitalization and addiction recovery.
During the giving circle meeting, Oak Grove Center representatives spoke of their passion to serve children in need stating that “we help them regain a sense of self and open their minds beyond what they know, and help them towards what they can be.” More information can be found on the Center’s website https://oakgrovecenter.org/.
Since 2016 when 100 Plus Women Who Care was founded, the organization has collected and given approximately $340,000 to noteworthy charities and is committed to making a lasting difference through continued entrepreneurial philanthropy. More details can be found on their website https://www.100womenwhocaretemeculavalley.com/ and the next Giving Circle meeting will be held on April 17.
Tracy Steffan sums up the group with this statement, “Powerful women who continue to make an immediate, direct and positive impact on the needs of our community.”
