On May 12th, ChesMRC was selected by the organization, 100 Women Who Care of Talbot County, to receive a donation of $17,000! The organization was founded by Karen Gadson, Michele Lowe, and Amanda David, who were driven by a desire to make a difference in our local community and were inspired by hundreds of like-minded groups across the country and world. They wanted to create a local group of motivated women who are committed to the power of collective philanthropic giving. The members meet three times a year and select three nonprofits each time to be considered for a donation from its members. Each member commits to donating $300 a year — $100 per meeting — to local nonprofits. After hearing a pitch from each nonprofit, the members vote for the one they feel is most deserving of their donation.
Victoria Gomez, the Deputy Director of ChesMRC and Constance (Conni) Hope, a Board member and Chair of the Board’s Development and Communication Committee made the pitch for ChesMRC. Victoria focused on the fact that the donation would be used by the Family Safety Plan program to help families plan for any significant changes in immigration policy and for any impact these changes could have on their household. Direct services include consultations with an attorney and immigration specialist, obtaining and verifying essential documents such as passports, id cards, and birth certificates, and forming a plan on management of property and assets in case of an emergency.
Conni focused on the fact that if the Family Safety Plan program had more funds at its disposal, more funds from ChesMRC’s general fund could be used to support other programs such as the After School and the Housing Counseling programs. She also reminded the 100 Women Who Care members that immigrants are not the only ones who benefit from the work of ChesMRC. We ALL do! Our entire community is enriched by the multicultural influences that become more prominent as ChesMRC fulfills its mission to empower people from different cultures to become successful and engaged members of our community. The more work it can do, the more we ALL benefit.
After hearing Victoria and Conni, the members of 100 Women Who Care of Talbot County voted to donate $17,000 to ChesMRC to be used for the Family Safety Plan program. In conversations after the vote, many members told Victoria and Conni that although the work of the other nonprofits that had been considered was important, they voted for ChesMRC because it does work that helps people, human beings. The words and sentiment expressed by the members of 100 Women Who Care indicate that Victoria’s description of the work done under the Family Safety Plan program was impactful. They are a testament to the important work that ChesMRC does.
There is more good news!! In addition to the $17,000 from the 100 Women Who Care, the Richard Schulze Foundation and the Watermen’s Foundation, both of which support the work of the 100 Women, will each donate $5000 to ChesMRC, for a total of $27,000!!! Thank you to these two organizations as well!
ONWARD! ADELANTE! EN AVANT!