While still short of the number of members in their name, the Cass County 100 Women Who Care has made an impact since their inception last year.

The charity organization held their last meeting of the year Wednesday night at the Dowagiac Area History Museum, where the members voted to donate to the Cass County CASA. The event marked the first year anniversary of the club, which was established last October.

Since then, the members have given $12,000 back to the community, donating to Cass County Cancer Services, Borgess Tree of Love, the Dowagiac Area History Museum and St Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Food Pantry. Their ranks have grown within the last 12 months, with around 60 women currently participating in their quarterly meetings, said Kim MacGregor, one the
organization’s founders.

“Our biggest way of increasing our membership has been through word of mouth,” MacGregor said. “Everyone tries to bring a friend to each meeting, and that’s how we’ve grown just far.”

MacGregor suggested the idea of forming the local organization after meeting with the president of a similar charity in Kalamazoo. The concept of 100 Women Who Care was first devised in Jackson, and has since spread across the U.S. and Canada, MacGregor said.

The organization meets on a quarterly basis, where the members come with some ideas which service organization to donate to. They choose three of these suggestions from a hat, and, after a short presentation from representatives of the organizations, vote on which one they will all give to.

“Every member is committed to donate $100 per meeting,” she said. “While you’re writing that check, though, you might not think that’s going to make of a much difference. When you put all of our donations together though, that’s really going to help someone out. It’s really going to make a statement.”

Next year, the organization will try to branch out other regions of the county, such as Edwardsburg and Marcellus, in an effort to increase its membership, MacGregor said. Their goal next year is to reach 100 women, in hopes of donating $10,000 or more to every selected subject.

“I’m very pleased with our growth, and I’m looking forward to even more, so we can help even more people,” MacGregor said.