The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Chris Laing woke up inspired one recent morning at her home in Tollgate. She had been thinking of a successful organization in her former hometown of Homer, Alaska, that pooled individual donations to make one significant contribution to a local nonprofit.

“We should have one of these in Sisters!” she recalls thinking.

Within hours, she had contacted a few friends and “100 Women Who Care-Sisters” was born.

Her first recruit was Kathy Campbell. Laing and Campbell have volunteered often in Sisters to lead nonprofit organizations. Just a week later, they had sent emails to about 100 of their closest friends and volunteer colleagues, inviting them to join the new group.

“We had a great response,” Campbell said. “The idea that Sisters women could — and would — support this collaborative effort was enthusiastically endorsed.”

The Sisters organization will meet quarterly and is modeled on “100 Women Who Care” groups around the country and across the globe.

“Our first meeting is set for noon on Thursday, March 28, at The Lodge adult living facility,” Laing said. “We are accepting membership applications online before the meeting, but everyone is welcome to attend.”

The “100 Women Who Care” concept is simple, the group’s founders explain.

“We have no membership fees, and the only commitment is a quarterly donation of $100,” Laing said. “Each member writes a check directly to a local nonprofit, which is chosen by the group at the quarterly meeting.

“This ensures that donations go directly to the recipient nonprofit, with no ‘middle women’ or administrative expenses at all,” Campbell added.

For more information or a membership application, interested women are invited to contact “100 Women Who Care-Sisters” via email, [email protected].