Charitable organization 100 Women Who Care Lake Country donated $10,000 on Dec. 1, to the St. Mary’s Breast Health Fund at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro.
“I think this community is one of the most generous that I have ever worked for,” St. Mary’s Hospital President Tanya Adcock stated upon accepting the 100 Women Who Care Lake Country donation.
“We are always very grateful for any philanthropy initiatives that are done, but I can't stress enough how supportive the community is, and they're relentless and tireless,” she continued. “We can say we need something and within a week the community has typically exceeded what we asked for. And that has been my entire five years here. There's not been one thing that we have asked for that this community has not provided for us. It’s a true partnership and very special.”
Originating in Michigan more than 16 years ago, 100 Women Who Care is now an international movement with approximately 700 chapters currently active across the United States.
Each chapter meets quarterly to vote on and determine donation recipients, with all active members pledging to donate $100 apiece at the meeting, regardless of the charity chosen.
Donations also are intended to address immediate local needs, so national charities are not considered for voting, though local chapters of national organizations remain eligible.
Typically, three charitable options are given at meetings, with each represented in a five-minute presentation by a 100 Women member describing the potential recipient and its mission. Lake Country member Sue Colson made the presentation on behalf of the St. Mary’s Breast Health Fund.
Local chapter founder and current board member Rebecca Prance said supporting the St.
Mary’s Breast Health Fund ideally represents the local impact 100 Women Who Care Lake Country hopes to achieve.
“I think it's an amazing opportunity to hopefully save lives in our community,” Prance said. “I think it’s a great way to help people who may not have health insurance and cannot afford to get the mammograms that they need.”
St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Foundation Board Chair Becky Smith explained the hospital’s breast health fund was initiated in 2018, the same year she became a 100 Women Who Care Lake Country member, specifically to focus on helping women unable to afford mammograms.
“We're also working on preventive education so that they know what they need to do for self-checks and just to make an awareness of doctors in the area that they need to see if they've got a problem,” Smith said.
“That's primarily what we do (with the foundation). We also focus on purchasing equipment that could help the technicians do their jobs better, and faster. But this money will be for education, as well as free mammograms for those who need it.”
Prance said 100 Women Who Care Lake Country has exceeded a hundred members but continues to welcome and accept new members. More information can be found online at 100wwclc.com or via Instagram or Facebook.
Email may be sent to 100womenwhocarelakecountry@gmail.com.