Members voting at the inaugural meeting of Shawano County’s 100+ Men Who Care awarded Lakeland Industries a donation of more than $5,000 May 7.
The group, with 51 men at the first meeting, is based on the locally popular 100+ Women Who Care group.
“We all believe in the community,” said Jim Meyer, one of the organizers. “We all believe in giving back and doing good, and the nonprofits in the area. This is such a great way – everybody is so busy, and this is a way for one hour a quarter that we can have a tremendous impact for a nonprofit without a lot of time commitment.”
The setup is simple. Members donate $100 each quarter. At a meeting, they hear presentations from three organizations. After a vote is taken, the group with the most votes gets all the money that night.
“We have zero administrative fees. Every dime that’s donated goes to that nonprofit,” said Kai Jensen, another organizer. ““It doesn’t take any real time. You’re not doing 10 fundraisers a year. If you get 100 guys, it’s $10,000 a quarter, it’s $40,000 a year that stays in the local community.”
Nonprofits are nominated by members and are vetted. All of the names are put in a bucket, and three groups are drawn to give five-minute presentations at the next meeting.
The nonprofits must be in Shawano County. National groups can be nominated, but the funds must be used only for Shawano County programs.
“The money has to be used in Shawano County, not for salaries or things, but for program expenses,” added Jeff Brady, who, along with Michael Johnson, Jensen and Meyer, round out the current leaders of the group “We have 10 (nonprofits) that are vetted right now. The women have 43 on their list. We’re always looking for more nonprofits to go through our vetting process. They all are worthy of donations.”
Making presentations May 7 were the Bonduel Bat and Ball Club, Lakeland Industries and Shawano Has History.
Jensen recalled a couple of years ago when he set up his digital photobooth business at a Women Who Care event.
“I was so impressed that I asked why there wasn’t a guys thing,” he said.
Nothing happened, but then he ran into Women Who Care organizers at a Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce event. He asked again about a group for men, and the next day, he had three emails who wanted to start organizing.
“If we can get to 100 men by the end of the year, I’ll be thrilled,” he said.
Jeannie Otto, of the 100+ Women Who Care, said the group’s May 6 gathering brought their total donations to nearly $350,000 since February 2020. That includes a $5,000 match for each of the past three years and another $35,000 in matching donations.
The Shawano County 100+ Men Who Care is only the 61st mens group in the world.
The worldwide 100 Who Care Alliance includes 100 Women Who Care, 100 Men Who Care, 100 People Who Care, 100 Businesses Who Care and 100 Kids Who Care groups. There are currently more than 700 100 Who Care giving circles making an impact in local communities throughout the world.
“It’s a beautiful thing. It really is,” Jensen said.
For more information or to join, email 100mwcsc@gmail.com.
Jeannie Otto, of the Shawano County 100+ Women Who Care, was among those helping create a 100+ Men Who Care group in the county. It is only the 61st mens group in the world, which encompasses more than 700 giving circles of 100 Women Who Care, 100 Men Who Care, 100 People Who Care, 100 Businesses Who Care and 100 Kids Who Care groups. (Kevin Passon | NEW Media)
