MENDOCINO Co., 9/3/20 — Local fundraising group 100 Women Strong, which pools money from individuals to support local nonprofits, will be holding their next event on September 10, featuring North Coast Opportunities’ Caring Kitchen, SPACE: School for Performing Arts and Cultural Education, and the Seabiscuit Therapeutic Riding Center.
The online event will include presentations from each of the non-profits, all based in Mendocino County, after which the group will vote on which group should receive the funds raised through individual $100 contributions. The group has already donated over $115,000 to local non-profits between March, 2019 and June, 2020.
The upcoming event will begin online at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 10. This event will also feature a presentation from Project Sanctuary, which was selected as the recipient of the previous fundraising event in June. Project Sanctuary provides free services for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, and has continued to provide services throughout the pandemic.
Here’s the announcement from 100 Women Strong — and here’s our previous coverage about the group:
Caring Kitchen, SPACE: School for Performing Arts and Cultural Education, and Seabiscuit Therapeutic Riding Center will make presentations at the next gathering of 100+ Women Strong Inland Mendocino County on Thursday, September 10 at 5:30 pm via Zoom.
Caring Kitchen involves adult and teen volunteers who create nutritious meals they deliver to cancer patients and their families. They source organic ingredients locally, train teens in nutrition, cooking and job skills and support patients undergoing cancer treatment.
SPACE is an afterschool performing arts program for youth under 18. The classes emphasize diversity, leadership, cross-cultural arts, social issues taught by experienced teachers in the arts through dance, music and performance. The goal is to help children articulate through the performing arts, gain self-confidence and form long lasting friendships in a safe, stable and creative place.
The Seabiscuit Therapeutic Riding Center, based at Ridgewood Ranch, provides services to children and adults who are challenged physically, developmentally, emotionally, or socially. Through horsemanship students are helped to improve muscle tone, set boundaries, learn new skills and self-confidence, or simply connect with another living being.
In addition to hearing from each of the nonprofits, Dina Polkinghorne, Executive Director of Project Sanctuary, will share how they are using the more than $15,000 awarded at the last 100 Women Strong gathering in June.
The purpose of the 100+ Women Strong gatherings is to give one of three designated nonprofits a “shot in the arm” with an award of $10,000 or more at the end of the evening, depending on how many participants attend and pledge $100.
On the first day registration opened for the September gathering, more than 100 participants were already pledged.
“It is amazing to realize how much this community believes in supporting our nonprofits!” said Katie Fairbairn, founder of 110+ Women Strong Inland Mendocino County. “At every gathering, it is both moving and challenging to hear what these groups are doing and then having to choose one. That’s why we welcome additional donations to the nonprofits that don’t win.”
Registration for the September 10 gathering is at Grapevine.org. Each participant will receive an automated invitation from Grapevine with a unique link to join the group live via Zoom.
For more information and to become a member of 100+ Women Strong Inland Mendocino County, visit the website: 100StrongMendo.com or email [email protected].
