When women band together to support their community, it often makes the greatest impact. Since 2017, members of the Cy-Fair chapter of 100 Women Who Care have raised thousands of dollars for charities in the North Houston area through a simple, yet powerful concept.
Once a quarter, a group of 100 or more women meet to individually donate $100 in one hour to a chosen charity. Also called a Giving Circle, the goal is to collectively raise $10,000 or more in contributions.
In 2023 alone, the group raised nearly $300,000 for local nonprofits.
“It's such an easy way to give back, and it really helps women come together and be a part of something bigger once a quarter,” said Geovanna Burgess White, president of Cy-Fair’s 100 Women Who Care.
The organization is part of a national alliance that encourages various groups to come together to support a local cause. Every quarter, members of Cy Fair’s 100 Women Who Care nominate three nonprofits that will come and present at their quarterly meetings. Members will then vote on the nominees and present the donation to the winner.
“The goal for this year was for us to surpass 100 women, and then everything else over the $10,000 would go to the second and third recipients that came in and talked about their nonprofit,” White said. “We want everyone to leave with money.”
The organization aims to support grassroot charities that have been nonprofit for less than two years or make less than $500,000 per year, White explains. In 2024, members raised more than $13,000 during their first quarterly meeting. Camp Shield, an organization that empowers women veterans, was the winning charity.
In 2023, they supported local nonprofits such as The Giving Gown, The Rescue for PTSD, Judah Brown Project, and Emerging Grace Ministries.
To become a member, one just needs to donate $100 at the meetings. However, anyone is welcome to attend the event. “Our members do a great job by nominating and bringing friends and guests, and then our board does a great job just by doing everything that they do quarterly,” White said. “We wouldn’t be getting this much money if it weren't for the power of more than 100 women.”
The next meeting for Cy Fair’s 100 Women Who Care will take place on May 8 at The Barn at Frio Grill. White adds that if someone cannot make it to the event but still wishes to contribute, they can donate through the grapevine platform located on the organization’s website.
For businesses who hope to support the mission, corporate sponsorship forms can also be found on the 100 Women Who Care’s website. “The bigger we get, the more we give,” White said. “I have an amazing board, and I could not do this without the women on my board.”
It's such an easy way to give back, and it really helps women come together and be a part of something bigger once a quarter.
