Dexter Woman Launches Philanthropic Group, Donates $5,000 to Washtenaw County's Hope Clinic

Hope Clinic, a non-profit organization that offers free medical and dental care for the uninsured, recently received a donation of $5,500 from a group of philanthropic women in Washtenaw County.

The donation was provided by the Washtenaw County chapter of '100+ Women Who Care,' a newly organized group of volunteers that fund programs to improve the lives of residents throughout Southeast Michigan.

“We are thrilled by this surprise check collected through $100 donations by Women Who Care. Hope Clinic is honored to be the second recipient of this new organization," Cathy Robinson, executive director of Hope Clinic said. "It will help fund the medical and dental care and other basic services that are needed by so many who live in the greater Ann Arbor area."

'100+ Women Who Care' was organized in 2011 by Marge Farrand of Saline and Debi Zahn of Dexter after the two friends learned of a similar start-up group in Jackson that now makes quarterly grants to worthy organizations.

“This new grassroots effort in Washtenaw County is designed to support local causes that help residents in our immediate area. Participants are asked to donate $100 twice a year and have the opportunity to listen to verbal nominations presented at a 'meeting' and then voted on by those in attendance," Farrand explained.

Members who can not attend the meeting still pledge to donate to the group selected by those voting.

"These are the only times the organization meets. It is a voluntary group that is based on the common goal of helping others in their own locale," she said.

The group donated $4,300 to Ele’s Place, an Ann Arbor-based grief counseling center, last fall.

Each meeting the volume of participants and funding grows as word spreads
and more women choose to participate, Farrand explained.

“We are not about meetings, rules and complex organizational details. '100+ Women Who Care' was formed with the simple premise of busy women managing hectic schedules who want to help others in the greater Ann Arbor area," she said. "Most do not have the time or interest to participate in service groups – yet they still want to help when possible."

She said the group typically meets at Weber’s Inn in Scio Township on Sunday afternoons. Each member signs an agreement that she commits and agrees to write two $100 checks per year dedicated to the two not-for-profit groups members vote on.

"Through our membership we learn about locally focused groups that need help; presenters speak for five minutes and we vote on the recipient at that time. It is amazing the diverse mix of projects happening in our region daily -- everything from breakfast and lunch programs run by churches to groups serving special needs like autism, dementia, arts organizations and more. It’s
simple yet effective – that’s our goal in creating this group,” Zahn said.

Zahn and Farrand are hoping to increase the group's attendance to about 70 by the fall. Women interested in joining “100+ Women Who Care” or would like more information, contact Debi Zahn at ldzahn@comcast.net or Marge Farrand at mfarrand@comcast.net.

“We are called ‘100+ Women Who Care’ because we aren’t going to stop at just 100 women,” Zahn said.