How an hour meeting and $100 is raising $100,000 annually for Bucks County nonprofits

It was a simple idea started with a small, but determined group of 35 Bucks County area women. It's now a formidable force of 280 women, whose generosity has propelled good and needed work locally for the last decade.

Founded in 2014 by Lynne Kelleher, Women Who Care in Bucks County, operates on a simple yet effective model: quarterly meetings where each member donates $100. The last several meetings have raised about $25,000 each at the one-hour meetings. The group chooses a nonprofit to donate the funds to each time and annually is making about $100,000 in donations to groups serving Bucks County.

Kelleher, a local Realtor with over 30 years of community involvement, was inspired to start the organization after attending a chapter meeting in Chester County. She admired the model and thought, "This is brilliant; I could do this." With guidance from the original group, Lynne launched Women Who Care, aiming to support the community that had supported her, she said.

"The level of impact this organization has is incredible," said long-time member Tara Wigginton. She is passionate about special needs and recalls Women Who Care's pivotal role in developing the Miracle League inclusive playground in Northampton.The organization's success lies in its simplicity and the genuine passion of its members.

"Ordinary people are doing extraordinary things," Wigginton said.

Kelleher said in the past, for example, the group donated to Girls Unlimited, an anti-bullying charity she volunteered with and met through one of the quarterly meeting. She underwent intensive training to be a volunteer. Women Who Care helped raise funds for therapy sessions for bullied children.

The upcoming 10th anniversary celebration will be held on Sept. 10 at Northampton Valley Country Club. Tickets are available at $50 per person, with proceeds supporting the group's charitable efforts.

Attendees will hear from two charities handpicked by Kelleher this year: Bucks County Opportunity Council and Bucks County Housing Group. For ticket infomation, visit 100womeninbucks.org