By Kara Hallissey, Staff Writer (Oct. 12, 2017)

The 100+ Women Who Care on the Shore charity will have its final meeting of the year on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Sisters in Berlin on Main Street. Women interested in donating $100 to a worthy charity are encouraged to attend. The doors open at 5 p.m. with the meeting starting a half hour later. “A lot of women have joined since our last meeting in May,” said Janelle Mulholland, co-founder of 100+ Women Who Care on the Shore, with Susanna Eisenman and Anna Newton. “We’ve had many inquiries and the interest in our group is growing. We are excited to have our last meeting of the year and hope to raise our greatest money to date.” During the first meeting in February, members donated $3,900 to the Stephen Decatur High School Band Boosters to replace 29-year-old uniforms, and in May, $3,400 was raised for the CRICKET Center, a child advocacy organization in Berlin. “We’ve had so many great local charities nominated in our past two meetings,” Mulholland said. “We can’t wait to see what organizations our members will nominate next.” The 100+ Women Who Care on the Shore members directly contribute $100 to three different charities each year. During the hour-long meetings, each woman in attendance fills out a nomination form with their favorite nonprofit charity from Worcester, Wicomico or Somerset counties. The submissions go into a basket and three potential winners are picked. “Those three women will present their nominations by telling the group about why they are passionate about their charity and what great work the charity does for the community,” Mulholland said. After presentations, each member votes for their favorite and the charity with the most votes receives checks from all 100+ Women Who Care on the Shore members. “Charities can be nominated over and over again,” Mulholland said. “But once a charity has been chosen, it cannot be nominated again for one year. Charities must be 501(c)(3). The money must also stay on the shore to help our residents in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties.” Members directly contribute $100 to three different charities each year, totaling $300. There are no administrative fees, and all donations are tax deductible. “I first heard of the organization while visiting my mother in Iowa,” Mulholland said. “Her friends started their own chapter and I loved the idea of a group of women getting together and discussing charities in their community and then writing checks to the chosen local charity.” The nonprofit organization, 100+ Women Who Care, began in Michigan more than a decade ago. Currently, there are more than 400 active chapters across the world. “Our committee is busy planning next year’s meetings,” Mulholland said. “We will announce our 2018 dates and meeting place at our next meeting on Oct. 17.” For more information or to become a member, email Mulholland at mjmulholland@mchsi.com or visit www.facebook.com/100womenwhocareontheshore.