Group '100 People Who Care Tewksbury' Plans To Give $42K Annually

Press release from 100 People Who Care Tewksbury:

TEWKSBURY, MA — A new giving circle has formed in Tewksbury, Mass., with the goal of making a big local impact with charitable dollars.

At its first meeting on June 24, 100 People Who Care Tewksbury aims to make its inaugural Impact Award of $10,000 to a nonprofit serving the town and immediate surrounding areas.

Sponsors will be sought to add $500 to be split between two other deserving groups.

“We’re launching under the umbrella of the national 100 Who Care Alliance,” says board member Lorna Garey. “The idea is that a committed group of like-minded people can have a tremendous local impact with a minimal investment of time.”

Garey is joined on the board by fellow residents Brent Conway, Michael Malizia, Beth McFadyen, Krissy Polimeno, Jayne Wellman and Scott Wilson. Membership is limited to 100; a few spots remain, and when filled, the group will maintain a waiting list.

Those interested are encouraged to apply here and will be accepted on a first-come, first-seated basis.

“Simple, efficient and impactful are essential components of the 100 Who Care concept,” says Wellman. “It’s incredibly well-suited to Tewksbury, where people are so generous but may not have time to research local causes or to volunteer regularly.”

The group meets quarterly, in March, June, September and December, for one hour to hear from three local nonprofit agencies nominated by members. One agency is selected to receive 100 individual donations of $100 from members. Donations are made directly to the local agency, not a foundation or 100 People Tewksbury, so there is no administrative overhead.

“I’ve heard from so many people that they want to give back to this community, especially now, in a way that brings the town together after a difficult stretch,” says Polimeno. “When 100 people band together, we have a simple mechanism to make a huge impact, but it requires very little in terms of time commitment.”

The group is open to Tewksbury residents only, with the first giving opportunity scheduled for June 24. All members are eligible to nominate a local group to be considered for a quarterly donation. Conway is the board member responsible for vetting nonprofits and says the goal is to make game-changing donations to local causes.

“With collective giving we create a much bigger impact than an individual can,” he says. “If you give a local group $100, that helps. If you nominate a local group and it receives $10,000, that provides an opportunity for material change.”

Some frequently asked questions:

Are there team opportunities? Yes; membership is limited to 100 individuals or teams. Teams are generally two individuals with exceptions to add one senior citizen (65+) or junior member (under 21) to an existing team. At any time there may be as many as ten (10) teams comprising four individuals so that those who may not be able to commit to $400 annually can take part. All teams may nominate and vote for only one charity per cycle.

How are charities nominated? All members who are current with their donations may nominate a qualified nonprofit. Nonprofits may not be political, must serve greater Tewksbury and must be able to produce three years of reports and issue tax receipts to members.

Will you accept sponsors? Yes, we will have two $250 sponsorship opportunities per quarterly meeting. Sponsorships will be paid directly to the two nonprofits not selected.

“This is a great opportunity to connect with an engaged group of residents and support a deserving cause,” says McFadyen, who is spearheading sponsorship opportunities. “We’re also looking for in-town venues that can support our quarterly meetings, which will also be accessible by Zoom.”

Sponsorship inquiries may be sent to 100PeopleTewksbury@gmail.com.

“Our mission is pretty simple,” says Malizia. “We want to bring people together to improve the quality of life in Tewksbury by inspiring generosity. In many groups, members end up donating to more than one of the presenting nonprofits.”

Meetings also have a social hour component and are an opportunity to connect with like-minded fellow residents. Bottom line, together, we can achieve more.

“This town is all about teamwork,” says Wilson. “100 People Tewksbury aims to be a trusted partner with our community members, town leaders and nonprofit organizations to seed high-impact programs and services.”

For more information, check out our website or Facebook page or email us.

This press release was produced by 100 People Who Care Tewksbury. The views expressed are the author's own.