By Tammi Johnson
Recently I read an article about the health benefits of giving. We all know that it makes us feel good to give a gift that someone is pleased to receive. The same can be said for giving to local causes in your community. Being able to give back to those in need helps you achieve a greater sense of personal satisfaction and growth, which can lead to an enhanced feeling of self-worth knowing that you’re offering much needed resources to a worthy cause. In addition, the benefits of the positive impact you will make on your community.
In October of last year, I recruited a few friends to start a women’s giving circle here in the Fox Cities. The group is called POWER of 100+ Fox Cities and we meet four times each year. At each meeting three local non-profit charities tell their story to the group. After a brief Q & A and a member vote, the charity receiving the majority of the votes, receives the group donation, the “Impact Award”. Each member of the group then writes a $100 check directly to the chosen charity - one hundred percent of the donation goes to the charity and is tax deductible. Being a part of a group like this not only gives you an opportunity to give back to the community, but it also serves as a way to help us learn more about our local community organizations, needs, and services.
I can attest to the positive feelings that directly come from giving back to your community. To date, POWER of 100+ Fox Cities is 54 members strong and growing – we hope to reach 100 (or more) members by the end of this year. We have already donated over 12,000 to local charities here in the Fox Cities. As our membership grows, so does our giving potential. Should you choose to join, as a member you will be committed to 4 one-hour meetings and $400 for the year. We also offer a young women’s level of commitment which is $50 per giving. If you are interested in learning more, check us out at www.powerof100foxcities.com or our Facebook page, Power of 100 Fox Cities. You can also contact me, Tammi Johnson, at 920-810-4799 or tammi@powerof100foxcities.com.