Tennessee Women Donate $19K to Boys & Girls Club

Eighty children are waiting for a spot in the Boys & Girls Club of Loudon County, and 100 women just stepped up to help change that.

The 100 Women Who Care in Tellico Village voted to donate $19,000 to the after school program during their quarterly giving event in May. Executive Director Sarah Canario said the honor left her team speechless.

"Seeing all of these women that have a heart for all of the good work in the community and to be recognized is just truly incredible," Canario said.

The money comes at a critical time. The Club currently serves about 185 students across six schools, running two buses to pick up kids from preschool through high school. During their 10-week summer program, around 125 children come through the doors each day.

But demand keeps growing. Just a few years ago, only 20 kids sat on the waiting list. Now that number has jumped to 80, even after previous donations helped expand facilities.

Canario said the new funds will go directly toward expanding programs and increasing capacity. With summer programs starting soon, every dollar counts toward serving more children who need safe, enriching places to spend their time.

The Ripple Effect

The 100 Women Who Care model creates waves of generosity throughout the community. Members nominate local nonprofits each quarter, hear presentations from finalists, then vote on where to direct their collective donation.

This quarter's runners up didn't go home empty handed either. The Friends of Tellico Village Library and Tennessee in Teal, which supports women fighting ovarian cancer, also received individual donations from members whose hearts connected with their missions.

The group invites past winners back to share their progress too. St. Vincent De Paul, who won funding in a previous quarter, reported they answered 91 calls from families facing financial distress in the past year alone.

Over several years of quarterly giving, the women have channeled hundreds of thousands of dollars to dozens of nonprofits across Loudon and Monroe Counties. They focus specifically on organizations serving immediate neighbors in need.

The model proves simple: women donate equal amounts each quarter, creating substantial funding that transforms local programs. No complex grant applications or lengthy approval processes, just regular people pooling resources to solve problems they see in their own backyard.

Anyone interested in joining can reach the group at 100wwc.easttnfoothills@gmail.com to learn how their contribution can multiply into major community impact.