Will County Women Donate $270K to 46 Local Charities

Since 2015, a group of women in Will County, Illinois has proven that small actions add up to remarkable impact. 100+ Women Who Care Will County just surpassed $270,000 in total donations to 46 local nonprofits, all through hour-long meetings held four times a year.

The concept is beautifully simple. Members gather at Coom's Corner in Lockport, nominate local charities by placing names in a hat, and randomly draw three finalists. After brief presentations, everyone votes and writes a check for at least $100 to the winning organization.

"The idea was to give people a way to help if they don't have a lot of time to commit to a charity," said organizer Maribeth Carlson. "It's a flexible, easy way to donate to people in your community and learn about the needs of people in the area."

That first donation in spring 2015 was just $600 to Shady Oaks Camp, a facility for people with disabilities in Homer Glen. Fast forward to November 2024, and Shady Oaks received the group's largest donation ever: $15,800.

The growing membership means bigger donations. In their most recent year, four charities each received at least $10,000, including Team Nicholas (which collects toys for hospitalized children), the New Lenox Food Pantry, the Joliet Noon Lions Club, and One Family Illinois.

A partnership with the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation sweetens every gift with a 50% match up to $5,000. Every dollar donated goes directly to the chosen charity with no administrative costs.

The 46 beneficiaries read like a directory of community care: CASA of Will County, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Will County Habitat for Humanity, Guardian Angel Community Services, and the Will County Children's Advocacy Center among them.

"The moment a charity learns they've been chosen is always special," Carlson said. "They're genuinely surprised and deeply grateful, especially because the support comes without expectation or effort on their part."

The Ripple Effect

Beyond the dollars raised, the group is connecting members to needs they never knew existed in their own backyard. Each meeting introduces attendees to three worthy organizations, multiplying awareness even for charities that don't win the vote.

The model ensures sustainability too. Once a charity receives a donation, it can't be nominated again for two years, spreading support across the community. New members join at every meeting, steadily increasing the group's power to help.

The next meeting happens September 8, and the excitement Carlson felt at that first $600 donation hasn't faded: "Every dollar makes a difference."