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100+ Women Who Care event raises $14,000 for Village of Hope

Umito November 16, 2024

BEMIDJI — The newly renovated Fourth Street Lodge was filled with laughter, heartfelt stories and collective generosity Thursday evening for Bemidji’s latest 100+ Women Who Care event.

More than 100 women gathered for the first event organized in the

beautifully restored event space,

formerly Elk’s Lodge, to raise funds for a selected non-profit organization. In less than an hour, $14,000 was raised and donated to

Village of Hope,

a Bemidji nonprofit that provides emergency housing and support to homeless families.

“It’s more than a fundraiser,” said Kay Mack, a member of the 100+ Women Who Care committee and moderator of the event. “It’s really an opportunity to come together with a group of women for such a good reason.”

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 12.jpg — Kay Mack, committee member of 100+ Women Who Care, welcomes attendees to the evening’s fundraising event on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

The 100+ Women Who Care initiative provides local women with a simple, quick and effective way to financially support area nonprofits. The initiative was organized by Mack and fellow committee members Mary Israelson, Sally Corser, Lisa Bruns, Lisa Hofstad, Courtney Aitken Gifford and Sarah Ek.

Upon arrival, participants donated at least $100 and the funds were then pooled. For every $100 donation, participants received a nomination and voting ticket.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 8.jpg — Linda LaFond hands out a selected nonprofit to attendees to hear and vote at a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

During the event, four nonprofit organizations were randomly selected from the applications, and representatives from each organization then gave a three-minute presentation on their mission and impact.

Attendees were then able to vote for the nonprofit they wanted to support, with the organization receiving the most votes receiving all funds raised.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 5.jpg — Participants vote for their favorite nonprofit to receive funds raised at the 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

The initiative requires no ongoing commitment or additional fundraising, making it an accessible and effective way to support the community.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 9.jpg — Attendees applaud a speaker during an event of more than 100 Women Who Care on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

This year’s participants

Four nonprofit organizations were randomly selected during Thursday’s event, each represented by a spokesperson sharing the organization’s mission and impact.

Resources for peacemakers,

represented by Maggie Carlson and Sue Liedl shared the organization’s focus on building peace and promoting systemic change through prevention tools and community collaboration.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 7.jpg — Maggie Carlson, left, and Sue Liedl of Peacemaker Resources encourage attendees to vote for the organization as their preferred nonprofit to receive funds raised at an event of more than 100 Women Who Care on Thursday, November 14, 2024 , at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji. .

Paul Bunyan Theatre/Chief Theater

Board member Vicki Ross-Rhoades spoke about the current struggles facing the regional performing arts center, home to Minnesota’s oldest professional summer theater company.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 6.jpg — Vicki Ross-Rhoades of the Paul Bunyan Playhouse and Chief Theater encourages attendees to vote for the organization as their preferred nonprofit to receive funds raised at a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, November 14, 2024 , at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

Addiction Wellness Center of Northern Minnesota

CEO and owner Margret Kelsey explained the organization’s mission, which provides inpatient residential treatment and long-term recovery support for people facing addiction.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 3.jpg — Margret Kelsey of the Northern Minnesota Addiction Wellness Center encourages attendees to vote for the organization as their preferred nonprofit to receive funds raised during an event of more than 100 Women Who Care on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

Village of Hope

Board member Trisha Vojak detailed the organization’s offerings, including emergency housing and support for homeless families, helping them transition to permanent housing.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 2.jpg — Village of Hope board member Trisha Vojak shares her story with attendees, encouraging them to vote for the organization as their preferred nonprofit to receive funds raised during an event of more than 100 Women Who Care on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Fourth Street Lodge. in Bemidji.

After the presentations of the four organizations, the participants were able to vote and allocate the $14,000 raised during the evening to the Village of Hope.

The impact of the Village of Hope

During her three-minute presentation, Vojak also shared her personal connection to Village of Hope, explaining how the organization helped her and her family during a difficult time in their lives.

“We were no longer able to pay our bills, which quickly turned into not being able to pay our rent,” she said. “We had no choice but to leave behind what we called home.”

After finding shelter at Village of Hope during this time of crisis, Vojak shared how the nonprofit helped her family meet their basic needs and begin to thrive.

“They’re helping out, not handing out,” Vojak said, before further expounding on the services Village of Hope has provided to his family and many others in the community.

Now a newly appointed board member, Vojak is committed to giving back to others facing similar struggles.

“Being a resident was difficult at first, but then I was grateful to be able to advocate and work with different families to help them improve their lives,” she said. “Now being on the board is an even better experience, and I’m very happy to help so many people.”

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 4.jpg — Village of Hope board members, from left: Trisha Vojak, Cheryl Yarnott, Susan Snider, Mary Fairbanks and Dee Sweeney (not pictured are Terri Crews and Ricki Scheela), hold up a check for the funds collected for the organization during a fundraiser of over 100 women. Who Care event on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

A growing community effort

The previous 100+ Women Who Care event, held in April, raised $11,700 for Evergreen Youth and Family Services. At Thursday’s event, Executive Director Ebony Warren explained how the funds have made a significant difference to their organization.

“The money raised allowed us to use it to improve the failing security system at our shelter,” she said. “Just to make sure we are able to keep young people safe.”

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 11.jpg — Evergreen Youth and Family Services Executive Director Ebony Warren shares the impact of the funds they received during the spring performance of the 100+ Women Who Care event.

With this month’s $14,000 donation to the Village of Hope, the initiative continues to expand its impact. Mack added that more money is sometimes donated and accounted for after the event, so the final donation may even end up being a bit higher.

Plans are already underway for the next event in April 2025, the date and location of which will be announced. For more information, visit 100+ Women Who Care

Facebook page

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