ROCHELLE – Thanks to the efforts of three local women, a worldwide organization with chapters throughout the United States and Europe has recently created a local chapter in Ogle County.
100 Women Who Care is an organization with 650 county chapters spread across the United States and Europe. 100 Women Who Care gathers to raise money and make an impact on nonprofit organizations located within the same county as the chapter. The goal of each of the chapters is to donate $10,000 to a local charity in one hour, four times a year by following a formula from the organization.
“Fundraising takes a lot of hours of leg work on the part of the volunteers and with system, only four meetings a year, if we can get 100 women members who are willing to donate $100 we can raise $10,000 in one hour,” explained Deanna Forrest, one of the three founders.

Group members will meet four different times a year for one hour each time, where they will each donate $100 and choose the organization that will receive the $10,000 donation. At the meetings, each member brings a check for $100. Then members nominated organizations to be put into a hat to draw from. Three organizations are drawn at random at the meeting.
Nominating members of each of the chosen organizations make a 5-minute presentation about the organization or charity for the entire group to vote on which cause to support. Once an organization is chosen by the group they receive the funds immediately.
“The organization with the most votes receives our donations and checks are made out directly to that organization on the spot,” Forrest said in a press release.
The other two founding members are Linda Graber and Debby Katzman. The first meeting will be on Jan. 23, at Hickory Grove in Rochelle from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with a social hour and then the official meeting will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The organization is inviting any women to come out and attend and there will also be visitor from the Stephenson County Chapter to help get everything started. The founders think this is an organization that can really impact the county considering the number of charities located within it.
“I am excited to start this adventure with other women in our county, and I know we can do great things for many of the 401 not-for-profit registered charities in our county, while creating a bond of women who truly care about issues regarding children, seniors, and others who have programs for members in our communities,” said Forrest.
The rest of the meetings are set for April 23 at Maxson Riverside Restaurant in Oregon, July 23, at the Holiday Inn Express in Rochelle, and Oct. 22 at Alfano’s Pizza in Rochelle. Attending the first meeting is not a commitment to join, but rather to find out more information about the organization. For more information on any of the founders can be contacted through email at forrestdeanna@hotmail.com, Lingraber204@comcast.net, or kaytiebo@yahoo.com.