STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
100 Men Who Care will target children and puppies when they gather for their first quarterly meeting of the new year on Jan. 10.
The men’s philanthropic organization, founded 11 years ago, will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the Senior Connection at 721 3rd Avenue South in Hailey.
The meeting location is part of their new initiative to visit some of the organizations that they have given donations to.
At Tuesday’s meeting men will hear pitches for three organizations:
- I Have a Dream Foundation-Idaho, nominated by Brent Robinson, provides academic, social and cultural enrichment programming for low-income youth from elementary school through high school and post-secondary education. They provide guaranteed tuition support for Dreamers who graduate high school and, so far, they’ve had 100 percent graduation success with the first 45 students to be involved in the program, as well as 10 additional Dream leadership students known as Lewis Scholars.
The organization is so-named because founders believe that, given equitable access to resources, children can realize their potential and achieve their dreams.
Funds would be used to buy art supplies, educational games, books, snacks, enrichment programming, one-to-one tutoring and family engagement programs. The elementary program takes place afterschool five days a week and continues in summer with special camps.
Right now I Have a Dream Foundation is serving more than 110 low-income students from elementary through post-secondary. And it’s partnering with other programs to serve even more students.
- Mountain Humane, nominated by Pierce Scranton, was established as a 501C-3 organization just over 50 years ago in 1972 to find homes for stray cats and dogs.
In 2021 the organization performed 2,707 medical services, provided behavioral support to 288 animals, provided 16,102 pounds of pet food to 472 families who were finding it difficult to provide their animals the proper nutrition and found forever homes for 500 homeless animals. The shelter has rescued numerous animals from hoarding situations, including one instance where it rescued 52 chihuahuas from a dairy farm in Jerome, giving them vaccinations, microchips and either spaying or neutering them before adopting them out.
Eighty-five percent of the organization’s funding comes from individual donations, 10 percent comes from The Barkin’ thrift store in Hailey and 5 percent comes from adoption and program fees.
Donations can be earmarked for specific purposes like Rocky’s Medical Fund, which ensures that every animal coming through Mountain Humane’s doors receives necessary medical services. The fund is named after a stray cat whose leg was amputated by the Mountain Humane vet after being hit by a car. Mountain Humane eventually found a loving home for the cat.
- The Space, nominated by Richard Stark, offers low-cost and free tutoring to students in grades 6 through 9 whose families qualify for financial assistance. The majority of students benefitting from their services last year received full scholarships.
The Space offers standardized test preparation, college application and essay support, GED preparation and summer enrichment camps and workshops. It also equips students with resources they need to be successful, including snacks and school supplies.
100 Men Who care gave $77,718 in donations to 12 non-profits during 2022, exceeding the previous high in 2020 by $17,368. Since its first meeting in February 2013, it has given $385,838.
The commitment to participate is $100 per meeting, or $400 per year, although men are certainly welcome to give more.
Questions? Call Marty Lyon at 253-209-4586.