STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
100 Men Who Care has donated $15,700 to three organizations on the front lines of the pandemic.
During their last quarterly meeting of 2020, the men donated:
- $5,550 to The Blaine County Charitable Fund, which has awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to more than 150 households needing help paying their rent, utility bills, insurance and other bills even though they may work at one of the area’s 12,500 jobs.
The fund saw a slowdown over summer as federal assistance came online and eviction relief was passed out, but applications increased 300 percent in September. Eighty percent of applicants have not been able to return to work full time in an area, which has one of the largest income gaps in the nation—19th at last look.
- $4,750 to the Blaine County Housing Foundation, which gives $500 grants to renters and homeowners to help with rent. About 40 percent of Blaine County’s 23,000 residents live on a survival budget—12 percent below the federal poverty level.
- $5,450 to the Salvation Army of Blaine County, which assists with rent, utilities, doctor’s bills, dentist bills, automobile payments and groceries. The Army works closely with many of the local non-profits and typically provides between $200 and $500 worth of financial assistance per family.
“2020 started out innocently enough, but everything changed in February as the pandemic began. I am so proud that 100 Men who Care dedicated our efforts to support those most affected in our community by COVID-19,” said Founder Marty Lyon.
Indeed, 100 Men who care gave $11,300 at its January 2020 meeting to the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, targeting its efforts to provide skiing at Rotarun Ski Area for children who might not otherwise get the opportunity to ski.
In April the men donated $20,750 to organizations on the frontlines of addressing the COVID pandemic, such as The Hunger Coalition, The Senior Connection, The Advocates, The Crisis Hotline and NAMI-WRV.
In July, they donated $12,200 to organizations trying to close the education gap created by online learning. The groups receiving funds were Nosotros Unidos, I Have a Dream Foundation and The Space, which provides academic counseling for those hoping to go to college.
The latest effort supported organizations serving those who are unemployed or underemployed—the organizations nominated by various members of 100 Men Who Care.
Given the shift to funding more than one organization per cycle, the grassroots organization supported 12 organizations, rather than the customary four they have supported each year in past years. And the men gave record high gifts, averaging $15,000 per meeting.
100 Men Who Care was formed eight years ago. Each man contributes $100 at each quarterly meeting; the pooled donations are awarded a nonprofit organization or organizations of the men’s choice.
The organization has donated a quarter million dollars--$252,200—since its first meeting in 2013.
The 100 Men Who Care will meet again by Zoom in January 2021. To learn more, visit www.100menwhocarewoodrivervalley.com.