Beth Dillinger Foundation takes home $15,000 in 100 Women Who Care event

What kind of impact can 100 women have? More than you might think. In its debut, 100 Women Who Care St. Petersburg, a nationwide movement gathering 100 women each with a $100 check, together selected the Beth Dillinger Foundation to send home with the event’s grand prize.

More than 100 women gathered at the Snell Isle Women’s Club Wednesday for the inaugural event, the first in a series of quarterly events, in which three nonprofits pitch for the prize. Wednesday night, the $10,000 gathered from the 100 women has a pending match of $5,000 by the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, which would send the Beth Dillinger Foundation home with $15,000. 

The Boys & Girls Club of Suncoast, Academy Prep and the Beth Dillinger Foundation each gave a five- minute pitch for the prize, followed by five minutes for Q & A. Then, each woman in attendance voted for their choice to take home the prize.

The Beth Dillinger Foundation was the winner by popular vote.

The Beth Dillinger Foundation was established in memory of Bob and Kay Dillinger’s late daughter, Beth, who took her own life in 2006. The foundation is volunteer-run and provides numerous support services and education to youth in need. 

The foundation has five distinct programs, many in partnership with the Public Defender’s Office, as Beth’s father, Bob Dillinger, is the Public Defender for Pinellas and Pasco Counties. The Foundation’s programs and services including the Beth Dillinger Scholarship Fund, providing scholarships for low-income students; Beth’s Closet at PACE Center for Girls; Beth’s Corner at Ready for Life, for children aging out of foster care; The Hope Chest at the Public Defender’s Offices in Clearwater and Dade City; and Nourish to Flourish, a partnership with 6th Circuit Public Defender’s office to feed chronically hungry children in Pinellas County.

100 Women Who Care was founded by Karen Dunigan in November 2006 in Jackson, Michigan. Dunigan recognized that it was a simple way to raise money quickly for local nonprofits and causes. Her inaugural group of 100 women each wrote a check for $100 directly to the winning charity, raising $10,000 to buy 300 new baby cribs. Since then, their movement has spread across the country. Each chapter is independently founded and managed. The founders of the 100 Women Who Care St. Petersburg are Christina Noordstar and Lauren Brigman.

For more information on 100 Women Who Care St. Petersburg visit its Facebook page here. 

If you would like to donate to The Beth Dillinger Foundation, visit its website here.