WESTLOCK - Youth Unlimited YFC (Youth for Christ) are the latest recipients of the Westlock 100 Women Who Care funding, receiving $7,700 recently.
The group collectively pool $100 each quarter of the year to provide funding for various non-profit groups in the community — since forming they’ve handed out $161,750 to 17 non-profit organizations in the area.
The Westlock & District Community Hall and Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill were the other two nominees for this quarter’s funding and Deneen Ducharme, who brought the 100 Women Who Care concept to Westlock, said the voting was very close once again.
In their Nov. 18 presentation, given by Youth Unlimited community outreach director Sarah Greenfield and executive director Marnie Hoetmer, along with a short video, outlined their plans for the funding.
“Specific to the nomination, the three areas of focus are music, art and multigenerational,” Greenfield said.
She added it is, “An opportunity for youth to have spaces to express themselves, to develop relationships, resiliency, skills and have fun. It takes a village to raise a child, so with intentional programming, we have an opportunity to bridge meaningful intergenerational connections.”
Both she and Hoetmer expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the group.
Anyone who would like to help the Youth Unlimited can contact either Hoetmer or Greenfield at the youth center by calling 780-349-6464. Youth Unlimited is a faith-based non-denominations, not-for-profit organization focused on supporting youth age eight to 25 years.
How 100 Women works
Each quarter there are three nominees for the funds, who then give five-minute presentations to the 100 Women Who Care group outlining their plans.
Following the presentations, the group then vote by secret ballot to select the recipient.
Before COVID-19, the group met in person and heard the presentations live, and cast their ballots that same evening, with the results known almost immediately. But in the more recent times, presentations are done by video, and streamed out to the members, who cast their ballots online.
Although the number of participants in the program are down slightly, Ducharme said she is still pleased with the commitment by women in the community. She is hopeful when the economy picks up that the number of contributors to the program will also pick up once again.
Les Dunford, TownandCountryToday.com
