After four years of giving together virtually, members of 100 People Who Care Brant met in person for the first time Monday evening to celebrate a milestone: more than $100,000 raised for local charities in Brant, Brantford, and Six Nations.
The group, which follows a collective giving model, was launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the first fully virtual chapters of the 100 Who Care Alliance, a global organization promoting local philanthropy.
Despite never having gathered in person until now, the Brant chapter has successfully mobilized individual donors to contribute more than $100,000 to grassroots organizations across the region.
“This is our $100,000 milestone event,” said Donna Ireland, a member of the Steering Committee for 100 People Who Care Brant, in an interview with BrantBlog at the event.
“We’ve been strangers working together to make these donations. Tonight is the first time we’re seeing who’s actually in the group with us.”
The event, held at Stillwaters Plate & Pour in downtown Paris, brought together dozens of members who have participated in quarterly giving cycles — each one raising between $6,500 and $8,500.
The group operates entirely online, making philanthropy more accessible for busy individuals.
Members nominate local charities with immediate, actionable needs, and then vote on where the pooled donations will go.
The funds are transferred directly to the selected organizations, with no portion retained by the group itself.
“We’re not focused on national organizations,” said Ireland. “We’re learning about small community groups we often didn’t even know existed. And a big part of our model is education — helping members discover ways they can get more involved locally.”
That educational focus has already spurred further community engagement. Ireland shared that one member, approaching retirement, has been compiling a list of local nonprofits she plans to volunteer with — all groups she discovered through the giving process.
The initiative has supported a wide range of causes, including school breakfast programs, food banks, mentorship programs, and facilities for children with developmental disabilities.
Ireland emphasized the impact of this flexible, grassroots model.
“It’s a windfall for these organizations — unbudgeted money that lets them move forward with projects they might have had on the back burner.”
Looking ahead, the group hopes to grow its membership and expand its impact.
“Our goal is simply to keep educating the community and attracting more members,” said Ireland.
“The more people we have, the more we can give.”
Membership is open year-round.
More information is available at 100peoplewhocare.ca or through the group’s public Facebook page, where local charities are invited to share events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities.
The evening’s gathering marked a turning point for the group — not just a celebration of funds raised, but of connections formed.
For the first time, the strangers behind the generosity became a community in person.
