TROY, N.Y. — Capital District Women Veterans (CDWV) has been selected as the fourth-quarter recipient of a charitable donation of over $20,000 from 100 Women Who Care Albany (100WWC), the local chapter of a national non-profit organization that gives to worthy causes four times a year. CDWV founder and Executive Director Christine Renn will be putting the money towards Christopher House, the women veterans’ shelter on 1st Ave that she opened earlier this year.
At each quarterly meeting of 100 Women Who Care Albany, members nominate charity agencies in Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady counties that they think deserve funding. Per the organization’s website, “Capital District organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-deductible status are eligible. The organization cannot have a religious or political component. National organizations are only eligible if the funds will be used in the Capital District.” Three names are drawn out of a basket, and the agencies that are drawn have a chance to pitch their cause to the members of 100WWC. A vote is taken, and the winning agency receives a donation. Each member of 100WWC donates $100 every quarter, for a total of $400 annually, that goes into the donation pool for recipients.
100WWC member Madeline Cafiero nominated CDWV four times before the agency was pulled out of the basket and won the vote. Agencies that are chosen are eligible to be nominated again after a period of two years.
“Women veterans are far more likely to be homeless, and for a myriad of reasons less likely to access benefits,” said Cafiero, explaining why she nominated CDWV. “The veteran population is also a very niche population to care for, and as a civilian nurse, I can’t know what those needs are because I haven’t served in the military. Having Chris here, she knows their needs. To me, it was a very important program to support. I really needed to do something to help her.”
“This is an agency where you know where your money is going,” added 100WWC co-founding member Jeri Bosman. “It all stays local. One hundred percent of the money goes directly to the recipient agencies. One of the most interesting things about this organization is you find out about all these agencies out there who are helping people. What a wonderful thing Chris is doing, it’s so emotional.”
Now in its sixth year of giving, 100WWC has donated almost $350,000 to local agencies. Current membership stands at over 200 local women. At a ceremony on Wednesday, Renn and CDWV board member Jane Cordts were presented with a giant check representing the total donation of $20,700 from 100WWC, and a gift bag containing the actual donation – 207 checks for $100 each. Present at the ceremony were all three original co-founding members of 100WWC, Jeri Bosman, Peg Donovan, and Sandra Alinger.
“This is our first large donation,” said Renn, who will be using the funds to finish furnishing Christopher House and hopefully have it ready to start accepting applications by Veterans Day. “It’s surreal – it’s hard for me to grasp that I’ve finally got everything I need to get ready to take in occupants. It’s a major milestone. I feel honored to be selected, and honored that Madeline so steadfastly supported me.”
For more information about 100 Women Who Care Albany, visit their website at https://100wwcalbany.org/. They are always interested in new members and individual donations from the community.
For more information about Capital District Women Veterans and Christopher House, visit https://www.cdwv.org/. They are always interested in donations and volunteers.
