By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington Chapter of 100 Women Who Care hosted its first quarterly giving event of 2026 on Thursday, January 15, at Hay Jay Cafe in Bennington. The evening drew 35 women in person, along with additional members contributing donations remotely or in advance. The event spotlighted presentations from three impactful local nonprofit organizations: Bennington Community Theatre (BCT), Release Inc., and Memories for Kids. After heartfelt presentations and a democratic vote, Bennington Community Theatre was named the recipient of the collective donation.
100 Women Who Care is a national movement of giving circles where women pool their resources for high-impact philanthropy. In each local chapter, members commit to donating $100 at quarterly meetings (typically three per year), enabling the group to award substantial grants to a chosen local nonprofit in a single evening. Molly Hoge welcomed the group and outlined the evening’s process saying, “The purpose of us all here tonight is to make a donation. Collectively. We vote on who the recipient is and we’re able to bless one of our local nonprofits with a larger donation than any single donation has on an impact.”
She detailed the QR codes for voting, donating (via the Community Foundation for a one-time $100 or recurring $25 monthly), and joining as a member, noting that members pledge to contribute at each of the three annual events, even if unable to attend. Hoge stressed fairness by asking nonprofit representatives to step out before voting and encouraged broader support: “First and foremost, like them, follow their pages on social media. That’s a free way to give some shout outs to local organizations… check out their social media pages like share. Follow all of those things to help them increase their impact too.”
The three nominated organizations shared their missions and needs:
– Bennington Community Theatre (BCT) is a young, all-volunteer grassroots organization founded just over two years ago in Bennington. It focuses on providing cultural and educational opportunities through live theatrical productions, workshops, and community participation, bringing people together to experience and create theater right in their hometown.
– Release Inc. is a faith-based nonprofit serving children, youth, and families in crisis across the community. With a mission to share “the life-changing love of Jesus Christ” and help individuals become “safe, together, healthy, [and] free,” it offers mentoring, foster care, in-home social work, mental health services, and support programs to provide hope and stability during difficult times.
– Memories for Kids is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to granting unforgettable family experiences for children who have a parent battling stage IV cancer. By creating tailored, lifelong memories (like special trips or activities) the organization supports families through one of life’s most challenging periods, helping preserve joy and connection amid hardship.
Attendees enjoyed a gift card raffle amid the presentations, with Hoge noting the common challenge: “every single giving event, the most difficult thing about this is you’re going to want to vote for all three… You are absolutely going to want to vote for all three. You’re going to have to pick one.”
Bennington Community Theatre was ultimately selected, a proud moment for the emerging group on its second presentation to the chapter. They were awarded a total of $4,400. The group also applied for additional funding through the Schulze Family Foundation, which often provides donation matching for 100 Women Who Care chapters nationwide. Blake Thompson, BCT President, shared the deep appreciation felt by the organization.
“We are so honored to receive this award from the group,” Thompson said, reflecting on the tough competition. “This was our second time presenting and we saw so many worthy nonprofits at both presentations… receiving this means a great deal.” As a grassroots, all-volunteer effort started just over two years ago, he emphasized fiscal responsibility: “We have to be very mindful of every dollar. We take pride in the fact that we are an all volunteer run organization which allows all of our funds we raise to go directly back towards our mission.” These funds, he added, “will be substantial in achieving that goal this year!”
A key recent milestone is the acquisition of a dedicated rehearsal and storage space. Donna Dahlsten, Vice President, explained how this upgrade builds on past collaborations: “From the beginning, we have been fortunate to work with Ridgewood Senior Living for rehearsal space. However, the new rehearsal and storage space provides a dedicated environment for practice and better accommodates large groups.” The facility offers greater scheduling flexibility and room for set building, choreography, prop storage, costumes, and more, enhancing production quality overall.
The group also launched the $100 Character Club as an annual fundraiser to help cover costs and sustain operations. Members receive perks like exclusive T-shirts, playbill recognition, early ticket access, and reserved seating, plus a chance to win a random walk-on role in a show—the first drawing will award a cameo in the upcoming spring production of The Addams Family Musical.
With an ambitious year ahead, BCT plans to expand opportunities for people of all ages to participate in or enjoy theater. Board member Chentel Wanek noted: “Our plan is to continue to offer opportunities for people of all ages to participate in or enjoy theatre. These funds will allow us to explore additional partnerships and collaborations to enhance our offerings.”
Thompson outlined broader ambitions: “Getting our name out there will always be something we strive to do, especially being fairly new. Growing audiences is important to share our mission and the talents on stage. In addition, as we gain a rehearsal space and add to our season, sustaining the caliber of performances that we are known for is a must.”
Dahlsten invited the community to get involved beyond attending shows: “We always welcome volunteers. The community can volunteer time for various roles, from acting to working behind the scenes. In addition, the community can spread the word about upcoming shows and events through social media and word of mouth.” She encouraged families to support youth involvement in workshops and classes, participation in fundraisers like the Character Club (details on their website), and advocacy for the arts in schools and the wider community.
The event highlighted the transformative power of collective giving in Bennington, with 100 Women Who Care continuing to amplify local impact through targeted support.
