Nonprofits in the area are about to get a new source of funding that could make a big impact.
Kim Kitts of Balanced Body Spa in Augusta recently founded 100+ Women Who Care CSRA. It is a chapter of the 100 Who Care Alliance, which has more than 250 branches in North America.
Joining Kitts in the start-up process is Dena Thomas of Martinez, Georgia-based Advanced Services Pest Control.
Kitts lives in North Augusta, and Thomas lives in Beech Island.
"I'm really excited about this, and I hope the fever spreads throughout the community," Kitts said.
The first meeting of 100+ Women Who Care CSRA will be held June 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the West Lake Country Club at 3556 West Lake Drive in Augusta.
"In the last five years or so, I've gotten more into volunteering," Kitts said. "One of my friends sent me a link and said, 'Here's something you might be interested in.' I opened the link (which provided information about the 100 Who Care concept), and then I couldn't stop thinking about it because it's such a great idea."
The CSRA chapter will meet four times a year, and its members will be able to enter local nonprofits in a drawing held at each gathering.
Three charities will be chosen, and then the members who entered them will get five minutes apiece to talk about the organizations.
Afterward, there will be a vote, and every member will write a check for $100 to the charity that wins.
"The goal is to get 100 women as members, but we'll absolutely take more than that," Kitts said. "We'll take as many as we can get. The idea is to raise $10,000 or more in one night for a deserving local nonprofit. That's $40,000 or more annually because we'll be meeting quarterly. Just imagine what that kind of money could do for a homeless shelter or a group that helps animals."
For more information, visit the 100+ Women Who Care CSRA website: www.100womencsra.org. The chapter also has a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/100WomenCSRA.
"It's really easy," Kitts said. "There is no membership fee, but you do have to agree to donate $100 a quarter, which adds up to $400 a year. Everybody I talk to says, 'It sounds wonderful; let's do it.' There are so many worthy causes in the area that deserve our attention."
Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the newspaper since January 2013.