100+ Women Who Care event raises $14,000 for Village of Hope

Members of the 100+ Women Who Care committee reveal Village of Hope as the winning nonprofit to receive $14,000 raised during the evening鈥檚 event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

By Ashley McKenzie

November 15, 2024 at 1:26 PM

BEMIDJI 鈥� The newly renovated Fourth Street Lodge was filled with laughter, heartfelt stories and collective generosity on Thursday evening for Bemidji's latest 100+ Women Who Care event.

More than 100 women gathered for the first event to take place in the beautifully restored event space, formerly the Elk鈥檚 Lodge, to raise funds for a selected nonprofit. In under one hour, $14,000 was raised and awarded to a Bemidji nonprofit providing emergency housing and support for families experiencing homelessness.

鈥淭his is more than a fundraiser,鈥� said Kay Mack, 100+ Women Who Care committee member and event host. 鈥淚t's really an opportunity to get together with a bunch of women for such a good reason."

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 12.jpg — Kay Mack, a 100+ Women Who Care committee member, welcomes attendees to the evening鈥檚 fundraising event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

The 100+ Women Who Care initiative provides a simple, quick and impactful way for local women to financially support area nonprofits. The initiative was organized by Mack and her fellow committee members Mary Israelson, Sally Corser, Lisa Bruns, Lisa Hofstad, Courtney Aitken Gifford and Sarah Ek.

Upon arriving, participants donated at least $100 and the funds were then pooled. For every $100 donated, participants received a nomination and voting ticket.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 8.jpg — Linda LaFond hands off a selected nonprofit organization for attendees to hear from and vote on during a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

During the event, four nonprofits were randomly selected from the nominations, and representatives from each organization then gave a three-minute presentation about their mission and impact.

Attendees were then able to vote for the nonprofit they wished to support, with the organization receiving the most votes awarded all of the funds raised.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 5.jpg — Attendees vote for their preferred nonprofit organization to receive funds raised during the 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

The initiative requires no ongoing commitments or additional fundraising, making it an accessible and efficient way to support the community.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 9.jpg — Attendees clap for a speaker during a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

This year鈥檚 participants

Four nonprofits were selected at random during Thursday鈥檚 event, each represented by a spokesperson who shared the organization鈥檚 mission and impact.

represented by Maggie Carlson and Sue Liedl shared the organization's focus on building peace and fostering systemic change through prevention tools and community collaboration.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 7.jpg — Maggie Carlson, left, and Sue Liedl of Peacemaker Resources encourage attendees to vote for the organization as their preferred nonprofit to receive funds raised during a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

board member Vicki Ross-Rhoades shared about the current struggles facing the regional performing arts center, which is home to the oldest professional summer stock theater company in Minnesota.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 6.jpg — Vicki Ross-Rhoades with the Paul Bunyan Playhouse and Chief Theater encourages attendees to vote for the organization as their preferred nonprofit to receive funds raised during a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

CEO and owner Margret Kelsey expounded on the organization's mission, which provides inpatient residential treatment and long-term recovery support for individuals facing addiction.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 3.jpg — Margret Kelsey with the Northern Minnesota Addiction Wellness Center encourages attendees to vote for the organization as their preferred nonprofit to receive funds raised during a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

board member Trisha Vojak detailed the organization's offerings including emergency housing and support for families experiencing homelessness, helping them transition to permanent housing.

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 2.jpg — Village of Hope board member Trisha Vojak shares her story with attendees, encouraging them to vote for the organization as their preferred nonprofit to receive funds raised during a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

After presentations from the four organizations, attendees were able to cast their votes, ultimately awarding Village of Hope the $14,000 raised during the evening.

Village of Hope鈥檚 impact

During her three-minute presentation, Vojak also shared her personal connection to Village of Hope, explaining how the organization helped her and her family during a rough period of their life.

鈥淲e were no longer able to pay our bills, which quickly turned into not being able to pay our rent,鈥� she shared. 鈥淲e had no other choice than to leave what we called home behind."

After finding refuge at Village of Hope during this time of crisis, Vojak shared how the nonprofit helped her family meet their basic needs and begin to thrive.

鈥淭hey give a hand up, not a handout,鈥� Vojak said, before expounding on more of the services Village of Hope has provided her family and many others throughout the community.

Now a newly appointed board member, Vojak is committed to giving back to others facing similar struggles.

鈥淎t first it was a hard time being a resident, and then I was grateful to be able to be an advocate and work with different families to help improve their lives,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ow, to be a part of the board is an even better experience, and I am so happy to help so many people."

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 4.jpg — Village of Hope board members, from left: Trisha Vojak, Cheryl Yarnott, Susan Snider, Mary Fairbanks and Dee Sweeney, (not pictured are Terri Crews and Ricki Scheela), hold up a check for funds raised for the organization during a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

A growing community effort

The previous 100+ Women Who Care event, held in April, raised $11,700 for Evergreen Youth and Family Services. During Thursday's event, Executive Director Ebony Warren shared how the funds made a significant difference for their organization.

鈥淭he money that was raised, we were actually able to use that to help upgrade our failing security system at our shelter,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust to make sure that we're able to keep youth safe."

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 11.jpg — Evergreen Youth and Family Services Executive Director Ebony Warren shares the impact of the funds they received from the spring rendition of the 100+ Women Who Care event.

With this month鈥檚 $14,000 donation to Village of Hope, the initiative continues to expand its impact. Mack added that more money is sometimes donated and tallied after the event, so the final donation may even end up being a little higher.

Plans are already underway for the next event in April 2025, with the date and location to be announced. For more information, visit the 100+ Women Who Care or

111624.N.BP.100WOMEN - 10.jpg — An attendee makes her way through the food line during a 100+ Women Who Care event on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Fourth Street Lodge in Bemidji.

By Ashley McKenzie

Ashley McKenzie is a news reporter at the Bemidji Pioneer with a focus on local government, crime and courts. She is originally from southern North Carolina.