Our Story
How we started:
Katherine Kelly had been a member of the original Prince Edward Island chapter based in Charlottetown since June 2014 and after attending a couple of meetings she decided to ask some Summerside area friends if they were interested in joining. Long time friend and fellow community volunteer, Marie Salamoun-Dunne was quick to accept. While traveling from Summerside to the March 2015 meeting the idea of forming a Prince County chapter was sparked.
Summerside business woman, Nicolle Morrison, was keen to help get the group going and the three-some committed to working toward launching the new chapter in September 2015. Adding a Chartered Accountant was a priority as per the 100 Women Who Care guidelines – Krista MacDougall, partner at Toombs, Howard, MacDougall Chartered Accountants Inc. was willing to accept the challenge. Elizabeth Noonan, well known organizer par excellence, who had also been a member of the Charlottetown based chapter, was invited to round out the Organizing Committee.
With the help of Aileen Matters who spearheaded the development of the first PEI chapter, these five women worked diligently over the spring and summer recruiting members, developing materials and organizing to bring 100 Women Who Care – Prince County PEI to fruition. The inaugural meeting was held September 10, 2015 with a total of 90 members.
Part of an International Alliance of 100 Who Care
Our chapter is the second chapter in Prince Edward Island and to the best of our knowledge the seventeenth chapter in Canada. According to the 100 Who Care Alliance website there are approximately 350 chapters throughout the world – including 100 Women Who Care, 100 Men Who Care, 100 Kids Who Care, 100 People Who Care etc. The idea originated with a woman named Karen Dunigan of Jackson, MI, who learned of mothers needing baby cribs and asked some friends to each give $100 … the rest is history and is a true attestation to the power of one.