Carrie Bonanotte wants to make a difference for nonprofit organizations in the south suburbs, and she wants over 100 other women to do it alongside her.
On Oct. 3, more than 100 women will gather at the Flossmoor Community House at 7 p.m. for the first 100+ Women Who Care South Suburbs of Chicago Chapter meeting.
100+ Women Who Care is an extension of 100 Who Care Alliance, a national organization that forms giving circles to support the work of nonprofit organizations in local communities. The organization has chapters across the country including several in Chicago’s northern and western suburbs.
Bonanotte first heard about 100+ Women Who Care through her aunt who received a donation for her nonprofit, Warm Coats for Cool Kids, from a chapter in Elmhurst, Illinois in 2022. After searching in the Homewood area for a chapter, Bonanotte realized that there was not one in the south suburbs.
Bonanotte is the founder and executive director of The Spotlight Performance Academy, a nonprofit based in Homewood that provides performing arts education to children and adults.
Running the academy has made her familiar with the struggles nonprofit organizations face when searching for funding.
“With changes in the federal government and how they’re allocating money, I foresee it being much harder to obtain grants in the future,” Bonanotte said. “Other nonprofit directors that I know are also having the same struggles in obtaining the funding to keep their work going.”
That is why she feels it is important to bring 100+ Women Who Care to Chicago’s south suburbs to provide support for the hundreds of nonprofits in the area.
“It’s going to be very exciting learning about all the work that’s being done in the community that we might not know about,” Bonanotte said.
The organization is organized for women who want to make an impact in their community but might not have the time to commit to volunteering with local nonprofits.
The chapter will have four, one-hour meetings per year to nominate and vote on which south suburban nonprofit will receive a donation. Each member will write a $100 check to donate to the chapter’s chosen nonprofit.
“I think, in general, everyone would love to help more in their community, but everyone is so pressed for time, so this is a way to in one hour, make a really big impact for an organization,” Bonanotte said. “That’s, I think, a really big draw for the people that are involved already.”
The chapter already has 120 members and is aiming to have 150 members by their first meeting. With 150 members, the chapter will reach Bonanotte’s goal of distributing $60,000 worth of support for nonprofits within the community during its first year.
To get involved or learn more about the chapter’s work, visit the chapter’s Facebook page or email Bonanotte at [email protected].