LeAnn Schroeder Hardiek Friendship Endowment Benefits from 100+ Women Who Care

Members of 100+ Women Who Care Effingham County selected the LeAnn Schroeder Hardiek Friendship Endowment as the recipient of the $14,200 contribution collected at its third membership meeting of 2018.

The LeAnn Schroeder Hardiek Friendship Endowment provides cancer patients with gift cards for their young children (age 18 and under). These children are often scared of hospitals and worried about their sick parents. The gift cards are given to area cancer treatment centers and distributed by the staff and are meant to help alleviate the children’s fear and relieve some of the financial burden felt by parents.

Members of 100+ Women Who Care Effingham County celebrated a special milestone during the October meeting, marking $100,000 given back to the community through the giving circle. “We continue to be amazed at the generosity and commitment of the women who belong to this giving circle,” commented Melissa Willenborg, co-chair of 100+ Women Who Care Effingham County. "In less than three years, our group has not only given more than $100,000 back to our community, but has also gained a greater awareness of and appreciation for so many of our areas not for profit entities. It is truly incredible to witness what 140-plus women can accomplish in less than one hour, three times a year!”

100+ Women Who Care Effingham County is hosting a membership kick-off on Thursday, February 21 at Effingham Country Club at 6 p.m. Members join the organization annually and sign a commitment to donate $400 per year. The first $100 commitment supports the 100+ Women Who Care Effingham County Endowment, managed by Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, to address future needs of the community. In addition, every member pledges to donate $100 at each of the meetings for that year (whether they attend or not) to be donated to a selected nonprofit organization in Effingham County.

The 100+ Women Who Care Effingham County Endowment is a fund of Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation. For more information regarding the Community Foundation, visitwww.enrichingourcommunity.org. For more information regarding 100+ Women Who Care, contact Karen Etter (217.254.5593) or Melissa Willenborg (217.343.8436).