A local group of men is making a financial impact with charitable organizations and causes serving communities in Marion County, Prairie City, and Monroe.
100+ Men Red Rock is a group of local men who give back to the Lake Red Rock area by donating funds to non-profit organizations and other causes that serve the Red Rock region. n 2022, the organization donated $60,475 to four local organizations – Forward with Faith, the Knoxville Police Department, PCM Clothing Closet, and Pathways of Pella. Since 2015, the group has raised and given back $207,475 to local entities.
“While the concept is fairly simple, the impact is relatively significant and life-changing for many recipients,” explained Tony Briggs, 100+ Men Red Rock President.
The group holds quarterly meetings to support local causes using a simple model: 100+ participating men x $100 contribution = $10,000+ to a local charity in the Red Rock region (Marion County, Prairie City, and Monroe). Each member commits to donating $100 per quarterly meeting ($400 per year).
Only members can nominate the organizations for consideration, and they must reside in and serve Red Rock communities. Three causes are chosen randomly at the meeting, and the nominating member will be given five minutes to make a presentation on who the organization is, what it does, and its current needs. The group will then vote by secret ballot, with the majority rules.
With 100+ Men’s gift, Forward with Faith, an organization that provides independent living experiences for adults with disabilities, was able to complete a therapy room and purchase additional furniture for one of their homes.
Scott DeVries reported that the PCM Clothing Closet has enjoyed a similar experience regarding the community’s response to 100+ Men’s donation to his organization.
“Community members who saw 100+ Men’s donation featured on social media and in the media have been inspired to support us,” said DeVries. “We received a washer and dryer, $5,000 in additional cash donations, and increased community awareness about our organization, which has led to more clothing donations and more visitor traffic.”
Similarly, Pathways of Pella has used a portion of 100+ Men’s donation to support its move to a new location in the ServPro building near Walmart. Pathways of Pella is a non-profit organization that provides support for individuals who need assistance with pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections.
According to Bryan Smith, Pathways of Pella is also using the funds to purchase new tablets and other resources that will aid in their transition to a completely paperless process, from client check-in through the visit and after.
Knoxville Police Chief Aaron Fuller is also appreciative of 100+ Men’s donation to the Knoxville Police Department. He was able to purchase 14 ballistic helmets, three rifle-rated shields in two different sizes, and one entry tool set for forcing entry into metal doorways.
“We’ve been using the shields as part of our training and plan to incorporate the helmets and entry tools in future trainings,” said Chief Fuller.
Meetings are held in a different Red Rock community each quarter. To view upcoming meeting dates and locations and to learn more about 100+ Men Red Rock, visit online at https://100menredrock.com, on Facebook (@100MenRedRock), or on Instagram (@100momrr).