BY MICHELE MILLER
What’s What New Port Richey
April 23, 2022
For over 24 years Belinda Schultz has spent her spare time advocating for children as a trained and certified volunteer for the Guardian ad Litem Program in Pasco County
It’s a worthwhile cause with flip sides that unfold in a courtroom where a judge often makes a ruling weighed on the observations of people like Schultz who are there to speak up for children who have been neglected and/or abused.
“There are tragic stories. There are happy stories,” says Schultz, who works a day job as a doctor of physical therapy and has also volunteered on medical mission trips in third-world countries with her husband, who is a nurse.
“A few times I came away in tears and thought I’m not sure that I can do this, but I’m absolutely sure that I have to because there are so many kids that need a voice,” she said, noting the 1,150 Pasco County children currently in the dependency system.
“Sometimes I walk out (of the courtroom) and I think that was better than a paycheck,” she said. “I came to the conclusion that volunteering was good for my soul.”
Volunteering is essential in serving these children, but so are monetary donations that pay for things like dance lessons, soccer or basketball leagues, tutoring, grief counseling, and other enhancements that might help bring a sense of normalcy to a kid moving from place to place in the foster care system, some toting their belongings in a trash bag. (P.S. Suitcases are on the GAL wishlist)
Some of those kids might have those needs met through a donation Schultz helped procure as a member of a newly formed charitable group called 100 + Women Who Care Pasco.
The local chapter was started in February 2022 by Pasco residents Janie Greene and Susan Rossi and is an offshoot of a broader, international membership that got its start in Michigan in 2006.
The idea is brilliant in its simplicity – an easily accessible tool for potential donors with busy lives who want to make a difference in their own community.
The premise – every three months a group of women – preferably numbering over 100 – gather to hear five-minute pitches from representatives of three Pasco-based 501(c)(3) charities that have been nominated by members. That’s followed by a five-minute question and answer session. Members then take a vote on which of the three charities they would like to support, with all funds going to the winning charity.
The required pledge is $100 per session. Donations can be made by one individual or a group of two to four, who can each make $25 or $50 donations, with one vote per group. Members write a check directly to the winning charity. When all is said and done, it takes about one hour to drum up what is hopefully a hefty donation, with members keeping the tax donation for themselves.
“That’s the beauty of it. There’s no bookkeeping. We don’t even have to have a bank account,” said Greene.
“The financial commitment can be larger and becomes more affordable and more motivating because there are more people,” said Rossi, who works as a mortgage loan officer for USF Federal Credit Union. “I love the fact that there are however many (women) from our immediate community getting together and doing something really good.”
Photo Courtesy 100+Women Who Care, Pasco,
Greene, who volunteers for various local charities, said she was inspired to launch a Pasco branch of 100+Women Who Care after joining a well-established chapter in Pinellas County. As a member there she nominated Cindy’s Pets, a Pasco nonprofit that delivers pet food and supplies for seniors enrolled in the Meal and Wheels Pasco program, many of who were found to be forgoing nourishment for themselves in order to care for their pets.
“We won $11,000,” Green said, noting the fortuitous timing in that the pandemic had put a stranglehold on donations.
Greene recruited her good friend, Susan Rossi, to come on board as a partner. Heading the steering committee is Missy Nurrenbrock, whose family started Cindy’s Pets in 2010 in memory of Cindy Allgood, a dear family member and “pet extraordinaire.”
Nurrenbrock, who is the Head of School at Genesis Preparatory School in New Port Richey, also offered a classroom to meet at the Genesis Elementary School for the group’s first gathering. (Note: Future meetings are being held at Journey Church in New Port Richey. More info below.)
On February 15, 2022, about 38 women came out to hear about three featured charities at the first meeting of 100+ Women Who Care Pasco.
Belinda Schultz shared her story with the state-run Guardian ad Litem program before introducing the agency’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Larnelle Scott.
“As the song goes, “I ain’t too proud to beg,” said Scott, who spoke passionately of the need for the community to pitch in, noting that “87 cents of every dollar collected goes directly to the children.”
Patty Templeton, executive director of One Community Now, spoke about the faith-based organization that offers resources such as financial and employment assistance for families and veterans as well as sponsoring the Pack-A-Sack program that helps provide meals for chronically hungry children over weekends and during school breaks.
Speaking for the End Recidivism Project Extreme was Julia Pauls. She talked about a system that is way too easy to get pulled back into for way too many, how for “27 years the love of my life went in and out of prison” and the cause she founded to help formerly incarcerated individuals such as her husband adjust to society.
All the charities were deserving said Greene, noting that organizations that do not win can be nominated again.
An added bonus is that 100+Women Who Care, Pasco, offers charities an opportunity to get the word out about what they do and possibly attract volunteers and donations from members who might not have otherwise known about the cause.
“I am immensely proud that (Guardian ad Litem) won the inaugural award and I hope with all my heart that we double and triple our membership,” Belinda Schultz said, adding that she “loves the specificity” of being able to donate to charities within the local community.
“Hopefully we will be able to spread the word,” she said, noting that she had recruited three friends and would be willing to help match potential donors looking to split the $400 annual pledge.
Are you in?
Future meetings of 100+Women Who Care Pasco will be at 7 p.m. on May 17, August 16, and November 15 at Journey Church, 6345 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey,FL, 34652
For more information on organizations featured in this story, please visit these websites:
- 100 Women + Who Care Pasco
- Guardian ad Litem Program in Pasco County
- One Community Now
- Cindy’s Pets
- Meal and Wheels Pasco
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