100 Women Who Care Calgary was founded in the fall of 2013 by Alison Lapczuk and Christy McMurray. It was the first chapter of its kind in Western Canada.

The idea is simple and powerful: remove the barriers to giving, make learning about local needs easy, and turn generosity into action. Creating change becomes as simple as casting a vote and writing a cheque.

What started as a grassroots idea has grown into a movement. There are now hundreds of chapters across Canada — for women, men, and even kids — and chapters worldwide.

In our first 12 years, we have raised over $1.2 million for local Calgary charities — and we’re just getting started.

How It All Began in Calgary

Alison was inspired after attending a single meeting in Windsor, Ontario in August 2013. She credits the spark to her mother-in-law, Donna Lapczuk, who was a member of that chapter. One month later, in September, 100 Women Who Care Calgary was born.

Christy McMurray was actually the first member — she signed up on Facebook before the page was even public. Inspired by the Kingston, Ontario chapter, Christy jumped in with both feet and officially became co-founder on October 3, 2013. A strong partnership formed, and the Calgary chapter took root.

Part of a Growing Movement

Our chapter was the first “100 Who Care” chapter in Western Canada, but many more have since launched. Today, there are hundreds of chapters worldwide, all built on the same belief: small individual contributions, when combined, can create extraordinary local impact.

The original concept began with Karen Dunigan in Jackson, Michigan in 2006.

Karen learned about local mothers bringing newborns home without safe places for their babies to sleep — some were using drawers or boxes. The need: $10,000 to provide portable cribs and bedding.

She realized she could call ten people for $1,000 each… or gather 100 women to give $100.

She chose the second option.

At the first meeting, in one hour, the group raised $12,800 — more than needed — ensuring babies had safe places to sleep.

From that moment, a global movement was born.

Karen believed that when people come together, generosity multiplies. Individually we care. Together, we create powerful change in our communities.

And that’s exactly what continues to happen here in Calgary.