Carbondale’s Sopris 100 Who Care is preparing for a changing of the guard at their upcoming event on June 26 at the RVR Barn. This community entity, formed in 2018, started as a group of women, many of whom were or still are educators, who wanted to come together and find a way to give back to the community. The group has since given away more than $80,000 to recipients such as The Freedom Center, Family Resource Center, Pathfinders, Patrick’s Place (Stepping Stones), Battlement to Bells Anti-Trafficking Task Force, La Clínica del Pueblo and The Sopris Sun — thank you!
At these gatherings, members and the community come together to pool funds and nominate local nonprofits and other causes. The only stipulation for a recipient to receive approximately $10,000 is to be non-religious, non-political and have a positive impact on the community. Participants write the names of their nominations on a piece of paper, three of which are then drawn from a hat and voted on by those in attendance. The winner collects the whole sum each year.
Bonnie Cretti, the current president of this chapter and a key figure who helped spearhead the group’s formation, looks forward to passing the torch to up-and-coming president Rachel Menke, for whom she expressed gratitude and confidence.
“Rachel does not have a problem getting up in front of the multitudes and being the master of ceremonies and being sort of the organizer. So she took that, and then other people duly took the remaining positions,” Cretti said.
Menke, a full time nurse practitioner and long-time local, said she is honored to be stepping into the president role. She expressed deep gratitude and admiration for Cretti, who she describes as a friend and mentor, and the other women who got Sopris 100 Who Care started, including Jennifer Carney, Cathie Farrar, Jamie Maybon and Cindy Nett.
“[Bonnie] is this amazing human being who is humble about everything,” Menke stated. “I have a unique relationship with her. She wasn’t my teacher, but she knew my family growing up in a small town. She’s been here for over 40 years and knew my husband’s family. I haven’t been here that long, but with that dynamic, she’s also been like a mentor for me.”
Menke explained how good it has been not to have to wait to retire to be intimately involved in giving back to the community. While it typically takes a considerable amount of time to plan events and put things together, the laid-back nature of these fundraising gatherings makes giving back more accessible.
“My life is pretty busy, and while [Sopris 100 Who Care] does require time and commitments, it is so cooperative, seamless and simple,” Menke said. “One thing I have learned being a part of this is I don’t have to wait until I am not working anymore and in my 60s to make a big difference to the community.”
Another member of this cause, Jeannie Perry, will be taking on more hands-on tasks for the chapter. Having been involved in behind-the-scenes work, she is excited to see these shifts happening, which she said is a great way to get folks to come together, regardless of if they’ve known each other for years or have just met.
“I was asked to jump in and get involved by Rachel, who is my friend and neighbor,” Perry told The Sopris Sun. “I am a native to the Roaring Fork Valley, and I’m going to be 55 this year, and yet I show up at these events, and there are women I don’t know and I’m like, ‘How is this possible?’ It’s wonderful to see a bunch of old friends, to meet new friends, and I’m looking forward to getting the word out and bringing more and more people into the fold.”
Perry emphasized the importance of chapters like this, especially in communities where there is a significant gap in access to particular needs scattered throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.
“I think this valley is a hard place to live, especially where the spectrum is so large. You have people who have so much and people who are just struggling to get by, day by day. It feels good to see everyone come together and support someone in need when they need it,” Perry expressed.
This event will be catered as usual by Philip Kendzior and Pan and Fork and Sopris Liquor & Wine. For more information or to get on the guest list, email Sopris100whocare@gmail.com