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Turning $100 Into Thousands: How One Plano Giving Circle Quietly Donated Nearly Half A Million Dollars

Quietly powerful and proudly local, this group proves generosity doesn’t need a spotlight
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Donna Derden, Karen Yoelker, Margaret Dyer, Donna Head, Lisa Rodgers (City House), Barbara Walch and Julie Holmer — all are members of Women Making a Difference in Plano, except Lisa Rodgers, who serves as Volunteer Director at City House. Photo courtesy of Margaret Dyer

What started as a simple idea — 45 women, $100 each — has grown into a community giving circle with a big impact. Since 2012, Women Making a Difference in Plano has awarded more than $456,650 to local nonprofits, all without forming a formal organization, creating a website or collecting dues.

“We’re not a nonprofit,” says charter member Barbara Walch. “We’re just a band of women pooling our money to make a bigger impact than we ever could alone.”

One Gift at a Time

The group meets four times a year, each woman bringing $100. Together, they choose one nonprofit to receive the full amount, usually over $10,000. The latest gift, presented earlier this month, was an $11,500 donation to City House, a Plano-based organization serving at-risk children and young adults across Collin and Denton counties.

Over 1,000 young people turn to City House each year. Their services include:

  • My Friend’s House, an emergency shelter for children ages 0–17

  • Street Outreach, connecting youth ages 16–22 to services

  • Transitional Living, with group homes for ages 18–22

  • SAFE PLACE, a 24/7 crisis network across the region

“Thank you to Lisa Rodgers, volunteer director at City House, for giving us such a thoughtful presentation and answering our questions,” shared current group leads Donna Head and Margaret Dyer.

A Grassroots Legacy

The giving circle’s roots go back to 2012, when the late Mary Beth King introduced the idea after being inspired by her sister’s group in Ohio. Early meetings took place at the Haggard Party Barn. But during the pandemic, the group went virtual — and stayed there.

“Now we nominate, discuss and vote online. And honestly, it works even better for everyone’s schedule,” says Walch.

There’s no application form. No commitment. No red tape. Just impact.

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Margaret Dyer, Lisa Rodgers and Donna Head presenting an $11,500 donation to City House in April 2025. Photo courtesy of Karen Voelker

Every Dollar Counts

Unlike traditional charities, every dollar collected goes straight to the recipient. “There’s no administrative cost. We don’t take a single penny out,” Walch says. “It’s clean, simple, and impactful.”

The model is direct: each quarter, three nonprofits are nominated. After an online discussion, the group votes. The nonprofit with the most votes receives the full donation, while the others remain eligible for future rounds.

Organizations they’ve supported include:

  • Hendrick Scholarship Foundation

  • Lovepacs

  • Agape Resources

  • The Caring Place

  • Veterans Center of North Texas

  • Assistance Center of Collin County

How to Join

“There’s no membership form, no obligation. Just a willingness to give and be part of something meaningful,” says Walch. To join the next giving round, set for July, reach out to:

“It’s one of the most meaningful things I do,” says Walch. “Every single time we give, I feel like we’re changing lives, not just giving money.”

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