A new philanthropic and civic group in Phoenixville is looking for a few good men to help make a difference in the community.
The group — 100 Men of Phoenixville — is dedicated to creating a network of men interested in fostering community camaraderie through local nonprofits’ support.
Led by a steering committee of nine members, the group seeks at least 100 members to each make a $100 donation — to raise $10,000. Each member who donates has the opportunity to nominate an organization they think would benefit from a donation, according to Joseph Scott McArdle of Keller Williams Realty and a co-founder of the group. The money will then be divided among three nonprofits voted on by the membership.
“In addition to helping non-profits here in our town, it will give us all the opportunity to build a great network among men committed to making our town a better place than it already is,” McArdle said in an emailed response to questions.
The group was inspired by the success of another organization — 100 Women of Phoenixville, McArdle said. To get his idea going, he reached out to a former client of his, Dodi Strunk, who was instrumental in starting 100 Women of Phoenixville.
“I called Dodi and she said I should start a 100 Men of Phoenixville group with her husband Bobby. So I called Bobby the next day and we agreed to start it together,” he said. McArdle initially contacted Dodi Strunk in September and connected with Bobby Strunk in early October.
Inspired and encouraged by the work done by 100 Women of Phoenixville, McArdle said he and Bobby Strunk “wanted to keep it simple and not reinvent the wheel, so we modeled it after the way the 100 Women of Phoenixville do their event,” he said.
McArdle and Strunk then enlisted seven additional steering committee members and the committee began to make plans for the group.
The members of the steering committee include:
Bobby Strunk — co-founder, R. Strunk Funeral Home
Joseph Scott McArdle — co-founder, Keller Williams Realty
Bruce McLelland — Applied Video Technology
Louis Beccaria — Beccaria & Associates LLC
Robb Frees — Frees Insurance
Mark Glowacki — senior director, tax group, West Pharmaceutical (retired)
Michael Howell — Realty One Group Restore
Mike Kelly — K-Three Partners
Kurt Kunsch — senior vice-president for wealth advisory services, Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust
The group is off to a great start, and as of Friday afternoon, had raised $6,000 and signed up 60 members, which McArdle said is well on the way to the group’s goal of 100 members and $10,000 raised. Those interested in being part of the group can visit https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/e7WiRgq/100-Men-of-Phoenixville-PA for more information, to sign up and make their donation.
The Donations
All of the 501(c)3 organizations nominated for the awards being awarded by 100 Men of Phoenixville have to be within the Phoenixville Area School District — Phoenixville Borough, Schuylkill Township or East Pikeland, according to McArdle.
According to the organization’s website, areas of focus include: advocacy and social justice, children and family, civic engagement, community building, disaster relief, economic empowerment, education, health, hunger & nutrition, social and human services
100 Men of Phoenixville will host an inaugural event on Wednesday, April 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Phoenixville’s Polish American Citizens Club, 328 High Street, Phoenixville.
Three charities will be selected at random from among the nominations. Each of the organizations will make five-minute presentations at the event. Members will then vote, to rank the three winning charities, McArdle said. One non-profit organization will receive 70% of the available grant funds, one will receive 20%, and the third will receive 10% of the available grant funds.
“The three presenting organizations will also have their story heard by people of the community which also helps to foster public awareness for each of the charities,” McArdle said.
He added that the group is thinking of holding one event per year, but will see how the first one goes before making a decision.
“That might change if we have a good response to the first event,” he said.
McArdle said there is a separate bank account for overhead/expenses, to which each member of the steering committee contributed, in addition to their donation for the winning charities.
“Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust generously matched the $1,000 with an additional $1,000 as they aligned with our mission of community supporting community,” McArdle said.
As 100 Men of Phoenixville was getting its efforts off the ground, McArdle and Strunk were invited to a meeting of the 100 Women of Phoenixville. McArdle said that the group has been “very helpful in encouraging and supporting our efforts.”
Membership for 100 Men of Phoenixville and donations can be completed via the group’s GrapeVine website: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/e7WiRgq/100-Men-of-Phoenixville-PA
Source: Berkshire mont