One year in, men’s giving circle continues to grow
A local men's philanthropic group is marking its first anniversary with significant growth and a renewed commitment to community support.
The 100 Good Guys of St. Pete, a giving circle founded in St. Petersburg, has seen its membership swell and its impact deepen over the past year. Launched in 2023, the 100 Good Guys was established with the goal of bringing together like-minded men to pool their resources and make a meaningful difference in the community. The group's model is simple yet effective: each member contributes $100 per meeting, creating a fund for local charitable giving.
Co-founder Joseph Papich opened with a message about community and recovery at 100 Good Guys' quarterly meeting Nov. 12 at Bayboro Brewing, the first after two back-to-back hurricanes swept the Tampa Bay area: "What I was looking forward to tonight was to stop focusing on myself and my troubles, because I know that, tonight, we're going to do something really good for somebody else, and that's going to help us all feel better as well."
The group heard pitches from Clothes to Kids , Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas and Selah Freedom . A representative from each nonprofit gave a five-minute pitch, with the flexibility to bring up guest speakers or physical props. Selah Freedom, an anti-human trafficking organization, included a speech from a survivor of its program – a woman from Pinellas County who escaped "the life" and, with the help of Selah Freedom, earned a technical degree and is now a certified machinist in Manatee County.
"Now it's full circle, right? Because now I've been out of the program for six years, and I mentor women in the facility," she said. "In my spare time, I volunteer there and try to help teach them basic living skills. Some of the women don't even know how to cook. It's totally different now that I'm walking with somebody through the program. I get a different perspective on it."
The Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas is focused on improving the health and well-being of pregnant women, their children and families. The organization serves about half of the expectant and new families every year in Pinellas County with services and support. Executive Director Mary Jo Plews brought a mentor and past participant from the nonprofit's teen dads program, which the organization is working to grow.
The winning nonprofit at Tuesday night's event was Clothes to Kids, which has a mission of providing new and quality used clothing to low-income or in-crisis school-age children, free of charge. Executive Director Jennifer Jacobs said in the organization's 23 years, it has donated more than 210,000 wardrobes to children and teens in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
"When families come and shop with us, we are no different than any other retail store," Jacobs explained, noting that each child receives multiple pairs of brand-new socks and undergarments, and a mixture of new and donated, gently used tops, bottoms, shoes and accessories. "One mom came up to us and said, 'Today, my dignity remained intact. Thank you for letting me come in, feel normal and be able to provide for my daughter with something I didn't think that I would be able to.'"
Clothes to Kids won the $10,000 main prize, which Jacobs said will be used to purchase clothing for 154 kids. Selah Freedom and Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas each received a $500 donation.
Men interested in joining 100 Good Guys can sign up online; nonprofits interested in pitching to the group can apply at 100goodguys.com .
