Every six months, the 100 Women Who Care meet to decide which nonprofit should receive a combined donation of $10,000. Each woman in the organization pays $100 to be involved in the event. With additional matching grants, the funding can exceed $10,000.

With this donation, members can write down the name of a local nonprofit on a slip of paper. Once everyone was signed in, three nonprofits were chosen at random to be considered for the donation.

This year, the nominees were Pro Kinship, Big Ideas and The Food Shelf with Pro Kinship ultimately being selected to receive the funds.

Pro Kinship executive director Kari Beran spoke on behalf of the organization. She described Pro Kinship as a mentor program for student in kindergarten through 12th Grade.

The 100 Women Who Care event was held at The New Ulm Country Club Sunday. Kari Beran, the director of Pro Kinship spoke on behalf of her organization. Pro Kinship was nominated to receive funding from 100 Women Who Care and was ultimately selected to receive $10,000.

“We are about relationships,” Beran said. “That’s really what Pro Kinship is all about. We are matching adult volunteers from the community across Brown County with kids who need that extra support person in their life.”

In addition to one-on-one mentoring, there is group mentoring program to help kids build socialization skills. Beran said sometimes the kids in the program are the shy ones who don’t want to be notice. Other times it is the students who face bullying.

A new academic program has been added to Pro Kinship. This focuses on academics and relationship. This if for students who need one-on-one help with classroom work. The academic mentors help students be confident in their school work. Typically the academic mentors spend three hours a week with students. Many of the academic mentors are National Honor Society students.

Pro Kinship also runs the county Coats for Kids program, which helps provide winter clothes for families on a tight budget. Pro Kinship took over the Coats for Kids program after the New Ulm Kiwanis Club closed.

“Last year we topped our numbers in the 33 years that Coats for Kids has been running in Brown County,” Beran said. “We served 300 kids. That’s 300 kids that need warm coat, snow pants.”

Kari Beran talks to the members of 100 Women Who Care about the positive work done by Pro Kinship

There are 55 kids enrolled across the county in Pro Kinship program–not counting coats for kids.

“We do a lot for our families,” Beran said. “We’re there to support our families, help them with what they need. We want those kids to thrive, grow and be that support them.”

Beran said Pro Kinship receives most of its funding United Way and Families First Collaborative. Other money comes from fundraisers and direct donations.

The money given to Pro Kinship goes into group activities; supporting mentor activities; coats for kids and stipend for academic mentors. Beran said the funding from 100 Women Who Care will be used for current programming, but also to help with expanded program. Pro Kinship is look to offer course in life skills such as healthy eating, physical activity, self-esteem, conflict resolution and financial management. With the extra funding these new programs can be implemented in the county.

Pro Kinship has been in New Ulm since 1988 and became a countywide program in 1994. The organization is always look for new mentors.

Beran said anyone with a passion for helping kids would make a great mentor. Those interested in being a mentor are asked to give a least four hours a month, but Beran said once mentors start working with families they, want to work more hours.

Anyone interesting interesting in volunteering with Pro Kinship or looking to enroll a student may contact the office at 507-359-2445 or email at kinship@newulmte.net.