- January 20, 2026
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One night. One hundred change makers. One hundred thousand dollars to benefit a deserving local nonprofit.
Those are the components driving one of the newest charitable efforts coming to Longboat Key.
On Feb. 17, the newly formed Longboat Key Club 100 will host a fundraising evening to benefit a to-be-determined local group.
This new group is not a 501(c)(3) and does not intend to collect donations. Instead, it will bring together a collection of 100 women of influence who are interested in directly benefiting the nonprofit directly.
Each attendee will commit to donating $1,000.
Michelle Johnson and Danielle Gladding, two of the seven founding members of the Longboat Key chapter, explained how this direct-donation model ensures the maximum spending power goes to the benefiting organization rather than covering overhead costs.
Johnson said she drew inspiration from a similar group in Hudson, Wisconsin.
"Now, there are organizations around the country that do the same thing," she said. "They bring together 100 women to make a huge impact in one night."
Joining Johnson and Gladding are founders Heidi Berry, Nicholle DePinto, Betsy Juliano, Pat Watral and Julia Woodward.
Johnson said they each have contributed to making the night happen, with Berry especially adept at sorting through applications from interested nonprofits.
The founders contributed ideas for possible charities to feature, and they reached out to the wider community for applications through word of mouth and social media.
Organizers used several criteria to then narrow the pool down to three potential charities. Groups needed to show a sustainable model for helping the community and have a specific use for the one-time donation.
The evening of the event, attendees will hear pitches from those three and vote on a final charity to receive the $100,000.
One of the main considerations they had was whether the suggested charity had a specific need that could be met with the one-time contribution to accomplish something truly game changing for the community.
Gladding is familiar with many local organizations, but even she learned quite a bit more about the incredible work they do for the community when reviewing applications.
She did note that the two other charities will also benefit from opportunities to connect with local leaders and potential future volunteers.
"The whole event should be a lot of fun, and I knew this area would be perfect for it," Johnson said.
Gladding added, "We are so blessed here, and there are so many people who want to give back."
The Longboat Key 100 organizers intend to make this effort an annual event. For those organizations that would like to be considered for next year's event, email [email protected].
