The Homer chapter of 100 Women Who Care (100WWC) voted to award nearly $10,000 to Orchestral Programs Unified Steering, the umbrella organization for three local youth orchestras, at its first quarterly meeting of the year in late March.

OPUS is a group dedicated to serving the Paul Banks Preludes (K-2), the Fireweed Frescoes (K-2) and the Homer Youth String Orchestra Club (all ages from Homer schools and the Connections home school program).

OPUS puts instruments in the hands of student musicians and teaches them how to play and help them become better learners and better citizens.

Homer’s chapter of 100 Women Who Care is one of thousands of similar groups around the country.

Membership is open to all women in the Homer area and requires a simple commitment to donate $100 to a local charity voted on by the members at each quarterly meeting. There are currently 101 members.

At a 100WWC meeting three members are chosen at random to make a 5-minute “pitch” on behalf of a local charitable organization and answer questions from the audience.

After these presentations, the members in attendance vote on which of the three non profits presented will be awarded that quarter’s donation of $100 from each 100WWC member.

Kim Fine, a kindergarten teacher at Fireweed Academy, and OPUS steering committee member, made the presentation on behalf of OPUS at the 100 Women Who Care meeting.

Fine said the donation from 100 Women Who Care will be used to support the Preludes and Frescoes musical instructor, Katie Klann.

It will also provide professional development by Lori Heagy of JAMM (Juneau Alaska Music Matters) and the Suzuki Institute for violin teachers and the schools’ teaching staffs, and to develop community concerts to share these ensemble music programs with the Homer community.