Raising $14K in one hour for a good cause.

PENTWATER — The Oceana Women Who Care (WWC) did it again at their one-hour meeting Tuesday, June 7. The Wayne Elhart BE NICE Memorial Fund was selected to receive personal checks from each WWC member totaling $14,000.

“Our mission is to assist in the funding of mental illness awareness and suicide prevention training for K-12 schools, their students and staffs, in Oceana County,” said Barb Davidson of Pentwater. Her son, Wayne Elhart, died after struggling with a mild form of depression and committing suicide in March of 2015. After Wayne’s tragic death, Davidson and her other son, Jeff Elhart, sought out an education program that could make a permanent impact on individuals who struggle with depression.

“BE NICE” is an acronym for Notice, Invite, Challenge and Empower. Notice change in behavior that are symptoms of depression. Invite yourself into other’s lives by showing sincere concern for their change in their lives. Challenge yourself to ask why the person is changing their behavior. Finally, Empower yourself to get professional help for the person struggling with the mental illness.

WWC members who gathered at Gull Landing in Pentwater Tuesday heard about the great work of three area nonprofits, and chose this one. These latest gifts bring the total giving by WWC members to $175,000 since the group’s first meeting in June of 2012.

On the first Tuesday of March, June, September and December, the women meet for an hour, learn about three worthy causes serving county residents, and choose one that everyone agrees to support with $100 personal checks. Socializing follows for those who have the time to stay.

Membership, which currently totals 140, is open to any woman who wants to be involved in this unique, joint effort to support Oceana causes. Students are welcome to join if they pledge to contribute $50 to the chosen cause at each quarterly meeting.

The next meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Gull Landing in Pentwater. For more information, contact Amy LaBarge at 313.268.2086, or visit facebook.com/womenwhocareofoceanacounty.