ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Wednesday evening, a new group dedicated to giving to local nonprofits made its first donation.
Delta County 100+ Women Who Care held its inaugural meeting in July. The group chose to give its first $3,400 check to Harlie’s Angels.
Harlie’s Angels was founded ten years ago in Washington by the family of Harlie DesArmo. Fifteen-year-old Harlie and her sister, Courtney, were struck in a vehicle-pedestrian accident. According to their mother, Jennifer DesArmo, the left side of Courtney’s body was crushed. Harlie died on impact.
“We started giving back to things we knew Harlie would enjoy,” Jennifer said. “We made foster kid bags, we helped grandmas and grandpas do yard work, we did a lot of outreach to homeless kids, and we built a basketball court called Harlie’s Hoops.”
Jennifer recently moved back home to Delta County, where Harlie’s Angels is setting up basketball scholarships for students at Escanaba, Gladstone, Hannahville, Bark River, Rapid River, Mid Peninsula, and Big Bay schools.
“I just think about those kids who maybe want to play basketball and they don’t have the proper gear to play, so they don’t try out, and maybe they could be an amazing player,” said DesArmo. “Each school will receive a $500 check. Then with that, they’ll get a letter about who Harlie was and what Harlie’s Angels is about so these kids will know why they’re receiving a scholarship.”
Delta County 100+ Women Who Care meets quarterly to nominate local nonprofits to receive a donation. Each member or team contributes $100 at every meeting.
Steering members Samantha Griebel and Chris Tryan say Harlie’s Angels was a great choice for the group’s first donation.
“They do amazing things for youth,” said Griebel. “We’ve really seen what they’ve done in Washington, and now that they’re here in Delta County we’re excited to see what they can do for the teens in our community.”
“I believe in this group as far as doing good for our youth in our community,” Tryan said. “From what I’ve seen of Jennifer’s work in the past, this will be a great thing here in Delta County.”
Delta County 100+ Women Who Care currently has 34 members. The group is working its way up to 100. If you are interested in joining, visit the Delta County 100+ Women Who Care Facebook group or email deltaco100women@gmail.com.
August 19 will mark the tenth anniversary of Harlie DesArmo’s passing. As Harlie’s Angels continues to establish itself in Delta County, Jennifer welcomes ideas for the nonprofit from the community. Jennifer can be reached at harliesangels2013@gmail.com.
