As a founding member I can not say enough about this group. From our first event over 10 years ago (MS 5k walk in Annapolis, MD) to upcoming events like the 10th annual Privateer Feast for Breast Cancer and the 5th Multiple Sclerosis Fantasy Ball, the group has been a testament to the power of individuals working together!
Team Wench, Inc. is a Renaissance-themed organization which believes that a small group of individuals can make a difference by pooling their talents and resources. We work both individually and collectively to raise donations for established charities which promote research or provide support to make people's lives healthier and safer.
Review from Guidestar
Team Wench grew out of a small, then growing, group of women who felt that having fun together wasn't enough: as time passed we chose to walk for several charities, donate clothing make comfort items, and continually push boundaries. We raised money through pot lucks, masquerades, raffles, and eventually decided to become a 501c3 so we could take our passion to another level. Too many have been lost to Cancers, MS, and other diseases that aren't getting the funding that is needed to push beyond what we currently know.
Team Wench is amazing. In 2001, a bunch of friends from the MD Renaissance Festival got together to put on a fundraiser to help a couple of mutual friends who were doing a charity walk. Since that time, the Team has blossomed to an organization which has donated more than $200,000 for various charities.
I'm proud to say that got involved with Team Wench since it first came to my attention late in 2001. I've seen this group go from putting out an oversized almost-potluck themed dinner (which netted $3,500 to fight breast cancer) through its incorporation and it's certifcation as an official 501(c)(3) charity that nets $10K-$15K in an evening at its bigger events. The best part is that, though the group has had to become more process-oriented and rule-following (due to the tax implications), it's never lost its feeling of friends-and-family and it's still, at its core, a group of folks who like to hang out at the Festival.
Though there have been some rough times -- even a year when two events had to be cancelled due to lack of ticket sales -- but the Team has always bounced back.
Review from Guidestar
Team Wench puts together wonderful fundraisers to raise money for charities such as the Avon Walk and the Komen Walk for breast cancer research, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Heart Association, the National Brain Tumor Society, etc. These fundraisers are always lots of fun - the annual Privateer's Feast is a stand-out event! - and enable people to enjoy themselves while supporting their favorite charities.
Review from Guidestar