The History of 100 Women Who Care SMA
The 100 Women Who Care SMA Chapter was founded by five friends (Jody Feagan, Susan Page, Marty Kimmel, Alicia Garcia & Kathy Devine) who wanted to make a difference in the beloved place they call home, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. All are busy women with many irons in the fire and accomplishments to their name, but the simple, easy way in which 100 Women Who Care positively impacts a community appealed to them. They quickly got organized and in February 2013 they held their first meeting with over 50 women in attendance and raised $37,000 pesos in one hour. The steering committee members have changed over the years but the goal remains the same – to make a positive impact for those in need in our community in the quickest, most efficient way possible!
This is our current steering committee for 100 Women Who Care in San Miguel:
Jody Feagan is the founder and former director of the San Miguel de Allende Writers Conference and Literary Festival in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where she lived for 10 years, raising her three children. Jody currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she has also co-founded 100 Women Who Care in Santa Fe. She maintains the 100 Women Who Care in SMA website and handles the email notifications.
Mary Finley moved to San Miguel de Allende from San Francisco in 2019, with her husband and two cats, after retiring early from a career in marketing and management. Mary has extensive experience in direct marketing and operations, having worked in the financial services industry in the US and Argentina for over 20 years. Her most recent position was as a marketing executive for MUFG, one of the world’s leading financial groups. Mary is Irish-Mexican and was raised speaking Spanish and spending summers with her mother’s family in northern Mexico. Since moving to SMA she has become very involved with a variety of NGO’s.
Marty Kimmel, a resident of both San Francisco and San Miguel de Allende, is the founder and president of Paisley Palace, an interior décor home accessory and antique textile line. She is an artist and craftswoman, creating works in bronze, oil, paper and ceramics. She previously designed a high-end children’s clothing line and held sales executive positions for several clothing manufacturers. Marty has participated in a bilingual literacy program for elementary school children in Las Vegas. Her two grown children live in California.
Susan Page is the Director of the San Miguel Literary Sala and the San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival. She conducted innovative workshops for couples for twenty-two years before moving to San Miguel in 2004, and is the author of five books about relationships. She and her husband, Mayer Shacter, own Galeria Atotonilco, a showroom of Mexican folk art and country antiques.
Vicky Short Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Vicky relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1969. After receiving a BA in Business and Psychology and a BS in Fashion Design at the University of Hawaii, she lived and worked in Osaka, Japan. She traveled throughout the country embracing the art, architecture and the culture of Japan. Her studies include certification from GIA (Gemology Institute of America). Her careers have varied from computer sales, real estate, fashion design and for 30 years before retirement, a designer and fabricator of jewelry. She moved with her husband, Ed, a landscape architect, to San Miguel in 2011.
Past members:
Ester Bailey’s 35-year career in sales, marketing and non profit marked her professional career in Seattle, WA. Upon retirement, Ester and her husband moved to San Miguel de Allende in March, 2017. Activities in SMA include volunteering at The San Miguel Writers Conference and finding opportunities so support events and organizations throughout the year.
Kathleen Devine’s 30-year career in sales, marketing and human resources included the positions of District Mgr., Exec. Recruiter, and V. P. with Bank of America. She was also a Founding Board Member of the Friends of the L. A. City Commission on the Status of Women. She and her husband have resided in San Miguel de Allende for 10 years. Activities in SMA include Mujeres en Cambio, Literary Sala Steering Committee Member, Democrats Abroad Ex Com , Shakespeare Readers, Audubon, yoga and tennis.
Alice Garcia (bio to come)
Laura Stewart moved permanently to San Miguel from New Zealand in 2007 with her partner & 2 kids. For 4+ years she was heavily involved in community development in the SMA region through her role as Community Service Committee Chair for Rotary Midday in SMA & as part of a team responsible for planning, co-ordination & implementation of a large water/community development project with now more than 50 communities in rural SMA & beyond.. (www.02h2o.blogspot.com). She believes the timely provision of resources 100WWC SMA provides allows the many individuals & organisations doing good work in the community, to leverage their efforts & maximise positive impact love Laura.
100 Women Who Care 