“Kick Off the Vote!”, at Harley Family Center, October 21, 2024

“All because of we.”

GWC’s annual informational social, Kick Off the Vote! was hosted by our Grants Review & Awards and Social Committees and held at the Harley Family Center on Monday, October 21st.

The center echoed with exuberant voices of friends greeting each other. Light and delicious refreshments awaited, served by Holley Coyle and Courtney Christensen, Co-Chairs of the Social Committee, as well as other welcoming committee members. During our reception, a PowerPoint created by Laura Stowe was on display highlighting GWC’s activities during the last three months.

Peggy Dewane-Pope opened the meeting with a tribute to our beloved Sally Kauffman followed by her poem “The Fruition of GWC”, borrowing the cadence of a favorite poem from her teaching career. An excerpt:

“Great deeds are done when the vote is won by the women of GWC;

The many needs in town, we help turn ‘round all because of we.

The County of Greenwood was not as it could, so we came to save the day;

And the gifts we’ve made, and the nonprofits we’ve bade,

Provide help in a beautiful way.

We help folks’ woes with medicine, support, and clothes because giving is in our genes

Help with sports, food, and plays, in so many ways because we have the means.

By 2024 with a wide-open door the nonprofits gather for gifts larger and large

The helpers come in, proposing their wins–

It’s good to leave women in charge.”

Members of the Grants Review & Awards Committee presented informational segments. Mary Woodiwiss discussed some FAQS of Nonprofit Funding. Jan Puzar reviewed our voting process with details about how best to complete the ranked voting our ballot allows. Debbie Coesens recapped what happens after we vote, outlining the tabulation process. This is based entirely on members’ anonymous, ranked votes on Survey Monkey ballots. Grants Review & Awards Committee members review this data and determine how many organizations will receive funding and how much funding each organization will receive, based on the total amount available to award in the 2024 cycle.

Mary Woodiwiss then fielded questions. She also announced Women’s Health Grant cycle in Spring of 2025, inviting any interested members to participate in this review process, and reminded members to also vote for Ms. Carey Givings, our very own GWC scarecrow entry in the Uptown Scarecrow contest. Mary Dula closed us out with a rousing reminder of our unity to make a significant impact on our community.

Ballot links were sent at 6:00pm and the ballot will remain open until midnight on Wednesday, October 23rd.

The power and privilege to vote is a tremendous opportunity and one that we hope all GWC members will avail themselves of exercising.

GWC members make an enormous difference by being part of Greenwood Women Care.

We are grateful for this unique opportunity to be able to make our beloved community a better place for all!