GWC 3rd Quarterly Meeting, “Back by Popular Demand: The Penguin Project”, at Church of the Resurrection, August 28, 2018

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Greenwood Women Care conducted our 3rd Quarterly Meeting on Tuesday, August 28th, at the Church of the Resurrection.  Approximately 60 members and guests enjoyed a reception along with an inspirational and informative agenda.

Sara Kummer welcomed us to the Church of the Resurrection and Rhonda Merritt introduced our program speakers. (Sara and Rhonda serve on GWC’s Programs and Education Committee.) Stephen Gilbert, Executive Director of the Greenwood Community Theatre (GCT), shared with us the impetus for establishing The Penguin Project at GCT. The Penguin Project is a nationwide program that engages actors with special needs and peer mentors in a full-length theatre production.  GCT is the only site offering The Penguin Project in the state, and one of the first in this region. Stephen then introduced Lacy Gunter, the mother of last year’s youngest Penguin, who described the positive impact The Penguin Project has had on her daughter, their family, and the local special needs community.

We then turned our attention to the GWC Grants Review and Awards Committee.  Trish Hartung described the work of the Grants Committee over the past months, resulting in GWC grant guidelines, grant application form, and review and voting processes.  Laura Bachinski discussed our grant application and Nadine Gilchrist informed GWC members about materials that will assist us in our voting process in February. Mary Woodiwiss, convener of the Grants Committee, fielded questions from members.  Summer Booker, convener of the Membership Committee, concluded the program by thanking our speakers for their presentations and our members and guests for their attendance, reminding us that memberships for 2019 may be renewed between now and December 31st, and encouraging us to continue to spread the good news about GWC.

Greenwood Community Theatre

Community Enhancement Grants Awarded, August 2018

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GCCF congratulates the following organizations that received funding in our 2018 Community Enhancement granting cycle:

Arts Council of Greenwood County for #instART 2018 exhibit and purchase of pottery wheels

Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site for The Mays Scholars Program for young men

Burton Center for career training for Burton Center clients on site

Festiva for performance fees and commissioned composition by Deanna Witkowski Jazz Trio

Greenwood Community Theatre for The Penguin Project production of “Aladdin, Jr.”

Greenwood Performing Arts for outreach program performance costs

John and Lula Welton Life Enrichment Initiative for community performances of “God’s Trombones”

MODELS Academy for the MODELS Academy Leadership Conference series for young men

We are grateful for your continued good work in our home community!

GWC 2nd Quarterly Meeting, “Offering Hope: Services for Women and Children in Crisis”, at The Arts Center, May 15, 2018

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Our second GWC community meeting was held on Tuesday, May 15, at The Arts Center. Following a social time, we moved to our program, “Offering Hope: Services for Women and Children in Crisis”, featuring Alice Hodges of Meg’s House and Cathy Miller of Beyond Abuse. Many of our members and numerous guests attended, numbering around 70.

 

GWC Charter Member Celebration at Wesley Commons, April 30, 2018

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GWC Charter Members celebrated at a special evening event on Monday, April 30, hosted by Wesley Commons at their new outdoor pavilion.

GWC is delighted to have 104 Charter Members in our very first months of membership! GWC is an open membership organization and community-minded women may join at any time. All interested women are invited to attend our Quarterly Meetings and Socials and to consider becoming a part of GWC to “learn, give, and grow” together. Our first GWC Grants will be awarded in early 2019.


Youth & Education Grants Announced, April 2018

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Nine local nonprofits were awarded grants in GCCF’s 2018 Youth & Education cycle for programs and projects benefitting Greenwood County. They are:

City of Greenwood for fire prevention education programs and materials for children and youth

Community Initiatives for vehicle expenses for transport of Safe Haven schoolchildren

Cornerstone  for collaborative community campaign about opioids abuse and related issues

Emerald City Rotary Foundation in support of the Imagination Library project

Goodwill Industries for job training programs at Greenwood site

Healthy Learners for transportation for medical services for school-age children with limited resources and for staff support

The Museum and Railroad Historical Center for scholarships to summer camps at The Museum and Railroad Historical Center

P. H. Carmichael Foundation for youth academic and career development programs

Panola United Methodist Church for a collaborative summer literacy program in an underserved neighborhood

GCCF is honored to support the efforts of these local organizations!

GWC Inaugural Quarterly Meeting at The Museum, February 20, 2018

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It was exciting to see so many women at our first Greenwood Women Care Quarterly Meeting on Tuesday, February 20, at The Museum! We enjoyed a lively reception and informative program. Teresa Goodman (Executive Director, Community Initiatives) spoke about nonprofit social services and motivations for community service and Anne Craig (Executive Director, Arts Council of Greenwood County) informed us about opportunities for involvement in arts and culture in Greenwood County. Megha Lal and Mary Woodiwiss (GWC Steering Committee members) addressed the gathering about the values, impetus, and structure of this initiative.

Approximately 90 women attended, numbered evenly among guests and members. Since this first GWC community meeting, many of our guests have joined GWC!

GCCF Open Granting Awards Presented, December 2017

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GCCF’s Open Granting cycle in December 2017 provided funding for a range of projects and programs for Greenwood County. Congratulations to:

Beyond Abuse for security fencing on site

Festiva in support of the 2017-2018 concert series offered to the public at no charge

Food Bank of Greenwood County for food supplies for the “Sowing Seeds” program

Greenwood Place for the purchase of video equipment for organizational programs

Meg’s House for legal advocacy for clients

The Museum and Railroad Historical Center for “War on Two Fronts” exhibit and program expenses

National Safety Council – Southeastern Chapter for “Stop the Bleed” educational campaign and supply kits

Ninety Six National Historic Site to fund a Colonial Day Camp summer program

Piedmont Agency on Aging for implementation of a Tadpoles communication system at Lifetime Discoveries

Thank you for all your efforts to enrich our Greenwood community!

GCCF Announces Community Enhancement Grants, August 2017

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GCCF congratulates the following organizations that received funding in our 2017 Community Enhancement granting cycle:

Arts Council of Greenwood County for summer art outreach camps and Black history Month exhibit costs

Greenwood Lions Club Foundation for an otoacoustic screener for hearing assessment of children and adults

Greenwood Pathway House toward the purchase of minivan for client transport

Humane Society of Greenwood for Trap, Neuter, and Return costs to treat 300 feral/community cats

Project Hope Foundation to fund the development of online training about autism for the community

United Housing Connections for security upgrades to Section 8 housing complex

Thank you for your continued, dedicated good work in our community!

Youth & Education Grants Recipients Named, April 2017

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These 10 nonprofit organizations received GCCF Youth & Education funding in order to serve residents of Greenwood County:

Alston Wilkes Society in support of pre-and post-release education and services for ex-offenders

Bowers-Rodgers Children’s Home to provide summer day camp scholarships for residents

Children’s Museum of the Upstate for museum admission scholarships for Greenwood County schoolchildren

Community Initiatives for educational consulting services, staff training, and materials for summer literacy program at Safe Haven

Greenwood Family Y for purchase of SEAL SwimSafe system

Healthy Learners to provide for transportation costs and medical expenses for school-age children with limited resources

La Puerta de Esperanza in support of summer mentoring and development program

A Place for Us Ministries to enable residents to obtain GEDs, and to receive employment training and other development and mentoring services

SC Governor’s School of Science and Mathematics for CREATEng engineering summer camp for Greenwood County students to be held at Lander University

United Way of Greenwood and Abbeville Counties — for the “Stuff the Bus” program that provides school supplies for children with limited resources

GCCF is grateful to support this array of good work in our community!

2016 Open Granting Cycle Grant Awards Announced

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The Greenwood County Community Foundation (GCCF) awarded grants to nine nonprofit organizations in Greenwood County in their recent Open Granting cycle. Recipients are: Aviation Expo, Beyond Abuse, Community Initiatives, Greater Greenwood United Ministries, Meg’s House, The Museum, Ninety Six National Historic Site, Salvation Army, and the SC Festival of Flowers.

In 2016 alone, 21 area nonprofits have received a combined $115,425 in grants from the Foundation’s Community Impact Grants. Donor Advised and Designated Funds held by GCCF account for substantial support of many area nonprofits as well. These contributions totaled nearly $260,000 this year.

In its five year granting history, GCCF has allocated more than $2.5 million in grants, primarily for projects and programs in Greenwood County.