GWC 4th Quarterly Meeting, “Homelessness and Hunger in our Hometown”, at St. Mark UMC, November 13, 2018

The 4th Quarterly Meeting of Greenwood Women Care was held on Tuesday, November 13, at the Rivers Street extension of St. Mark Methodist Church. Fall desserts and beverages were arranged by the Social Committee. Lisa Smith, a member of the Programs & Education Committee, welcomed everyone and introduced our program, “Homelessness and Hunger in Our Hometown”, featuring Ken Kelly, Operations Officer and past Executive Director, and Anthony Price, Executive Director of Greenwood Pathway House, and Wendi Andrews, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Greenwood County. Anne Craig, Alison Fletcher, and Angelle LaBorde presented reports for the Grants Review & Awards and Governance & Finance Committees. Boo Ramage spoke about the purpose of the GWC Endowment, a fund created with a portion of each membership contribution and signifying a commitment to the future of GWC. Summer Booker of the Membership Committee reported that 28 of our 104 Charter Member have already renewed and 8 new members have joined GWC for 2019. This gathering was attended by 50 members and 10 guests.

GWC Grant Writing Workshop, “Grant Writing 101”, October 15, 2018

GWC’s Grants Review & Awards Committee held a workshop entitled “Grant Writing 101” that was open to the community and welcomed 31 attendees. The workshop was developed by GWC Members Wendi Andrews, Sandra McMullen, and Kathy Emily, and included a panel of four local funders: Selynto Anderson (Self Regional Healthcare Foundation), Marisel Losa, (United Way), Mamie Nicholson (Self Family Foundation), and Mary Woodiwiss (Greenwood County Community Foundation and Greenwood Women Care). Attendees learned about principles and practical steps for writing effective grant proposals to assist them in seeking funding through GWC grants or other sources.

GWC Fall Social, “A Farm Drop-In”, October 1, 2018

On Monday, October 1, GWC enjoyed a very special Fall Social, “A Farm Drop-In”. About 50 GWC Members and 15 guests gathered in the early autumn twilight at the farm of GWC Member, Catherine DiBenedetto. The evening was an opportunity to mingle and get to know each other in a relaxed and beautiful setting. Attendees enjoyed a delicious assortment of appetizers and desserts brought to the gathering by Members. There was no agenda or program, just a couple of lovely hours of good food and drink, interesting conversation, and the company of new and longtime friends.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!