This year’s first Quarterly Meeting was held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lakelands in the STARZ 24 Teen Center. After members and guests fellowshipped and enjoyed delicious finger foods and beverages, they convened in an adjoining gathering room replete with a small stage. Edris Louise Robinson, GWC Advisory Board member and Chair of the Programs and Education Committee, offered a warm welcome and convened the program portion. The theme of our program was “Going For The Gold: Academics-Arts-Athletics.”

Pacquitta Coleman introduced a performance by Phoenix Academy of Arts that thrilled and entertained all with a song and dances to the music of Michael Jackson.

Rhonda McGinnis, GWC Advisory Board member and Chair of the Governance and Finance Committee, gave opening remarks.

Jamar “Hoot” Crawford of Next Level Lifestyles was introduced by Mamie Nicholson of our Programs and Education Committee. Mr. Crawford gave a brief background of his program that originally started as a training program with eight athletic players. Next Level Lifestyles has since grown to over 200 members and focuses on nutrition awareness, fitness, mentorship, tutoring, and community involvement. Young men comprise 95% of its members. He began this program in the YMCA but has since relocated to a building on Highway 72/221. With him were two of his mentees that have since become executives in the program: Tyra Murray and Titus Williams. Ms. Murray joined the Next Level program when she was seventeen years old. Mr. Williams, who is now the Executive Director of the program, joined Next Level Lifestyles when he was only twelve years old. Due to COVID restrictions, Mr. Crawford has scaled back the program’s meeting times to three days a week. Thursdays are reserved for SAT and ACT prep for those seeking to attend college. Weekends may include special programs that aim at community involvement, such as Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day. Members can also attend basketball camp when offered.

Carol Scales (Programs and Education Committee member) introduced the next presenter and host for this venue: Sabrina Miller, Executive Director of The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lakelands, and GWC member. Ms. Miller gave a history of the Boys and Girls Club program and an overview of the numerous services for students in Greenwood and Saluda Counties. The main goal of the program is to provide a safe haven for students Monday to Friday where they can share dinner like a family and fellowship with other students in the neighborhood. There are often activities for the kids on the weekend as well. The program is open to students of all races in grades six to twelve who reside in the community. She also welcomed volunteers who love children and youth to serve tutoring a school subject or instructing in one of the arts.

Lisa Smith (Programs and Education Committee member) thanked our presenters and stated that Greenwood Women Care will donate three books to Greenwood County Library in their honor: World So Wide by Alison McGhee, Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and What If by Samantha Berger.

Laura Stowe, GWC Advisory Board member and Co-Chair of the Communications Committee, reminded everyone that our Annual Meeting will be March 15^th and Edris Louise Robinson provided closing remarks.

The foyer of the Greenwood Building rang with the laughter of old friends greeting each other and new friends meeting. Greenwood Women Care’s first social of 2022 on Tuesday, January 18^th was a rousing success. Nearly fifty women braved the blustery wind to gather and enjoy the company of like-minded women of our community.

Delicious refreshments of pinwheel sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and cheese and crackers were provided by our Social Committee. Four wines were served along with non-alcoholic punch and water.

After time to share conversations throughout the suite of rooms, Laura Bachinski, Co-Chair of the Social Committee, directed us into an attractive conference room. Laura welcomed everyone and introduced Lesley Lane, the Executive Assistant to the President at Greenwood Communities and Resorts. Lesley is the managing agent for the Greenwood Building and serves as Chair of the Uptown Greenwood Development Board. Lesley welcomed us to this space and informed us of new activities and businesses in Uptown Greenwood. Mary Woodiwiss, Chair of the Advisory Board, gave a special welcome to our newest members and our guests. She said that GWC welcomes guests as often as they would like to attend our Socials and Quarterly Meetings, without limit. Deb Maschoff, Co-Chair of the Membership Committee, noted that GWC accommodates a range of involvement from its members, as each member determines her level of participation in meetings and committees. Deb reminded us that contributions to GWC are fully tax-deductible. She also highlighted our strength in numbers when we pool our annual contributions to become impactful grants to nonprofits in our community.

The social evening continued in good cheer and excellent company. We look forward to our 1^st Quarterly Meeting of the year at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lakelands’ Starz 24 Teen Center on February 22.

Fall was nipping the air when 40+ members and guests of Greenwood Women Care gathered at the Burton Center for the final Quarterly Meeting of 2021: “Focusing on the Future – Our Children.” The lively group congregated in Jimmy B’s Café for fellowship and delicious refreshments including sandwich wraps, a Greek-themed hors d’oeuvres tray, fruit, lemon flavored water, warm wassail-flavored punch, and other delights provided by the Social Committee.

At the appropriate time, all moved to a presentation area where Edris Louise Robinson, Chair of the Programs & Education Committee and Burton Center Day Program Director, welcomed everyone and gave a clear introduction to the work of the Burton Center. All services are provided at no cost to individuals who have disabilities and special needs and their families and are designed to help these individuals discover opportunities to mature, grow, and reach their full potential.

Mary Woodiwiss, GWC Advisory Board Chair, offered a warm greeting to all members and guests. She shared a story of how one 2021 GWC grant is already being put to use and noted that each grantee will have stories to share about how their GWC Grant helps them to fulfill their mission in our community in significant ways. Mary reminded everyone that their membership renewal packets were delivered last week and urged us to let our annual “renewal in GWC become a given”. She also spoke about how we must rebuild our Granting Fund every year and asked us to consider making an additional contribution to the Granting Fund, in any amount, with our renewal or at a later time. Such contributions may be made in memory or honor of someone. Our grants are possible only due to the commitment and generosity of GWC members.

The introduction of our program theme, “Focusing on the Future – Our Children”, was given by Lisa Smith. Mamie Nicholson graciously introduced our speakers. Our first presenter, Jerry Rentz, board member of Emerald City Rotary Foundation, informed us about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL). He reminded us that literacy does not start when children begin school. He also shared statistics about why childhood literacy is so important, including the fact that 85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally low literate. DPIL provides registered children with high-quality, age-appropriate books by mail every month from birth until they reach their fifth birthday. Jerry was thrilled to share that the 2020 GWC Grant awarded to Emerald City Foundation provided one year of books to 200 children. To date, 1,286 children in Greenwood have signed up to participate in the program and 35,000 books have been sent to children in our county. At the end of Jerry’s presentation, Laura Padgett, Programs & Education Committee member, presented the book Little People, Big Dreams: Evonne Goolagong in his honor on behalf of GWC. This title will be added to the Children’s Collection at Greenwood County Library.

Teresa Goodman, GWC member and Executive Director of Community Initiatives, began her presentation by thanking GWC for the grant awarded to fund their prenatal care clinic which will provide countless low-income mothers with the quality care all women deserve. She discussed the new Toddler Learning Center (TLC), slated to open its doors in 2022. This program is designed to provide quality care for toddlers ages 2 to 4 from low-income families while teaching parents developmental milestones and activities to be sure their child develops at their highest potential and are ready for school. Children who take part in early childhood education programs have improved social skills and perform better in school. They also learn essential life skills. Most importantly, preschool is a place where children have fun in a safe and loving environment. Additionally, the center will assist with providing transportation to job sites for parents and facilitate connection with other necessary services to aid families in developing self-sufficiency. Laura Padgett presented the charming children’s book, Mae Among the Stars, to be donated to Greenwood County Library in Teresa’s honor.

The evening continued with an announcement from Laura Stowe, Co-Chair of the Communications Committee, about the GWC History Project. Laura stated that in January 2022, this committee will begin a project that will comprise the five-year history of Greenwood Women Care. She requested that members submit pictures, comments, or memories they might have of GWC to her or any member of the Communications Committee.

Laura Bachinski, GWC Advisory Board Vice Chair, made closing remarks asking members to consider contributing a gift membership. She noted that 8-10% of our members benefit from partial or full gift memberships and that most of these have been contributed by supporters from outside our membership. Laura reiterated the importance of growing our membership so that substantial grants may be awarded to continue the mission of GWC. Laura ended the meeting with a challenge: she pledged to contribute a gift membership in 2022 year and encouraged others to consider doing the same!

Our Kick Off the Vote! event for our 2021 Grants voting was a celebration of giving! We gathered in the lovely Harley Family Center, hospitably provided by Carol Harley. Thanks to our Social Committee (with special thanks to Martha Ann Davis!), this informational social started with food, drink, and fellowship that gave us a chance to reconnect.

Jan Puzar greeted us with a smile and “rousing rounds of applause” as she led us through the meeting. We rewatched a wonderful 2020 Grants video that took us back to what was accomplished with GWC’s funding to our 10 grant recipients last year. Through seeing and listening to these recipients’ grateful words, we could once again feel and grasp the importance of our mission to assist our local nonprofits to achieve their worthy goals to enrich our whole community. Mary Woodiwiss addressed FAQs about funding sources for nonprofit organizations and emphasized nonprofits’ variations in scale, scope, and mission. We realized that although our local nonprofits differ, they all are important and in need of support to carry out their good work.

Then we turned to GWC’s voting process. Mary Ann Dula capably led us through the logistics of our online voting. This year we are excited to consider a wide range of proposals for funding. We were encouraged to rank all applicants in our voting so that the Grants Review and Awards Committee can make funding determinations that clearly and accurately reflect the will of our Members. Margaret Conrad described “What Happens After You Vote?”. She outlined the next steps that the Grants Review and Awards Committee will take to tally our votes and assess the data that will direct how many grant awards will be made, and in what amounts. If you have ever wondered whether your vote counts, rest assured your GWC VOTE COUNTS!

We ended the evening with time for questions. Thoughtful questions were asked by a number of Members and addressed by the Grants Review and Awards Committee. GWC attempts to be good stewards in our giving and this time together inspired us to continue to give generously. We are very proud of the nonprofits, their leaders and staff and are grateful that we can have a part in supporting their daily efforts. We left as a band of sisters who do indeed care and give to express that care in our home community.

Recap by Sally Kauffmann; photos by Catherine DiBenedetto, Debra Coleman, and Denise Waldrep