2019 Philanthropy Award Recipients
Videos presented at GCCF’s annual ‘Celebrating A Giving Community’ Awards Gala honoring the ‘Spirit of Philanthropy,’ ‘Lifetime of Philanthropy,’ and Duke Energy ‘Citizenship and Service’ recipients.
Tag Archive for: 2019
GCCF Awards Open Granting Funds, December 2019
Eight local nonprofits received funding in GCCF’s Open Granting cycle in December 2019 for a range of projects and programs for Greenwood County residents. They are:
Alston Wilkes Society for essential work-related items for ex-offenders
American Red Cross- Upstate SC Chapter for Disaster Cycle Services program
Beyond Abuse for purchase of therapists’ computers, printers, and Voicestation
Burton Center for sound wall around café for clients
Connie Maxwell Children’s Home for renovation of residential home for children
Engaging Men of Color for “Reaching Your Destiny Through Education” conference expenses
SC Festival of Flowers for “When Dogs Fly!” Kidfest program
Upper Savannah Land Trust for Community Conservation Priorities spatial analysis
Congratulations! Thank you for all you do to serve and improve our community!
GWC 2019 Highlights, December 2019
GWC Highlights 2019
January 8, 2019 “Shake off the Winter Blues” GWC Social, held at Wild Hare Productions Theatre, including
“Scenes from Shakespeare” performed by Wild Hare’s Youth Shakespeare actors
February 19, 2019 New 2019 Members’ gathering, hosted by Steering and Membership Committee
Members to welcome 26 new members
February 25, 2019 1st GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at The Museum; Reception, followed by presentations
from GWC Committees and an outline of the voting process for our very first GWC Grant
Awards
March 12, 2019 GWC Presentation, “Learn Give Grow- Women Building Community Through Collective
Grantmaking” at Together SC’s Annual Summit, “Building Bridges” by Trentsie Williams and
Mary Woodiwiss, GWC Steering Committee Members
March 26, 2019 1st GWC Annual Meeting, held at Greenwood Genetic Center; Reception, followed by
confirmation of slate of GWC Officers and Steering Committee, annual highlights, and
celebration of our first GWC Grant Awards, totaling $47,625!
March – November 2019 GWC presentations to community groups to spread the word about GWC
May 13, 2019 2nd GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at Hospice Store; Reception, followed by our program
“Getting Your Ducks in a Row” featuring presentations by: Nancy Corley (CEO, Hospice and
Palliative Care of the Piedmont), the Hon. Travis Moore (Judge, Greenwood County Probate
Court) and Melissa Bane (Senior Client Private Advisor, Greenwood Capital)
July – November 2019 Informal home gatherings hosted by GWC Members and GWC presentations to other
community groups to introduce GWC to community women
July 2019 GWC Membership reached 123!
August 20, 2019 3rd GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at the United Center for Community Care; Reception,
followed by our program “Back to School: Tools to Succeed” featuring presentations by:
Katie Davenport (Executive Director, The Greenwood Promise) and Laura Padgett (Emerald
High School Transition teacher and Emerald High School Thrift Shop)
October 14, 2019 “GWC Fall Social”, at Grand Harbor Clubhouse
November 4, 2019 4th GWC Quarterly Meeting, at The Arts Center; Reception, followed by our program
“Celebrating Community Impact” featuring our eight 2019 GWC Grant recipients
GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Celebrating Community Impact”, at The Arts Center, November 4, 2019
On Monday, November 4th, Greenwood Women Care met at The Arts Center for our Quarterly Meeting, “Celebrating Community Impact”. After a social time in the gallery with delicious treats and beverages arranged by the Social Committee, we moved to the Arts Center’s reception hall for the program. Laura Bachinski, GWC Co-Chair, welcomed approximately 90 Members and guests. Anne Craig, Executive Director of The Arts Center and GWC Charter Member, was our venue host for the evening. She spoke of the importance of supporting the arts in our community and the Arts Center’s role in Greenwood’s vibrant arts offerings. Mary Woodiwiss, GWC Co-Chair, recognized Kelly Buckshorn, Social Committee Chair, for her contributions over the past two years. Kelly was given a rousing ovation and presented with flowers and wine.
Self Regional Healthcare sponsored the audio-visual portion of the evening and was represented by Dr. Kathleen Jeffery, Medical Director of Breast Services. Dr. Jeffery spoke about the new 3-D Mammography capability at the SRH Imaging Center and emphasized that SRH’s is the only center in the Upstate with a high-risk breast care component.
GWC’s Grants Review & Awards Committee presented our program, “Celebrating Community Impact”. Our 2019 Grant recipients were welcomed by Trentsie Williams, GWC Grants Co-Chair, and given delightful handcrafted GWC cookies from Sweet Indulgence. Rossie Corwon, Grants Committee member, introduced the premiere of Impact!, our GWC video featuring 2019 grantees, each speaking about their organization’s mission and project funded by their GWC Grant. They are: Beyond Abuse, Community Initiatives, Meg’s House, Greenwood Community Improvement Foundation (for Women’s Leadership Council), Project Hope Foundation, Models Academy, Greenwood Community Theatre, and Connie Maxwell Children’s Home. Mary Woodiwiss closed our program by inviting Members and guests to speak with our grantees at information tables in the gallery of The Arts Center. Everyone left feeling enlightened and inspired!
GWC Fall Social at Grand Harbor Clubhouse, October 14, 2019
On Monday, October 14, GWC members and guests gathered at Grand Harbor Clubhouse to celebrate the arrival of fall weather and to enjoy a few relaxing hours spent in each others’ company. Members Connie Carstens, Bev Gebicke, Lou Noel, Ann VanVoris, and Sharon Westbrook graciously hosted this GWC social event and Laura Bachinski extended a warm welcome to all. Attendees enjoyed a yummy array of appetizers and desserts provided by Members.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our Quarterly Meeting on November 4th at the Arts Center featuring recipients of our 2019 GWC Grants!
Community Enhancement Grants Announced, August 2019
GCCF is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2019 Community Enhancement grants! The following organizations and their programs or projects received funding totaling $26,000 in this cycle:
Arts Council of Greenwood County for “A Local Look” exhibit and “Connecting the Dream” programming
Festiva for professional artists’ fees for free community concerts
Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity for materials and contracted services for home construction
Greenwood Community Theatre for expenses for The Penguin Project
Greenwood Pathway House for PTC tuition for Ready to Work course
Greenwood Performing Arts for Intergenerational Outreach Program performance costs
Greenwood SC Chamber of Commerce for Nonprofit Council’s board governance seminar
We salute your good work to improve our community for everyone!
GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Back to School: Tools to Succeed”, at The United Center for Community Care, August 20, 2019
The Quarterly Meeting for Greenwood Women Care was held on August 20th at the United Center for Community Care. The delicious “back to school” refreshments and gymnasium setting certainly got GWC members in the mindset to learn more about the education programs that were presented.
Mary Woodiwiss, Co-Chair of GWC, reviewed the purpose of GWC and how contributions and membership dues are being used. As of this meeting, we are now 124 members strong!
Louise Robinson introduced the program theme of “Back to School” and Deborah Parks from the United Center for Community Care welcomed us to UCCC and briefly discussed the 8 agencies that are housed in the building.
Guest speakers for the meeting were Katie Davenport and Laura Padgett. Katie Davenport is the Executive Director of Greenwood Promise. GWC Members are encouraged to look at the Greenwood Promise website for more information about how contributions from businesses and individuals help fund college for students in Greenwood who meet the criteria.
Laura Padgett presented a video and talked about the Thrift Shop at Emerald High School that is run by transitional students to provide work hours for career focused experiences. Donations may be dropped off at the front office or Laura can be emailed.
Laura Bachinski, Co-Chair of GWC, offered closing comments about how to become a Member of GWC.
GWC donated two new children’s books to the Greenwood County Public Library in honor of our speakers, each with a GWC bookplate naming the honoree and her organization.
Our next Quarterly meeting will be Monday, November 4th at the Arts Center. The 2019 GWC Grant recipients will present information about their GWC funded projects and programs. As always, guests are welcome!
Innovation Grant Supports Community Impact, June 2019
In June, GCCF awarded its bi-annual Innovation Grant to substantially support a project with the promise of significant community impact.
The Greenwood Lions Club Foundation received $50,000 from GCCF for the development of a Mobile Diabetes Clinic that will bring professional services to areas of the county that are greatly underserved. Diabetes screening and education will be available as needed, free of charge, to all residents of Greenwood County. The Lions Club’s proposal demonstrated well-developed collaboration with Self Regional Healthcare providers, local nonprofits offering medical services (such as Greater Greenwood United Ministry and Clinica Gratis), and a strong plan for implementation.
Phyllis Zuehlke, Lions Club Member who spearheaded this project, said, “[Greenwood Lions Club] wanted to expand our service projects into more areas than just vision. What better [related concern] than diabetes? The GCCF Innovation Grant was exactly what we needed. The Mobile Diabetes Clinic is a major project that will enrich the county and brings together many organizations that are striving for the same goals we have. People in our area desperately need identification of, education about, and care for diabetes. We can take our free clinic to community centers and rural areas and give not only screenings but also information about effective, healthy lifestyle changes and how their medical needs can best be met.”
Clients who have not had a medical home, are impoverished, have little or no access to transportation and are uneducated about an improved and healthier lifestyle will be offered health consultations and be directed to other programs that can provide reduced cost or free services and medications.
The Foundation is pleased to provide for the development of such beneficial projects in our community!
GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Getting Your Ducks in a Row”, at Hospice Store, May 13, 2019
The GWC Quarterly Meeting on May 13th, “Getting Your Ducks in A Row”, was generously hosted by The Hospice Store. Delightful spring refreshments were served and GWC Members and guests were treated to a time of socializing and shopping. The Hospice Store has something for everyone! Nancy Corley, Chief Executive Officer of Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont, gave a very informative talk about the history and purpose of Hospice, the Hospice House, and the new Palliative Care Center. Nancy encouraged GWC Members to make advanced directive plans to designate a Healthcare Power of Attorney and to make your wishes known to her or him. The Hon. Travis Moore, Probate Judge, Greenwood County, spoke about dealing with estates, guardianship, mental illness/chemical dependency, and marriage licenses. Some of his advice was to ensure that you have a will and make determinations about your property in advance of critical health needs or end of life. Melissa Bane, Senior Private Client Advisor of Greenwood Capital, also strongly encouraged us to speak to loved ones about our wishes and to inform them of the location of original wills as well as providing them with copies of this and other essential documents. She urged Members to review beneficiaries on insurance documents and to make sure that joint property is titled with both spouses’ name. Thanks to all three speakers for sobering but very relevant information! The Meeting was attended by more than 50 of our Members and numerous guests. Those who weren’t able to attend missed out on great information! Our next GWC Quarterly Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20th at the United Center for Community Care.
GCCF works collaboratively with individuals and organizations that are interested in improving the quality of life in Greenwood. Through annual granting cycles the Foundation provides funding to charitable organizations located in the county.