The Federal Building Courtyard resounded with happy voices during the social portion of the GWC Annual Celebration on a bright, crisp April evening. There was indeed much to celebrate as we look back on 2024! Our membership increased again, and our 2024 GWC Grants pushed the total amount of awards to Greenwood nonprofits to over $403,000!

Members and guests were greeted in the Federal Building courtyard by Debbie Bourne and Nina Trent, representatives of the Membership Committee, and Peggy Dewane-Pope, new Vice Chair of GWC. An array of delectables including strawberries, prosciutto wrapped cheese, quiches, spanakopita, brownie bites, and a tower of macarons were graciously served by Holley Coyle, Courtney Christensen, and Connie Carstens. At a separate but equally sumptuous table, Brenda Wulfekotte and Summer Booker served a delicious pomegranate punch (with or without prosecco).

At 6:00, with high anticipations, we made our way into the Greenwood Community Theatre where we were greeted by a stage swathed in bright green light that introduced us to this year’s Annual Celebration theme: Empowered Women Empower Communities.

Mary Woodiwiss, outgoing chair of GWC, opened the program with a warm welcome to our members and guests, including the four Co-Chairs of Greenville Women Giving: Beverly Ward, Connie Lanzl, Jane Pannier, and Jill Fivecoat, our “sisters from up the road.” Members of this organization were especially helpful resources in the formation of GWC. Mary gave special thanks to Ryan Hewitt, GCT’s Artistic and Technical Director for handling technical aspects of the evening.

Mary then noted: “It has been deeply meaningful to me to guide the creation and establishment of Greenwood Women Care since the earliest days of research into, and focus group discussions about, women’s giving collectives in 2016; through the formation of our Steering Committee in 2017 and our Charter Membership year of 2018; until this point in our 8^th membership year and 7^th year of grantmaking. Thank you for this distinct privilege, and special thanks to the many of you who have supported this enterprise with your positive dedication, hard work, creative ideas, and generous spirit. We grow as empowered women – empowered to serve, to lead, to generate, to support, and to strengthen the fabric of Greenwood County.” She commended Rachel Strayer, incoming GWC Chair, saying, “She brings uncommon energy, care, and commitment to all she sets her mind to. And she is an absolute delight to know and to work alongside! Thank you, Rachel, for assuming this role on behalf of all of us!”

Thank you, Mary Woodiwiss! Through your vision, values, and inspired leadership, you have made an enormous impact on Greenwood and have empowered many women, both in and out of GWC!.

Representatives of some of our 2024 grant recipients spoke in program portions entitled “Empowerment in Action”. Rosemary Bell and Ginger Lawton of Greater Greenwood United Ministry thanked GWC for the grant that enabled their organization to establish The Larry Tompkins Colon Cancer Prevention Program, named in honor of their clinic colleague.

A lively video composed by Rachel Strayer, “2024 Year in Review,” highlighted GWC events from the “Silver and Gold” Winter Social to our November Quarterly meeting, “Data Matters”. (View the video here.)

Our second “Empowerment in Action” speakers, Andrea White and Gwen Wiggleton represented the Food Bank of Greenwood County. Andrea referenced how empowered women lift others up as well. They both thanked GWC for the grant received last fall to support the soup kitchen and spoke of the importance of providing a safe place to gather, giving of oneself to aid someone else, and meeting essential needs for healthy meals.

Catherine DiBenedetto and Laura Bachinski introduced a lively game of “That’s GWC!” After hearing a statement pertaining to GWC, such as “I’ve attended a GWC meeting in a venue I’d never been in before”  and  “ I have a friend I wouldn’t have known without GWC,” audience members stood if this statement applied to them. A glitter-filled, GWC green beach ball was tossed in the general direction of the standing members, and the recipient briefly shared their response to the prompt. Fun! Fun! Fun!

The final “Empowerment in Action” portion featured Tammie Price and Vali Johnson from A Place for Us. Their GWC grant allowed the organization to provide a new program, Compassion Relief Retreats  at their 60-acre property, Our Farm. These retreats are designed to help nonprofit staff in direct services who experience stress and fatigue from caring for others. Retreats include equine, nature, and art therapies.

After each “Empowerment in Action” segment, presenters drew names for door prizes donated by women business owners. Contributors were: Kristen Bennett, Bonhomie, Charming Gourmet Sticks, Fig, Main & Maxwell, and Sweet Indulgence. Bev Gebicke and Madison Bryan delivered gifts to the lucky winners: Terry Lewis, Angie McCool, Debra Moton, Whitney Nicholson, Jan Saul, and Nina Trent.

Jan Puzar and Debbie Coesens presented “Empowering our Community” celebrating the 62 grants made to Greenwood nonprofits over the past six years. “The Grants Number Shuffle” ensued! Eight audience members were asked to come to the stage and arrange matboards with digits and symbols into the correct number reflecting our total awards in our granting history. After moments of hilarity and “helpful” coaching from the audience, the proper order reflecting the correct amount was achieved. $403,974!

Jan noted that, even with the significant grant funds GWC has been able to move into our community, there are still many unmet needs. Gift memberships to GWC, employer-sponsored memberships, and direct donations to GWC Granting Fund are all excellent ways to build our capacity to address local needs and opportunities through grantmaking. She closed with the apt statement “our community cannot be strong unless each component of our community is strong.”

Our new GWC Chair, Rachel Strayer, closed out the evening by thanking numerous committees and contributors for their involvement in the celebration. She expressed gratitude on behalf of the entire organization to Mary for her vision, leadership, and dedication to building GWC into the powerhouse for good that it is today. Rachel then introduced our new GWC Officers: Mary Woodiwiss, Treasurer; Margaret Conrad, Secretary; Peggy Dewane-Pope, Vice Chair; and herself as Chair.

Rachel concluded the celebration by inviting all to attend our 2^nd Quarterly Meeting on Monday, May 12^th, “Breaking the Silence: Together for Suicide Prevention and Awareness” at the Main Street United Methodist Church.

What a glorious evening!

GWC’s first quarterly meeting of 2025, For the Dreams of Children, was held on Monday, February 24^th at Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries in their Sandifer Dining Room, decorated with vases of fresh flowers and photographs of life at Connie Maxwell. Though the room was spacious, GWC was thrilled to have an overflow of women eager to socialize and learn more about the dreams of Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries.

All were warmly welcomed by Anne-Marie Johnson, co-chair of the Membership Committee, along with Karen Smith and Vicki Chandler of the Social Committee. More  Social Committee members awaited us at the bountiful buffet of breads, pimento cheese and egg salad croissants, open faced turkey sandwiches, club sandwiches on a roll, tabouli, and fruit. Courtney Christensen and Holley Coyle, co-chairs of the Social Committee graciously greeted us and directed us to yet another Social Committee member, Bobbie Fulton, who served hot cider, and water.

Rachel Strayer, Vice Chair of our Advisory Board, welcomed us and extended heartfelt thanks to our many renewing members and the 13 new members who have joined us and recognized our guests. Sincere thanks were also extended to our hosts, Danny Nicholson and Lauren Boyd for their warm hospitality. Rachel noted: “Greenwood is a special place because of organizations like Connie Maxwell, where compassion meets action. It’s a community where generosity and service are woven into the fabric of everyday life – where people and organizations come together to uplift, support, and inspire. It’s this shared commitment to caring for others that makes Greenwood not just a town, but a home.”

Rachel then introduced Laura Stowe, co-chair of the Communications Committee who announced the Greenwood Women Care exhibit at the Greenwood County Library which will be on display from March 1 – April 30.

Taylor Haigler, Programs & Education Committee member, introduced our first speaker, Danny Nicholson, President and fund raiser extraordinaire, who treated all present to a peek at the dreams of Connie Maxwell. He shared an excellent 20-minute video which outlined major components of Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries: A dynamic, foundational history and dreams for the future, including Maxwell Farm reimagined with plans for an amphitheater and animal therapy, the creation of a Charleston campus, and a Healing Center in Greenwood devoted to addressing trauma. He also spoke from his personal experience about the need each child has to be truly seen and loved to be able to thrive.

Danny Nicholson then introduced Lauren Boyd, Fitness and Wellness Specialist at Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries and GWC member! Lauren leads the MaxFit program to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being for staff and students. She thanked GWC for awarding the very first grant in support of MaxFit and informed us that GWC funding provided for the purchase of multiple large pieces of equipment in the MaxFit gym. We viewed a second video, “Dream On.”

Laura Bachinski, chair of our Programs & Education Committee, presented All the Places We Call Home by Patrice Gopo (Author) and Jenin Mohammed (Illustrator) to Danny Nicholson and Lauren Boyd for inclusion in the Greenwood County Library in their honor.

Mary Woodiwiss, Advisory Board Chair, closed out the meeting with special thanks to all who attended for making time to be present at this special gathering and to our Social and Programs & Education Committees for their efforts to make this evening possible. In expressing appreciation to Danny Nicholson, Lauren Boyd, and the staff of Connie Maxwell, she said:  “The book of Proverbs says, ‘without a vision, the people perish.’ In your service to children in need of care, you are often holding that vision on behalf of a child or youth until she or he can carry it forward for themselves. Your daily dedication gives substance to the dreams of children, and we are all enriched by it.”

It was a wonderful evening, ending with hugs and a large group photo!