On Tuesday evening August 19, 2025 members and guests of Greenwood Women Care (GWC) met for our 3rd Quarterly Meeting, including special recognition of GWC’s 2024 grantees, at the Greenwood Genetics Center (GGC). We stepped into the main hall at the JC Self Research Institute, and were welcomed by old friends and new, women who share the goal that served as our meeting’s theme: “Making a Difference . . . Together!” The Social Committee outdid themselves again with a selection of light snacks, wine, and an Arnold Palmer punch. The room was filled with lively conversations and laughter as we simply enjoyed the pleasure of being together at the end of another hot summer day in Greenwood, South Carolina.
At 6 o’clock, we gathered in the main auditorium for our program, and were welcomed by the Chair of Greenwood Women Care’s Advisory Board, Rachel Strayer. Rachel extended a warm welcome to members and recognized our guests. She thanked our hosting venue and reminded us that our theme, “Making a Difference . . . Together,” explained why we were gathered. “Each of us, through our time, talent, and collective giving helps strengthen our community in meaningful ways.” She stated that our gathering was not only a quarterly meeting but was a celebration of our 2024 Grantees: “incredible organizations who are turning vision into action and making a real impact in people’s lives every day.” She then introduced GWC member and Chair of the Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation, Megha Lal, who led us into the evening’s program.
Megha welcomed us and invited GGC’s Director of Communications, Lori Bassett, MS, to the podium. Lori shared with us the vision and work of the Greenwood Genetics Center. We watched a video on the history, mission, and current work done at GGC. The team at GGC is focused on patient care, research into genetic disorders, and provision of educational resources to our community. For over 50 years GGC has placed patients and their families “at the center of everything.” We learned about the four pillars of care: Access (to improve access to genomic testing and services), Analysis (by using the latest diagnostic technology), Answers (for patients and families who are searching for long-awaited diagnoses), and Action (allowing patients to have personalized treatment plans). Following her presentation, we got to hear a very special announcement “hot off the press”; GGC has just been informed that they will participate in a $5.4 million-dollar National Institutes of Health grant to investigate neurological symptoms in patients with CDG (Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation). This announcement was even more meaningful to us having just watched the video where patients and families shared how the care and research at GCC has significantly impacted their lives.
Jan Puzar, Co-Chair of our Grants Review & Awards Committee, continued our program with a description of the Women’s Heath Grant, an award presented every two years through the Greenwood County Community Foundation, funded by a Field of Interest Fund endowed by Jim and Denise Medford. The grant supports wholistic care and health education to improve the physical, mental, or social health and wellbeing of women in the Greenwood community. In 2021, Greenwood Women Care was designated to manage the process of awarding this grant. Jan reminded us that this year’s Women’s Health Grant was awarded to The Period Project. She introduced Pamela Askew, Executive Director of The Period Project, who shared how this project impacts girls and women in our area “by increasing local, regional, and national awareness of period poverty and delivering menstrual health products to those in need . . . replacing poverty with community and shame with dignity.” The Period Project was awarded $5,750 in March 2025. (A brief video about this award may be viewed here.)
Michelle Stallworth, Grants Review & Awards Committee member, next came to the podium with an introduction to our video featuring 2024 grant recipients. Debbie Coesens, Co-Chair of our Grants Review & Awards Committee, then invited our Grantees in attendance to come on stage to be recognized. We applauded our Grantees, each of whom represents the “boots on the ground” who serve our Greenwood community. The 2024 Grantee video entitled “Making a Difference…Together” may be viewed here:
Our next presentation was by Peggy DeWane-Pope (Grants Review & Awards Committee member). Peggy announced our quarterly meeting tradition of donating a children’s book to our local library in honor of our presenters. This evening, we honored our 2024 grant recipients with the book One World by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jenni Desmond. Peggy describes this book as “a magical ride around the globe illuminating our precious and fragile natural world and its biodiversity.”
She summarized: “This book reminds me of our nonprofits honored today that help people get through fragility as well. The Alston Wilkes Society helps folks and their families with the effects of incarceration, Alzheimer’s Association cares for those with Alzheimer’s and their care providers, CrossRoads Women’s Center supports those with unplanned pregnancies, while Carolina Health Centers benefits new mothers. Congrats to the Food Bank of the Lakelands for their new name and logo while still serving people who need food. Greater Greenwood United Ministries provides aid to local residents in preventing colorectal cancer, and the Greenwood Cancer Fund fills needs for those facing the disease. Greenwood Pathway House helps people transition into homes, Healthy Learners supports underserved children with health and dental needs, and A Place for Us buoys nonprofit staff from other organizations with compassion relief. And finally, Servants for Sight provides surgeries, supplies, and transportation to those with vision challenges.”
Jan Puzar concluded this amazing evening by drawing us back to our theme: “Making a Difference . . . Together” and our GWC motto: “Learn, Give, Grow.” She reminded us that we are a collective giving organization, and thanked members for their generosity in making their annual contributions to GWC. She then announced that we have also received 21 additional gifts to the GWC Granting Fund this year, bringing our total to award later this year to almost $80,000.
Finally, Jan thanked Greenwood Genetic Center for hosting us, the GWC Membership Committee who welcomed us into that beautiful space, and the GWC Social Committee for a wonderful reception. She recognized Rachel Strayer and Lauren Boyd who produced the Grantee video, and our hard-working GWC Grants Review and Awards Committee. We once again applauded our GWC 2024 grant recipients and the 2025 Women’s Health Grant recipient. The evening drew to a close with a thanks to all the members and friends of GWC who believe in “Making a Difference . . . Together!”
