GWC Annual Celebration, “Give Where You Live”, at Greenwood Community Theatre, April 20, 2026

The  Federal Building Courtyard in Uptown Greenwood was awash with the sounds of cool jazz, provided by a quartet of the Lander University Jazz Ensemble, and the sounds of laughter of dozens of members and guests at the 2026 Greenwood Women Care Annual Celebration. This year’s event was entitled “Give Where You Live,” a testament to GWC 2025 Grants totaling $79,825 to Greenwood nonprofits and $483,799 over seven years of granting awards.

Representatives from our Membership Committee, Cady Nell Keener, Nina Trent, Lisa Wyn, and Kerry Tieman, enthusiastically greeted all. The Social Committee provided a delicious repast of Mediterranean-style naan, turkey sliders, shrimp, tabouleh salad, and fresh fruit and cheese. Helena Wardlaw, owner of Charming Gourmet Sticks, made tasty chocolate-covered pretzel sticks and macarons. Prosecco, red and white wine, fruit punch, and water were served as well. Social Committee Co-Chairs Bobbie Fulton and Karen Smith, and committee members Summer Booker, Vickie Chandler, Kelli Eberhardt, Marg Gunderson, Carol Harley, Billie Havey, Christine Nowowiecki, Ginger Richman, Ginger Rogers, Denise Stone, Jeanne White, and Brenda Wulfkotte were on hand to serve this beautiful spread.

After the reception, we progressed to the Greenwood Community Theatre, with programs distributed by Margaret Conrad and Jan Puzar.

Peggy Dewane-Pope, GWC Vice-Chair, greeted us and highlighted the efforts of our six GWC standing committees in keeping GWC vibrant. She then suggested, “let’s shift from what we do… to why it matters. Let’s take a look at the impact of giving where you live.”

All enjoyed reliving the GWC events of the past year through a “Year in Review” slide show (prepared by Rachel Strayer) replete with inspiring quotes and images of all our 2025 events. Karen Smith and Bobbie Fulton then took the stage and awarded the first set of door prizes to members Brenda Feece and Rowan Pallis, delivered to recipients by Billie Havey and Kelli Eberhardt.

Our emcees for the evening, Helena Wardlaw and Laura Stowe, both serving on the GWC Advisory Board, advanced to the stage. They presented a lively look at options to address some serious challenges facing Greenwood County today, with information provided by LakelandsCounts.org, a trusted resource that tracks quality-of-life data. It has been GWC’s honor and privilege to step forward and assist with responding to these challenges with funding support.

The duo presented four different areas of concern, followed by a few ways, both humorous and serious, that these might be addressed. The first area, “A Healthier Greenwood,” explored challenges from infancy to geriatric care. GWC 2025 grantees New Morning and Community Initiatives’ La Clinica Gratis, along with Lions Vision Services, were highlighted in this section.

Teresa Goodman, Executive Director of Community Initiatives, spoke of how GWC’s grant impacted La Clinica Gratis and how their HOPE (Healthy Opportunities for Perinatal Equity) program serves uninsured and underinsured women in Greenwood County and the surrounding Lakelands. GWC grant funds were allocated toward providing a community health worker, medical provider, licensing, and patient education supplies.

The second challenge, “A Caring, Connected Greenwood Community,” centered on addiction, substance use, and housing instability. Chris Padgett, Founder and Executive Director of HUB Transition Centers, explained the mission of HUB to provide housing and support to individuals who are on the road to recovery and stability. Our GWC grant helped to cover intake fees, transportation costs, and household items.

Our third challenge focused on “Resilient Children and A Brighter Future for Greenwood,” highlighting 2025 grantees Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lakelands, Girls on the Run – Upstate SC, and Scouting America – Blue Ridge Council. Sabrina Miller, Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lakelands, spoke to us concerning the Starz 24 Teen Center and our GWC grant, which contributed to the important function of transportation of students from school to the Teen Center, including bus maintenance and staffing support, along with insurance, tags, and first aid supplies.

Our fourth challenge explored “Creative Opportunities and Inclusive Access for Greenwood,” highlighting even more 2025 grant recipients: Greenwood Community Theatre, Greenwood Performing Arts, and Lakelands Region YMCA. Ryan Hewitt, Artistic and Technical Director of Greenwood Community Theatre, spoke of their appreciation of the GWC grant for assistance with the production costs of The Penguin Project, which offers the opportunity for youth with disabilities to experience participation in a full-scale musical.

Mamie Nicholson and Donna Foster were the lucky recipients of our second round of door prizes.

What followed was a boot-stomping rendition of “Grants on the Ground,” a version of the popular song “Boots on the Ground” with lyrics revised especially for GWC by Mary Woodiwiss. Debbie Coesens introduced this segment of our program. Mary led 13 GWC friends through several rehearsals to be ready to take the stage with boots and clappy hands to present this rousing dance: Whitney Nicholson-Allen, Tara Smith, Laura Stowe, Helena Wardlaw, Santasha Highley, Ricque Greer, JulieAnn Mottern, Tyra Murray, Kit Adkins, Barbara Warner, Marilyn Murphy, and Charissa Gibson. Meanwhile, eight members armed with placards revealed, digit by digit, GWC’s total funding to our community to date: $483,799! They were: Erica Ferry, Denise Mock, Cady Nell Keener, Rowan Pallis, Michelle Stallworth, Debra Moton, Donna Foster, and Suzy Holloway.

GWC Chair Rachel Strayer closed our celebratory evening with words of gratitude to the “Arts Center of Greenwood and Greenwood Community Theatre for allowing us to gather in such beautiful spaces once again “, Ryan Hewitt, for “everything you’ve done to help bring tonight’s program to life”, and to the anonymous Advisory Board members who covered the cost of the Lander Jazz Ensemble’s performance and the door prizes. Rachel concluded with, “It makes my heart happy to see so many of you here in celebration of this organization and the impact it has on our community. I only wish more women knew about us and took advantage of the opportunity to be part of this. We all know our membership doesn’t just impact the nonprofits we support. It impacts each of us, too. Each of you matters. Each of you play a role. Each of you is part of the reason this work is possible. What we’re building together matters. And it only works because you’re a part of it.”