“Kick Off the Vote!”, at Harley Family Center, October 16, 2023

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GWC’s annual informational social, “Kick Off The Vote!” was hosted by our Grants Review & Awards and Social Committees and held at the Harley Family Center on Monday, October 16. The center echoed with exuberant voices of friends greeting each other. Light and delicious refreshments awaited, served by Holley Coyle and Courtney Christensen, Co-Chairs of the Social Committee as well as other welcoming committee members. A PowerPoint of images was compiled by the Communications Committee for the reception highlighting some of GWC’s activities during the last three months: Grant Writing 101 workshop for nonprofits, our August Quarterly Meeting, “Giving is in our Genes,” A New Members Dinner at Betty Adams’s home, our September Social, “Two are Better Than One, and the creation and installation of GWC’s 2023 Uptown scarecrow, Ms. Carey Givings.

Informational segments were presented by members of the Granst Review & Awards Committee. These began with Sally Kauffmann’s expertly performed and very humorous renditions of  “You Are So Beautiful to Me, GWC” and “Blowin’ in the Wind” (including the line “How many needs are right here in Greenwood?”), executed in the manner of Joe Cocker and Bob Dylan, respectively.

Mary Woodiwiss discussed some FAQS of Nonprofit Funding focusing on:

  • How do Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) generate and meet their budgets?
  • Why do some NPOS request or require so much more funding than others?
  • Why do GWC Grants matter?

In her review of our granting process, Mary Dula noted that we are in the very process of women’s empowerment during these days of voting on grants that will impact and influence our community. It was breathtaking to learn that GWC will surpass a cumulative total of over $300,000 in our granting history with this cycle; however, it was also humbling to recognize, once again, how much need there is in Greenwood. Our grant awards this year will be approximately half of the funding requested in this cycle.

Debbie Cousens, Co-Chair of the Grants Review & Awards Committee, recapped what happens after we vote, outlining the tabulation process. So exciting to realize that within a week or two, the most important task we do as an organization, granting to nonprofits, will be accomplished! Tabulation is an elegant process based entirely on members’ ranked votes on Survey Monkey ballots. Grants Review & Awards Committee members review this data and determine how many organizations will receive funding and how much funding each organization will receive, based on the total amount available to award in the 2023 cycle. Debbie announced that “the time is upon us” as ballot links were sent at 6:00pm, during this meeting. The ballot will remain open through midnight on Wednesday, October 18.

The power and privilege to vote is a tremendous opportunity and one that we hope all GWC members will avail themselves of exercising.

Jan Puzar, Co-Chair of the Grants Review & Awards Committee, invited any remaining questions about this year’s voting to be posed.

Rachel Strayer, GWC Vice Chair, delivered the closing remarks by introducing us to the “Caring Arms of Ms. Carey Givings”, our GWC scarecrow on display in front of The Grose Law Firm located at 305 Main St. This wonderful lady holds in her arms several scarecrow children representing past grant recipients in honor and recognition of how the women in this organization wrap our own caring arms around our community. She reminded GWC members that each of make a huge difference by being part of Greenwood Women Care.

With Rachel’s words ringing in our ears, the attending members purposefully left 2023’s “Kick Off the Vote!” with the happy realization that we are blessed to live in Greenwood and grateful for this unique opportunity to be able to make our beloved community a better place for all.

Ms. Carey Givings Returns to Main St.!, October 2023

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Our delightful GWC scarecrow, Ms. Carey Givings, has returned to Uptown Greenwood! She is on display on Main Street in this year’s Annual Scarecrow Contest.

Ms. Carey Givings may be seen at the lamppost in front of The Grose Law Firm (305 Main St.).

Please pay Carey a visit and then honor her – and GWC – by voting for her as your favorite Uptown scarecrow! Click this link to cast your vote for Carey! Votes may be placed from Tuesday, October 3 at 10:00 am through midnight on Tuesday, October 31. (Winners will be announced on the Uptown website, Facebook, and Instagram on November 2.)

The GWC scarecrow is a GWC Communication Committee project initiated last year by Rachel Strayer. This year, Ms. Carey Givings features “caring arms” that hold scarecrow children representing a number of our GWC Grant recipients that provide essential services in our community.

Communications Committee members Catherine DiBenedetto, Sandy McCord, Laura Stowe, and Rachel Strayer spent a lovely autumn evening creating this scarecrow on Catherine’s farm.

We hope that Ms. Carey Givings will serve as our Uptown ambassador throughout the montth of October, encouraging more women to join us in GWC as we care for Greenwood, and give for the benefit of our whole community!

GWC Social, “Two Are Better Than One”, at Emerald Trading Co., September 12, 2023

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Despite threats of gusty winds, thunderstorms, and hail, nearly forty hearty souls gathered, some with tasty treats in hand, to enjoy Greenwood Women Care’s second social of 2023 on September 12th.

GWC members and guests were graciously welcomed by Dana Riley, proud proprietor of Emerald Trading Company. Beautifully restored and remodeled and featuring three wall size murals of historic Greenwood, Emerald Trading Company was the perfect place to enjoy fellowship and a delicious repast prepared by GWC’s members whose last names begin with A – L. Dishes including potato casserole, grits, orzo salad, pinwheel sandwiches, chicken, and meatballs, along with delicious desserts, were enjoyed by all!

A station to assemble products provided by one of GWC’s 2022 grant recipients, The Period Project, into “period packs” was set up with many GWC members joining in the project. Karen Dudley-Culbreath, Executive Director of The Period Project, spoke to the group. She noted that one out 4 women lives in “period poverty” determined by such factors as rural locale or economic deprivation and has difficulty obtaining essential monthly supplies.

All attending departed under a clear sky, more enlightened and nourished in both spirit and body, and convinced, once again, that GWC is indeed “The Place To Be!”

New Members Welcome Dinner, August 29, 2023

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For the first time in GWC’s history, our Membership Committee hosted a second informal dinner to welcome women who joined GWC this year. GWC is delighted to have 18 new members in 2023! Four of these 18 attended this dinner and seven were able to come to our Soup Supper last February.

Our New Members dinners provide an opportunity to extend a personal welcome, give an overview of the activities of our GWC Committees, and convene a smaller gathering for women new to GWC to meet other members outside the context of our larger Quarterly Meetings and Socials.

We shared homemade appetizers, sandwiches, muffins, salads, and desserts and spent time visiting with new and longtime friends. Mary Woodiwiss, Chair of our Advisory Board, Rachel Strayer, Advisory Board Vice Chair, and Betty Adams, Co-Chair of the Membership Committee introduced activities of the six standing committees within GWC.

It was a wonderful time to enjoy excellent fare and each other’s fine company!

Special thanks to Betty Adams for hosting us in her lovely home, Membership Committee members for providing delicious food and drink, and our new members for sharing this evening together!

GCCF’s Community Enhancement Grant Awards, August 2023

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Greenwood County Community Foundation GCCF is pleased to announce grant awards to four local nonprofit organizations in our 2023 Community Enhancement granting cycle.

Grant recipients are:

Arts Center of Greenwood  — Black History exhibit and program series and Connecting With the Dream program and community activities

Community Initiatives — G.R.O.W. development initiative

Here 4 A Reason — Suicide prevention and awareness educational events

96 Mill Village Neighborhood Association —  Movie in the Park community event

We congratulate each of these nonprofit organizations! Thank you for your service to the residents of our community!

GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Giving is in Our Genes”, at Greenwood Genetic Center, August 14, 2023

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Greenwood Women Care (GWC) members, 2022 grantees, and guests met on Monday evening, August 14, to celebrate 2022’s grant recipients. Our theme was Giving is in Our Genes! and in keeping with the theme we were decked out in denim as we gathered at the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) for our reception and program.

Our Social Committee members outdid themselves once again with a lovely array of wraps, salads, and petit fours. The room was filled with laughter and, walking through the venue, you could hear women meeting and greeting, catching up, telling stories, and sharing life from this past summer.

At 6 o’clock, we headed to the auditorium for our program. Mary Woodiwiss, Chair of GWC’s Advisory Board, gave opening remarks of welcome and noted that we now have 145 members! She also asked our guests to stand, and everyone was given a warm and welcoming round of applause.

Mary expressed gratitude to be gathering at the Greenwood Genetic Center, “a place of uncommon service and distinctive excellence.” Just as GGC is a place of caring, Mary emphasized that Care forms a full one third of our name. “As a diverse body of women from many and varied life and professional experiences, GWC is a real-life lab for forming bonds in new and invigorating ways with women we may have missed thus far in our community life. It is our care for this community which draws us together and our care for each other that enriches us. Our hopes for our community and ourselves are aspirational, but they are also grounded in real actions and refining experiences. We come together to learn and give alongside each other, and we actually enjoy doing it!”

Through GWC in 2022, we have learned, given, and grown together. Mary was excited to lead us in celebration of this journey and in honoring our 2022 grantees. She invited Megha Lal, GWC Member and Chair Elect of the Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation Board, to the podium. Megha graciously introduced Cady Nell Keener, Executive Director of the Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation and GWC Member. Cady Nell welcomed us to GGC and presented an inspiring video highlighting the history and ongoing work of GGC, a nonprofit organization which is a center of research and service in the field of medical genetics. To learn more about the Greenwood Genetic Center (and view truly inspirational videos) visit ggc.org  .

Next, Margaret Conrad, Member of GWC Grants Review and Awards Committee, recognized our wonderful 2022 grantees! Rachel Strayer and Caleb Kidd Coy prepared a video entitled Honoring the 2022 Grant Recipients. We were inspired to hear from representatives of the following eleven organizations: Alston Wilkes Society, Arts Council of Greenwood, Crossroads Pregnancy Center, Food Bank of Greenwood County, Greenwood Cancer Fund, Greenwood Pathway House, Greenwood Performing Arts, Healthy Learners, Humane Society of Greenwood, Next Level Lifestyles, and The Period Project. Please view Honoring the 2022 Grant Recipients here.

We celebrated as our grant recipients came to the stage to receive special cookies decorated with GWC and DNA images and pose for a group photo by Catherine DiBenedetto, Co-Chair of our Communications Committee.

Charlene Kish, Member of GWC Grants Review and Awards Committee, presented the book to be donated to the Greenwood County Library Children’s Collection with a special bookplate noting our 2022 grantees. Book donations given at our Quarterly Meetings in honor of our presenters are titles selected by Jody Gable, Children’s Services Coordinator, and purchased locally. A World of Praise was written by Deborah Lock and illustrated by Helen Cann. The book is described as “a global hymn to God’s abundant love and care for his creation.” GWC is proud to dedicate this book to our eleven grant recipients who, in so many diverse ways, have demonstrated love and care for people (and animals!) in our community.

Jan Puzar, Co-Chair of GWC Grants Review and Awards Committee, closed our evening, thanking all our members, grantees, and guests for celebrating that Giving is in Our Genes! She presented a great summary for each of our grant recipient organization’s mission. The services provided to the Greenwood community through the 2022 grants encompass:

Homeless shelters
Nutrition education
Children’s healthcare access
Cancer meds
Youth mentoring
Offender services
Parent education and counseling
Art therapy and education
Personal hygiene supplies
Medicine for shelter dogs
A Celebration of Gullah Gechee Culture

She closed the evening by once again thanking the Greenwood Genetic Center for use of their beautiful facilities, Rachel Strayer and Caleb Kidd Coy for producing the Honoring the 2022 Grant Recipients video, the GWC Social Committee for the lovely reception, the GWC Grants Review and Awards Committee for planning the meeting, and all who joined in our celebration by wearing denim because truly: Giving is in Our Genes!

GCCF Awards Innovation Grant, July 2023

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Greenwood County Community Foundation (GCCF) has awarded an Innovation Grant for $50,000 to Greenwood Pathway House in support of Pathway Village.

Anthony Price, Executive Director of Greenwood Pathway House (GPH) noted, “Pathway Village utilizes family cottages and Post-Traumatic Growth (referred to as ‘PTG’) programs to create stable families that are capable of thriving over time. The village design eliminates typical shelter restrictions that often prevent certain families from receiving help. The village concept provides a community where children and their parents can thrive because they feel safe, supported, encouraged, and valued.”

The GCCF Innovation Grant is offered biennially and supports creative ideas that foster strategic change within the Greenwood County community. It is awarded to applicant organization demonstrating a sound approach to addressing root causes of systemic problems or deficiencies, and by contributing to a healthy, thriving community. Collaboration and partnerships among organizations are expected and essential to assure lasting impact and success.

Mary Woodiwiss, GCCF Director of Grants and Projects, commented, “This year’s pool of applicants for the Innovation Grant was extraordinarily strong. Through our granting cycles, our Board and staff are regularly reminded of the excellent work conducted by our local nonprofits every day and we are grateful for their faithfulness in addressing community needs. It is a privilege to be able to support such efforts with GCCF funding.”

“GCCF’s Innovation award continues to be a valuable tool to encourage  ‘outside the box’ solutions that address root cause problems in our community”, said Herman Fletcher, GCCF’s Board Chair. “The new Pathway Village housing concept and the deployment of the Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) model have already demonstrated successful results. Greenwood Pathway House utilized a $5000 GCCF grant awarded in one of our previous annual cycles to establish the PTG model which is now bearing fruit. This is an example of good stewardship and perseverance which is commendable.”

After receiving the Innovation Grant on behalf of GPH, Price expressed, “We are honored to be chosen for the Innovation Grant. We believe that Pathway Village is a model for reintegrating homeless families as thriving members of our community. In the five months since we began operating Pathway Village, we have enrolled 26 families with 52 children, more than in the previous 5 years combined. But it’s not just about enrolling a lot of people, it’s about lifting them up and helping them thrive. We’re truly grateful that GCCF is providing grant funds to help us operate Pathway Village at full capacity.”

GWC Summer 2023 Newsletter

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GWC Grant Writing Workshop, “Grant Writing 101”, July 25, 2023

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GWC hosted our annual workshop, “Grant Writing 101”, on Tuesday, July 25. The workshop was offered at no charge to 18 registrants from local nonprofit staff and volunteers. West Side Baptist Church generously provided the meeting space.
Christopher Timmons, Associate Pastor of West Side Baptist Church, warmly welcomed all workshop participants and presenters. Mary Woodiwiss, Chair of GWC’s Advisory Board and member of the Grants Review & Awards Committee, extended GWC’s welcome and made introductory announcements.

Workshop sessions were conducted by Jan Puzar, Kathy Emily, Donna Foster, and Kerry Ignatovich, GWC Members who have professional experience in program direction, grant writing, assessment, and management. These presentations included discussion of a homework assignment to help participants focus on their organization’s funding priorities, writing an effective grant proposal, and outcome measures for assessment of a program or project.

During the workshop, we enjoyed a break for coffee and bagels.

The workshop also featured a Funders Forum comprised of representatives of local granting organizations. Each spoke about the granting process, funding priorities, and other aspects of their grantmaking as well as responding to workshop participants’’ questions. Presenters were: Cyndi New, Self Regional Community Health; Mamie Nicholson, Self Family Foundation; Justo Chalaire, United Way of the Lakelands; Sally Kauffmann, Greenwood Women Care; and Mary Woodiwiss, Greenwood County Community Foundation.

This training provided attendees with fundamentals for improving their grant application practices, whether for GWC Grants or requests made of other local or external funders. GWC’s Grants Review & Awards Committee members believe that Grant Writing 101 is a valuable way to be of service to our local nonprofits as they carry out their missions for the benefit of our whole community.

2023 Awards Gala

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