GWC Winter Social, “An Evergreen Evening”, at Grange Hall, January 27, 2026

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This year’s Winter Social, “An Evergreen Evening: Growing together to keep our community strong all year long”,  took place on Tuesday, January 27th, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Grange Hall.

The evening began with Karen Smith and Bobbie Fulton, Co-Chairs of the Social Committee, welcoming almost 40 members and guests. They thanked fellow Social Committee members for their help organizing the event, including coordinating the delicious food, wine, and punch that everyone enjoyed. They also encouraged anyone interested in getting involved with the Social Committee to ask questions and learn more, sharing that new committee members are always welcome.

The setting at Grange Hall added to the relaxed and inviting atmosphere of the night. While simple in nature, the space was cozy, warm, and an ideal venue for gathering, conversation, and connection. For many in attendance, it was their first opportunity to experience this lesser-known piece of Greenwood history.

After socializing with old and new friends and enjoying refreshments, attendees participated in a fun “Winter Favorites” game. Several small groups answered questions about 1) favorite winter comfort foods, 2) a favorite recent book, TV show, or movie, 3) something they were glad they said yes to recently, and 4) something they are looking forward to in 2026. Answers were then shared with the full group. It was fun to hear so many different ideas, plans, goals, and hopes for the new year!

It was also enjoyable to see many attendees embrace the Evergreen Evening theme by incorporating shades of green into their wardrobe choices. From subtle touches to bolder accents, the theme added a playful and festive element to the evening.

Chair of the GWC Advisory Board, Rachel Strayer, wound down the evening by thanking everyone who ventured out on a cold night to spend time together. She shared that many great programs are planned for the year ahead, with the next gathering scheduled for February 17th at Emerald High School titled “Partnerships Helping Students Succeed.”

As always, it was such a good evening to be inspired to continue the dedicated work of GWC so that we can all make a difference in so many lives in our community.

GWC Announces our 2025 Grant Awards!, November 2025

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Greenwood Women Care is pleased to announce our 2025 GWC Grant Awards! Our collective funds received through annual membership and other designated contributions enabled GWC to disburse $79,825 in total in grant funding for eleven nonprofits serving residents of Greenwood County. In our seven years of offering GWC Grants, we have made 73 grants totaling  $483,799!

GWC 2025 Grants were awarded to:

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lakelands   $10,000
Rising STARZ program for at-risk middle school students

Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries   $8,000
Advanced trauma therapy for children and families

Greenwood Community Theatre   $10,000
The Penguin Project musical performance opportunity for children and youth with disabilities

Girls on the Run – Upstate SC   $10,000
Program integrating running with life skills for underserved girls ages 6-14

Lions Vision Services   $7,500
Eye health services for uninsured or under-insured Greenwood residents

Community Initiatives   $7,500
La Clinica Gratis maternal-health program

Blue Ridge Council – Scouting America   $7,500
After-school program/day camp for at-risk youth to participate in Scouts

HUB Transition Centers   $7,500
Transitional housing for recovery from addiction and homelessness

New Morning   $2,750
Counseling and access to contraceptive methods for low-income & uninsured women

Lakelands Region Y   $5,275
Restoration of outdoor camp facility damaged by Hurricane Helene

Greenwood Performing Arts   $3,800
Structured music & art activities for seniors with cognitive impairments

Please see the article about our grant awards featured in the Index Journal here.

Grant recipients were determined by ranked voting by our Members from October 20-22. Our Grants Review & Awards Committee gathered information obtained from the platform used for our online ballots. Using raw scores, weighted averages, and percentile rankings based on the total amount available to grant, the Committee evaluated the data and determined the number of projects to be funded and the amount of each grant.

Special thanks to the Grants Review & Awards Committee for all your efforts to: create a grant writing workshop, publicize this granting opportunity to local nonprofits, process applications, present information on grant requests to Members to help us make informed voting decisions, explain our voting process, determine awards based on our votes, deliver our 2025 GWC Grants checks to the recipients, and manage all the other aspects of this core activity of GWC!

Congratulations to our 2025 GWC Grant recipients! We are grateful for all your excellent efforts to improve the quality of our shared life in Greenwood County!

GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Strength in Every Step: The Power of Movement and Community” at Greenwood YMCA, November 17, 2025

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Who knew eating healthily and exercising could be so much fun? GWC’s fourth Quarterly Meeting of 2025 was hosted by the Lakelands Region YMCA and focused on their Rock Steady Boxing program. Rock Steady Boxing is designed to benefit those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a chronic, progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement due to the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. GWC was thrilled to award a 2021 grant to the Lakelands Region YMCA for this program.

Nutritious and delicious snacks preceded our “workout.” Fruit smoothies, kombucha, and water provided much needed hydration while crunchy salad, cheeses and crackers were chased down by apple cider doughnut holes, Aussie Bites, and mini-chocolate chip cookies! Tasty fortification, for sure!

Our program began with GWC Vice Chair, Peggy Dewane-Pope, sharing a heartfelt and insightful narrative about her brother-in-law, who was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a form of Parkinson’s. As a result of his boxing classes, “he learned to manage his fear and find more physical balance, strength, and agility along with camaraderie and new friendships. As Lewy body dementia stole from him, boxing rewarded him and enabled him to live his best life.”

Peggy then introduced Programs & Education Committee member Helena Wardlaw to usher in our speakers. Helena had the pleasure of introducing our hosts from Y, Jan Rushton, GWC member and Greenwood Y Director of Health and Wellness, and Sunni Carwile, Greenwood Y Wellness Coordinator.

Jan began by thanking GWC for their $5,000 grant in 2021 which assisted in purchasing the special equipment needed for the Rock Steady Boxing program. She also informed us that our local YMCA serves a membership of 6,000! The offerings include various physical fitness and health and wellness classes suited for nearly every ability and stage of life. Jan continued to educate us on Rock Steady Boxing, including its beginnings and global growth. Sunni Carwile divided us into four groups and introduced us to our “trainers” and off we went!

The four stations consisted of a boxing dummy (dubbed “Parker”) where we learned to jab, cross, and throw a hook. The second station consisted of several speed bags; definitely not as easy as they make it look on TV! The third station was comprised of assorted opportunities including a “whack-a-mole” style challenge which was, of course, a lot of fun! The fourth station was dedicated to balance and presented a challenge to many of us!

Sabrina Miller presented a book titled The Truth about Dragons, authored by Julie Leung and illustrated by Hanna Cha, to be donated to the Greenwood Public Library Children’s Collection in honor of Jan and Sunni. This tale reminds us that strength can look different depending on the world we’re moving through.

Rachel Strayer, GWC Chair, closed our meeting by reflecting on various forms of strength, whether physical resilience, sharpened focus, renewed confidence, or the courage to keep moving when life looks different than we expected. She expressed appreciation to Jan, Sunni, and the other trainers for providing such a fun and thought-provoking program and to the YMCA for so graciously hosting us. On the brink of Thanksgiving, Rachel expressed gratitude to all our members and especially to our six standing committees and Advisory Board.

All left with a smile on their faces and appreciation for the internal and external strength we all possess and looking forward to being together again for our 2026 Winter Social. “An Evergreen Evening: Growing together to keep our community strong all year long” will be held on Tuesday, January 27, from 5:30 – 7:00pm at Grange Hall at 303 Grange Rd., Greenwood.

“Kick Off the Vote!”, at Harley Family Center, October 20, 2025

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We’ve got our “Grants on the Ground”!

Having the opportunity to visit fellow members while seeing photo highlights from this year’s GWC activities, filled with various venues and the smiles of kind and generous folks, sure did start off our annual Kick Off the Vote meeting with promise on October 20, 2025. Our members-only meeting historically starts with a tongue-in-cheek song or poem—but first the Social Committee provided light appetizers and tasty beverages.

Mary Woodiwiss walked the group through the work the Grants Review & Awards Committee has done in the last few months so that we could commend and thank them. But when she invited others to join them in our next granting year, the whole group burst out laughing after hearing about how busy this committee is. The evening‘s fun began with both a song and dance! Members Charissa Gibson, Sabrina Miller, Tyra Murray, Laura Stowe, Helena Wardlaw, and Mary Woodiwiss performed a lively dance to “Grants on the Ground”, Mary’s modified, GWC-themed version of 803Fresh’s song “Boots on the Ground.” Their performance of the most popular line dance in the nation resulted in boisterous, encouraging laughter throughout the room.

Then, Grants Review & Awards Committee members invited each person to take a snippet of a 2025 grant proposal to determine which Greenwood area nonprofit it came from. Women scrambled among the numerous application posters analyzing services a grant would provide to locate the fact they held in hand. The exercise served as a warm-up to the voting where every member decides which nonprofit organizations will receive a portion of the nearly $80,000 we have to disburse this year. The challenge brought amusement and interest (and a wee bit of panic). Planners Debbie Coesens, Kathy Emily, Jan Puzar, and Peggy Dewane-Pope watched with glee as the game played out.

One of the tremendous advantages GWC has among collective giving groups nationwide is providing every member with a voice in what organizations are funded. Michelle Stallworth reviewed our voting process. She encouraged members to vote using the emailed link members received during the meeting and to rank all proposals to ensure a strong list of priorities for granting. Members were also provided with handouts entitled “FAQs About Nonprofit Funding” and “What Happens After We Vote.”

Debbie Coesens wrapped up our meeting by fielding questions about the voting process, prompting us to vote for GWC’s very own Uptown scarecrow, Ms. Carey Givings, and announcing important upcoming events. Throughout the evening, we were reminded that learning about our community, giving generously, and growing together with new and current friends and neighbors is a priority in making Greenwood better at every step. Thanks so much to all who helped make Kick Off the Vote! fabulous and fun!

GWC Scarecrow: Ms. Carey Givings Drops In! October, 2025

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Ms. Carey Givings Drops In for the Uptown Scarecrow Contest!

Greenwood Women Care is once again proud to join Uptown Greenwood’s annual Scarecrow Contest with the return of our honorary member, Ms. Carey Givings! Since 2022, Ms. Givings has been a spirited part of GWC, brought to life each fall by our Communications Committee.

This year, she’s showing her adventurous side by parachuting right into Uptown! She has landed on the corner of Main St. and Riley Ave. (in front of Buffalo Grill) and we hope you’ll stop by to say hello before her visit ends. Her daring arrival is a playful reminder that curious women are always welcome to “drop in” at GWC meetings and socials. Each gathering takes us to new places across Greenwood, sparking fresh connections, insights, and friendships. And we always love to see new faces!

Special thanks go to Catherine DiBenedetto, Sandy McCord, Rachel Strayer, and Laura Stowe, who went above and beyond to ensure Ms. Givings is primed and ready to greet all who visit her.

Voting for the People’s Choice award opens on Monday, September 29 at 10:00 am and continues through Thursday, October 30 at 5:00 pm. You can vote online by liking photos on Uptown Greenwood’s Facebook and Instagram pages. If you take a photo with any of Carey’s friends be sure to post using #uptownscarecrows! Winners will be announced on October 31, 2025, via Uptown Greenwood’s website and social media.

Let’s cheer on Ms. Carey Givings and celebrate the creativity, camaraderie, and community spirit she represents for Greenwood Women Care!

GWC Fall Potluck Social, “I’ve Been ‘Heron’ About GWC…”, at Blue Heron House, September 16, 2025

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On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Greenwood Women Care flocked together at the beautiful Blue Heron House in Ninety Six for our Fall Potluck Social, “I’ve been HERON about GWC…”. From 5:30–7:00 pm, the lake views sparkled, the laughter carried, and the dishes shared were nothing short of amazing.

Guests with last names beginning A–L provided a delightful spread that showcased the culinary creativity of our members. The weather was perfect, adding to the welcoming atmosphere and making the evening feel even more special.

Our gracious hosts, Margaret Conrad and Courtney Christensen, opened their family cabin and welcomed one and all with generous hospitality. Rachel Strayer, Chair of the GWC Advisory Board, encouraged us to dive into the many ways to get involved with GWC before handing it back over to Courtney, who kept the energy flowing with a lively “get to know you” game. It turns out our group is full of hidden talents and surprising trivia!

Between the food, the fellowship, and the gorgeous setting on Lake Greenwood, the evening was a wonderful reminder of the joy of gathering together and celebrating community. Heartfelt thanks to Margaret and Courtney for hosting us so graciously, to our members for the wide array of food contributions, to the Social Committee for providing beverages and other essentials, and to the Membership and Communications Committees for their parts in making the evening such a success. As always, we’re already looking forward to our next gathering!

GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Making a Difference… Together” at Greenwood Genetic Center, August 19, 2025

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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!”

GWC Provides “Grant Writing 101” Workshop, July 29, 2025

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GWC’s Grants Review & Awards Committee hosted their annual Grant Writing 101 workshop on Tuesday, July 29. The workshop was offered at no charge to representatives from local nonprofit staff and volunteers. This year, twelve participants represented nine nonprofits. West Side Baptist Church generously provided a comfortable meeting space for a fourth year.

Mary Woodiwiss, Treasurer of GWC’s Advisory Board and member of the Grants Review & Awards Committee, extended a welcome on behalf of GWC and invited introductions by all participants. The Rev. Kyle Richter, Senior Pastor of West Side Baptist Church, also warmly greeted all attendees and expressed appreciation for their efforts to serve our community.

Jan Puzar, Peggy Dewane-Pope, Kathy Emily, Debbie Coesens, and Donna Foster led workshop sessions designed to strengthen participants’ abilities to write an effective grant proposal, determine outcome measures for assessment of a program or project, and provide appropriate budget details to a prospective funder. These included activities with discussion among participants. Each session leader is a GWC Member who has professional experience in grant writing, assessment, education, program direction, and/or management.

Margaret Conrad provided coffee and bagels, and Bettie Rose Horne contributed brownies to enjoy while settling in and during break times.

The workshop concluded with a Funders Forum comprised of representatives from local granting organizations. Funders Forum presenters were: Chandler Skelly, Self Regional Healthcare Foundation; Donna Lollis, United Way of the Lakelands; Melissa Hayden, Self Family Foundation; and Mary Woodiwiss, Greenwood County Community Foundation and Greenwood Women Care. Each spoke about their organization’s funding priorities and granting process. Time for questions and answers allowed for each forum member to respond to workshop participants’ questions.

This training provided attendees with fundamentals for submitting grant requests to GWC or other local or external funders. GWC’s Grants Review & Awards Committee members are pleased to offer Grant Writing 101 in support of our local nonprofits as they continue their missions to serve our community.

GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Breaking the Silence: Together for Suicide Prevention and Awareness”, at Main Street United Methodist Church, May 12, 2025

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Greenwood Women Care’s second quarterly meeting, “Breaking the Silence: Together for Suicide Prevention and Awareness”, took place Monday, May 12, 2025 at Main Street United Methodist Church.

Laura Bachinski, Bobbie Fulton, and Vicki Chandler graciously signed members and guests in and assisted with name tags. Mini sandwiches, fruit, and cookies, along with a delicious lemonade punch, were served by Connie Carstens and Marg Gunderson.

At 6:00 pm, our new GWC Chair, Rachel Strayer, eloquently welcomed all present and thanked Main Street United Methodist Church for allowing us to meet in their lovely parish hall. Rachel noted that May is Mental Health Awareness Month and that we are reminded of the importance of addressing mental health openly, compassionately, and without stigma. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, over 54% of Americans have been affected by suicide in some way, whether through the loss of a loved one, a personal struggle, or supporting someone in crisis. Rachel then introduced Carol Harley, member of both the GWC Social Committee and Main Street United Methodist Church.

Taylor Haigler, the Chair of our Programs & Education Committee introduced our program presenters: Beth Justesen, Founder and Board President for Here 4 a Reason, and board members Jessica Willard, Surgical Physician’s Assistant at Self Regional, and Aimee Clark, Healthy Learners’ Community Manager for the Upstate; and Jessica Jacobs, Director of Behavioral Health of Carolina Health Centers.

Beth Justesen founded Here 4 a Reason after the tragic suicide of her husband, Tad, in 2017. She noted that death by suicide is the second leading case of death for those between the ages of 15 – 24 and the leading cause of death in the US. The mission of Here 4 a Reason is to provide suicide awareness and prevention education, promote positive mental health and wellness, and destigmatize mental health diagnoses and treatments. A runner herself, Beth has organized 5K races with proceeds benefiting numerous suicide prevention and awareness organizations. Here 4 a Reason has also sponsored a nationally renowned speaker, Kevin Hines, who spoke at Greenwood High School and Emerald High School to share his experiences as a suicide survivor. Here 4 a Reason are bringing him back this year to speak at three Greenwood middle schools and he will also be featured in a presentation open to the community.

Jessica Williard reminded us that many people just need someone to talk with, and Aimee Clark imparted some good news that the youth of today are open to talking about their mental health without shame.

Jessica Jacobs, Director of Behavior Health at Carolina Health Center, spoke to us specifically about mental health concerns of women and reminded us that a diagnosis of a mental health disorder is not forever. The condition may not totally go away but it can go into remission. She emphasized coping skills and encouraged us to act with intention, build activities into our schedules that bring us happiness, spend less time with negative people, set boundaries, and not to be afraid to seek help when needed.

Helena Wardlaw, Programs and Education member, presented the children’s books Not Perfect (by Maya Myers) to Jessica Jacobs and One Magical Do-Nothing Day (by Beatrice Alemagna) to Beth Justesen. These books will be donated to the children’s collection of the Greenwood County Library in honor of our speakers.

Peggy Dewane-Pope, GWC’s Vice-Chair, closed the meeting on an inspirational note by sharing a  passage from author Matt Haig’s book, Reasons to Stay Alive, that ended with: “Hang on in there if you can. Life is always worth it.”