GWC members and guests gathered on Monday evening, March 13^th, to celebrate our history and look forward to an exciting future. The weather turned out to be a bit colder than expected for an outdoor reception! The Arts Center of Greenwood stepped in and graciously offered their beautiful indoor space for our opening gathering. Our Social Committee once again impressed with an incredible array of savory and sweet treats, along with delicious punch (with champagne and sans champagne options!). The fun continued as our attendees moved across the courtyard to Greenwood Community Theatre. Our GWC colors were prominently displayed as members and guests took their seats in three sections marked by light green, white, and dark green balloons. What did that signify? The group was about to find out!

Mary Woodiwiss, Chair of the GWC Advisory Board, gave opening remarks and welcomed members and guests. Fifteen new members have already joined this year. New members were asked to stand. Guests were then welcomed and encouraged that they are always welcome: “We never run out of space or food!” Next, visiting board members of our parent organization, Greenwood County Community Foundation (GCCF) were introduced. Herman Fletcher (Board Chair) and Jeff Smith (Executive Director) stood with fellow board members and were recognized and thanked for their ongoing support.

In her opening remarks, Mary looked back over the past five years of generous granting, community building, educational programming, and the development of lasting friendships. She expressed both gratitude and excitement for what has been accomplished and for what our future holds. She gave us a fun analogy of GWC being the baby of GCCF. Over the last five years, we have gone from being a baby to an adolescent blossoming into young adulthood. Mary concluded, “I believe that GWC will persist as a mature, steady woman, resilient and strong and effective, contributing to the flourishing of this beloved community for years to come.”

Next, we heard inspirational stories from GWC members, recounting how GWC has impacted our community and how membership has encouraged and strengthened them personally.

Teresa Goodman and Caroline Dennis shared “A GWC Story of Collaboration”, the story of their initial introduction to one another in the fall of 2021 at the GWC Quarterly Meeting. Teresa had a vision for establishing a Toddler Learning Center to offer quality childcare as a stepping stone to bridge children to future academic and personal success. But at that time she could not find a suitable space to host this Center. What she did not know was that Caroline Dennis, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, was sitting in the audience and also had a vision. Their church was large and had ample space for a children’s ministry, but now the classrooms and playgrounds were generally empty on weekdays. Caroline continued, “Since that night, Teresa and I have been introducing our organizations to one another and taking the long journey together from dream to reality. We look forward to the arrival of children and families soon into this beautiful Center that is at the intersection of need and provision.”

Summer Booker, Treasurer of the GWC Advisory Board, shared her testimonial of the impact GWC has had on her personally, “A GWC Story of Change”. Summer is a Charter Member of GWC, having joined shortly after moving to Greenwood. She shared that from the start she jumped in to work with “an amazing group of women who continued to pursue new ways of building up membership and to spread the message of GWC and the power of collective giving.” She reflected on the theme of change: how GWC changes lives, especially of the women involved, as we learn, give, and grow together. She concluded: “If you are already in GWC, stay with us. Try something new. Join a committee. Give of yourself. You are the most precious part of this organization. Be the change Greenwood needs. Receive the change for your blessed part in it.”

Laura Stowe, Co-Chair of the Communications Committee and Co-Secretary of the GWC Advisory Board, then took the podium to announce the exciting completion of a written history of GWC. Available electronically here and in print, GREENWOOD WOMEN CARE: Five Years and Growing, is a history in words and pictures. She thanked GWC and the members of the Communications Committee for all their work and support in bringing this project to fruition. Laura then read the dedication of the volume and presented the first copy to Mary Woodiwiss.

As a fun way to reflect on our history, we played a game of GWC Jeopardy! Rachel Strayer was our host for a 16-question competition. We had three teams marked by those light and dark green and white balloons. The game was hard fought, and at the end we had a tie between the two green teams. The prizes were sweet (chocolate!) and fun was had by all.

Next, Alice Hodges, Executive Director of Meg’s House and GWC Charter Member, shared “A GWC Story of Community” which included her thoughts on community during Women’s History Month. She encouraged us, as we celebrate GWC’s own history and Women’s History Month, to “connect other women to this phenomenal group, forge connections, embrace community, and help make dreams come true.”

GWC member Lisa Smith then took to the stage to give us a bit of Shakespeare (well, sort of!). We were enraptured by the soliloquy, penned by Charlie Stowe: To Committee or Not to Committee (that is the question!). Committees anyone? Here they are, with their chairs: Communications (Laura Stowe and Catherine DiBenedetto), Grants Review & Awards (Jan Puzar and Debbie Coesens), Social Committee (Holley Coyle and Courtney Christensen), Governance & Finance Committee (Summer Booker), Programs & Education (Laura Bachinski) and Membership (Deb Maschoff and Betty Adams).

As the evening drew to a close, Debbie Coesens, Marilyn Murphy, and Sally Kauffmann gave a presentation that highlighted GWC’s granting mission. Thus far, GWC has conducted four granting cycles with a total of $256,800 given in 41 grants to 31 organizations! Debbie noted, “Through our collective granting, we can support and strengthen the worthy nonprofits that serve our community every day!” Sally reviewed how each grant cycle works, from publicizing our process, holding information meetings for applicants, and conducting a grant writing workshop, to the review and voting process, and finally to the best part: informing our grant recipients of their awards. Marilyn highlighted a special subcommittee (open to all GWC members) that has been formed to administer a Women’s Health Grant, established at GCCF through the generosity of Jim and Denise Medford, and dedicated to assisting Greenwood County agencies engaged in women’s health related issues. In 2020, GWC was honored to be entrusted with the role of granting these funds. The first grant, which is offered bi-annually, was awarded in 2021 to The Greater Greenwood United Healthcare Ministry. The 2023 grant recipient will be announced early in April! Sally concluded this presentation: “Granting is truly at the heart of GWC! Thanks to each and all our members and supporters for making this possible!”

Laura Bachinski, Vice Chair of the GWC Advisory Board and head of the Programs & Education Committee, gave closing remarks. She announced our new Advisory Board Executive Committee officers for the next two years, who were confirmed on the previous weeks ballot: Mary Woodiwiss — Chair, Rachel Strayer — Vice Chair, Laura Stowe and Catherine DiBenedetto — Co-Secretary, and Summer Booker — Treasurer. She encouraged us to continue our journey of learning, giving, and growing together as we join with friends and neighbors to make a difference in Greenwood!

A special thanks to Laura Bachinski for door prizes from Main & Maxwell and Mary Woodiwiss for door prizes from her kitchen, and to Rowan Pallis for helping distribute door prizes throughout our event. Donna Foster, Betsy O’Keefe, Rosemerry Franks, Bobbie Fulton, Betsy Adams, and Rowan Pallis were the lucky names drawn over the course of the evening.

One final word: our next Quarterly Meeting, “Serving the Community through the Arts”, will be held on Tuesday, May 16^th  at the Greenwood Soup Kitchen. More information to come. Hope to see you there!

On February 7^th, our Membership Committee hosted an informal soup supper in the home of Martha Ann Davis. GWC is delighted to welcome 13 new 2023 Members this early in the new year!

Our New Members Soup Supper provides an opportunity to welcome our new Members, give an overview of the activities of our GWC Committees, and convene a smaller gathering for women new to GWC to meet other members before our first Quarterly Meeting on February 21.

We shared an excellent array of homemade soups, rolls, salads, and desserts and spent time visiting with new and longtime friends. Representatives from our six standing committees each gave an introduction to their committees’ activities within GWC. There was also plenty of time for congenial conversations.

It was a lovely evening to enjoy good food and each other’s good company!

Special thanks to Martha Ann Davis for hosting us in her welcoming home, Membership Committee members for providing delicious food and drink, and our newest members for taking time to join in the fun!

Greenwood Women Care’s final Quarterly Meeting of 2022 was held at Destiny of Greenwood on Parkway.

As our members and guests fellowshipped with each other and marveled at the beautifully decorated large meeting room provided by the hosts, they sampled the delicious spread of fresh fruit, Mediterranean delights of kalamata olives, feta cheese, mini pita breads, and yummy hummus, as well as scrumptious desserts. And the beverages included a refreshing apple punch chilled with an ice ring of fruit, fruit infused water, and hot coffee, all provided by our Social Committee.

At approximately 6:00 pm, Mamie Nicholson opened our program and introduced the meeting venue’s hosts, Angela Christopher and Thelma Christopher. Angela thanked everyone for coming. She also shared with everyone the mission of Destiny of Greenwood that primarily feeds those who are struggling with food insecurity in Greenwood and the surrounding areas. Thelma shared an invitation to Destiny’s upcoming holiday fundraising event.

Carol Scales introduced the first speaker for the evening, Teresa Roy, Director of Community Outreach of Cornerstone. Cornerstone services Greenwood, Edgefield, McCormick, and Abbeville counties. This organization, founded in 1973, seeks to reduce the negative health, social, and economic consequences of substance use disorder. Teresa began her presentation by asking, “What does substance use disorder look like?”. The surprising answer was that at least 70% of those who have this disorder may appear “normal” and be successful in most areas of life. She highlighted the variety of prevention services, treatment services, and employee assistance programs that Cornerstone provides. She also stated that Cornerstone is a community distributor for NARCAN, a nasal spray to counteract opioid overdose.

Laura Padgett introduced our next speaker, Kimberly Ready of Oaks Recovery and Willow House. Kimberly and  and her husband, Brian Ready, founded Oaks Recovery for men in 2015 for men and in 2021, opened Willow House for women. She shared that she grew up in a home with a parent that struggled with addiction. Kimberly noted that her organization has multiple local and national affiliations and partners, and that programs at both locations include one-on-one recovery coaching, staff on duty 24/7, the twelve-step recovery program, connection through peer-driven models, and more. She encouraged us to follow them on Facebook and suggested multiple ways that interested supporters may get involved.

Lisa Smith presented each speaker with a book purchased locally at McCaslan’s Book Store and that will be donated to Greenwood County Library in their honor. To Kimberly Ready of Oaks Recovery and Willow House, she presented The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson. To Teresa Roy of Cornerstone, she presented A Head Full of Birds by Alexandra Garibal and Sibylle Delacroix.

Laura Bachinski, Vice Chair of the Advisory Board, thanked the presenters and shared how honored we all felt to hear them speak about their incredible programs. She then spoke of ways our members can “Help Greenwood Women Care Grow!”. Laura encouraged us to not just think about GWC when it is time for another meeting, but to remember the value of what we just experienced and consider how each of us can best share the richness of GWC with someone new. She asked us to think of a woman friend, relative, colleague, community leader, or church member that they felt would enjoy being part of our community of collective giving. Laura noted that a few members have donated gift memberships to enable other women to participate, and some employers cover the membership contribution for their employee. But just as many gift memberships have been provided by nonmembers who support GWCs mission. Laura challenged those who can to enlarge our circle by providing a full or ½ gift membership in 2023.

Mary Woodiwiss, Chair of the Advisory Board, thanked our hosts for welcoming us to this venue and our presenters for their steady, critical work and for reminding us that there is hope for our loved ones and those is our community who struggle with substance abuse disorder. She expressed gratitude to the Programs and Education Committee for another informative evening and the Social Committee for their lovely refreshments and welcomed our guests. But before closing the meeting, she did a fun question and answer session (“GWC 101”) with members about their knowledge of who may become a member (any interested woman!) , the number of guests they could bring (unlimited!), how many times guests may come as guests (unlimited!), and other basics about participation in GWC. Mary wished us all a peaceful holiday season until we meet again in 2023.

Our “Kick Off the Vote!” event for our 2022 granting was indeed a celebration: a celebration of our vibrant organization and support of local nonprofits and a celebration of community spirit and giving. We gathered at the Harley Family Center to enjoy each other and a social time that gave us a chance to reconnect. Thank you, Social Committee for once again making everyone feel welcome and providing both delicious snacks and beverages.

Sally Kauffmann of the Grants Review and Awards Committee welcomed each of us in a very unique and joyful way. She serenaded us with lyrics she especially edited for GWC based on Curtis Mayfield’s 1965 release, People Get Ready, followed by a 1978 Sandy Patti song, In Heaven’s Eyes. Sally went on to note that we were all here, happy and enthused, as we share a common bond, the desire to help others in need, and reminded us that we are all in need in different ways. She ended with a modified line from a 1969  hit by The Hollies, “They ain’t heavy, they are our brothers and sisters.”

Mary Woodiwiss addressed “FAQs about Nonprofit Funding” and emphasized nonprofits’ variations in scale, scope, and mission. We realized that although our local nonprofits differ, they all are important and in need of support to conduct their good work. This year, GWC is thrilled to celebrate our largest membership  to date (137 members), and we anticipate bringing our total awards in our first four years of granting to over $250,000 disbursed for the good of our community.

Then we turned to GWC’s voting process. Mary Dula capably led us through the logistics of our online voting and outlined numerous “best practices” when online voting. This year we are excited to consider a wide range of proposals for funding. We were encouraged to rank all applicants in our voting so that the Grants Review and Awards Committee can make funding determinations that clearly and accurately reflect the will of our Members. Debbie Coesens described “What Happens After We Vote?”. She outlined the next steps that the Grants Review and Awards Committee will take to assess the voting data that will direct how many grant awards will be made, and in what amounts.

We ended the evening with time for questions. Several members asked thoughtful questions of the Grants Review and Awards Committee. Mary Woodiwiss announced the formation of a subcommittee to direct the process for our second Women’s Health Grant in spring 2023 and encouraged any member interested in participating to contact Jan Puzar. This grant is made biennially to one organization and funding comes from an endowed fund held by Greenwood County Community Foundation for which GWC has been designated to make granting advisements. Mary closed the evening by thanking us all for our contributions to the GWC Granting Fund through our annual memberships and through additional gifts to this fund that make our substantial support of local nonprofit work possible.

GWC attempts to be good stewards in our giving and this time together inspired us to continue to give generously. We are very proud of the nonprofits, their leaders and staff and are grateful that we can have a part in supporting their daily efforts. We left as a band of sisters who do indeed care and give to express that care in our home community.