GWC Workshop, “Grant Writing 101”, July 23, 2020
GWC Grants Review & Awards Committee designed and hosted a grant writing workshop, “Grant Writing 101”, on July 23. Thirty community members serving a wide range of local nonprofits attended the virtual meeting which was offered at no charge. Presentations included “Writing Your Grant Proposal” by Kathy Emily, “Grant Assessment” by Donna Foster, and discussion of a pre-workshop writing assignment by Jan Puzar and Mary Woodiwiss.
The workshop concluded with a Funders Forum of local grantmakers: Selynto Anderson, Self Regional Healthcare; Emily Findley, United Way of Greenwood & Abbeville Counties; Mamie Nicholson, Self Family Foundation; Trentsie Williams, on behalf of the GWC Grants Committee; and Mary Woodiwiss, Greenwood County Community Foundation.
We are pleased to have offered this service to our community!
A video of our Grant Writing 101 workshop, via Zoom, may be found here. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recording errors, this video begins within the first informational session of the 2.5-hour long workshop.
GWC Letter to the Editor, June 2020
In early June, the GWC Steering Committee discussed and approved the submission of the following letter to the Index Journal. It was published later in the month, on 6.30.
The impetus for the letter came from a GWC Member who recognized the critical moment in which GWC is well-situated to speak to our community as a positive, inclusive voice, consistent with our mission and values. We hope and trust that this will be an encouragement to our Members, friends, and community.
To the Editor:
In these troubled times, Greenwood Women Care (GWC) stands with the many in our community and world who continue to experience injustice.
GWC is a diverse, open membership organization of 125+ women of varied life experiences, ages, and sectors who come together in our commitment to Greenwood’s thriving through collective grantmaking to local nonprofits.
“Caring Women Building Community” is our mission statement. In our three-year history, we have experienced community-building within our membership, with our many guests, and with those serving in local nonprofits. From our formation, we have intended to be an organization that welcomes, includes, and reflects the broad range of women who comprise Greenwood. In this time of divisiveness and pain, it is good to pause and think about all we have in common.
GWC continues to seek the well-being of all in our home community and the broader communities in which Greenwood County is situated. We deeply desire that all of our actions and efforts bring us closer to the realization of the Beloved Community that Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned and pointed us toward.
We know that one organization cannot solve the ills of our society. But we want to bring our best to bear on making our home a better one for everyone. We care passionately about our community – thus our name, Greenwood Women Care. Let us all unite in our care about each other, our community, and our world!
Mary Woodiwiss and Laura Bachinski, on behalf of the GWC Steering Committee
GWC Nonprofit Video Snapshots, Summer 2020
In this time of special COVID-19 precautions, Greenwood Women Care (GWC) recognizes that many of our local nonprofits have been impacted by changes in contact with the public, fundraising, and other usual activity. Meanwhile, GWC has, for the time being, suspended our gatherings which allow us to regularly feature local nonprofits in our programming and by holding Quarterly Meetings and Socials in nonprofit venues.
GWC has developed another means of drawing attention to local nonprofits! We invited local nonprofits to let us shoot a very informal video to present their mission and programs. Twenty-three organizations have chosen to participate and we are thankful for their time and attention in such a challenging season as this. (We managed this with proper social distancing, simple filming on a phone, and no cost to GWC ~ please be advised, and patient with the informal results! )
Videos appeared in 5 “sessions” of 4-5 videos each, with a new session added each Thursday, June 11-July 9.
In each line below, there is a hyperlink to the website, Facebook page, or other informational site (click on each organization’s name) and to that organization’s video clip (click on here). We hope this series of videos will not only serve the efforts of these nonprofits but will also help us to stay connected as Members in this time apart and continue in our mission to inform our Members and guests of issues and opportunities in our community.
Session 1 (posted on June 11)
Learn about Greenwood Pathway House here.
Learn about Piedmont Agency on Aging here.
Learn about Cornerstone here.
Learn about The Arts Center of Greenwood here.
Session 2 (posted on June 18)
Learn about The Museum and Railroad Historical Center here.
Learn about Burton Center here.
Learn about Emerald City Rotary Club (sponsors of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library) here.
Learn about Beyond Abuse here.
Session 3 (posted on June 25)
Learn about Greater Greenwood United Ministry here.
Learn about Boys & Girls Club of the Lakelands here.
Learn about Project Hope Foundation here.
Learn about Connie Maxwell Children’s Home here.
Session 4 (posted on July 2)
Learn about Hospice & Palliative Care of the Piedmont here.
Learn about Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity here.
Learn about United Way of Greenwood and Abbeville Counties here.
Learn about A Place for Us here.
Learn about Greenwood Performing Arts here.
Session 5 (posted on July 9)
Learn about Community Initiatives here.
Learn about Greenwood Community Theatre here.
Learn about Healthy Learners here.
Learn about CrossRoads Pregnancy Center here.
Learn about Cokesbury College here.
GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Caring for Community Members with Special Needs”, at Harley Family Center, February 18, 2020
Sixty plus members and guests turned out on a very cold and wet Tuesday evening on February 18th to enjoy an uplifting and highly informative Greenwood Women Care’s 1st Quarterly Meeting of 2020. After a very enjoyable extended social time, Mary Woodiwiss, GWC Co-Chair, welcomed guests and members to the Harley Family Center. She shared that we now have 122 members (of which 21 are new members!), reiterated our open Membership, and shared details of our 2020 GWC Grants cycle. Beginning this year, GWC will accept grant applications in August and vote on our grant awards in October.
Rhonda Merritt kicked off our program, “Caring for Community Members with Special Needs”, by introducing our speakers: Susan Keown, Director of Quality Assurance at the Burton Center and Carol Scales, Board President of Greenwood Place along with Toni Belcher of Greenwood Place. Each of these women touched our hearts with their messages of hope, compassion, and respect for those who are served by their organizations.
Laura Bachinski, GWC Co-Chair, closed the evening with special thanks to all who prepared for our meeting. She also announced an invitation to enjoy Greenwood Community Theatre’s production of A Raisin in the Sun on Friday March 6th at 7:30. A special discounted rate is available to all GWC members. (An email with details was sent to Members on 2.19.)
New Members’ Soup Supper, February 11, 2020
GWC is happy to welcome 21 new 2020 Members, as of February 11th! On that evening, our Membership Committee hosted an informal Soup Supper at the home of Mary Woodiwiss.
Our purpose was to welcome our new Members, give an overview of the activities of our GWC Committees, and provide a smaller gathering for women to meet others before our first Quarterly Meeting on February 18th.
After enjoying an array of several soups, breads, salads, desserts, and beverages, we each spent time getting acquainted with someone we didn’t already know well. Representatives from our six standing committees gave an introduction to their functions within GWC. There was an opportunity for questions, discussion, and continued conversation. It was lovely to be there and just relax in each other’s good company!
“A Salsa Social” at The Venezuelan Spot, January 28, 2020
It’s official! January 28th will go down in history as one of the most entertaining Tuesday nights ever enjoyed in Greenwood, SC. A good number of GWC Members and guests showed up ready to have a good time at our “Salsa Social” at The Venezuelan Spot.
We savored a delicious Venezuelan dinner enhanced with refreshing homemade sangria and finished with tres leches cake. Thankfully, we were given an opportunity to burn off those calories with an easy-to-follow Salsa line dance lesson. Even those of us with two left feet could follow those moves!
Special thanks to Jose Hernandez of The Venezuelan Spot and Niria Abadia of Buenavista Cuban Cafe for hosting us and teaching us great dance moves, and to Marisel Losa, Laura Bachinski, Louise Watkins, and the rest of our Social Committee for providing us with such a fun night!
GWC 2019 Highlights, December 2019
GWC Highlights 2019
January 8, 2019 “Shake off the Winter Blues” GWC Social, held at Wild Hare Productions Theatre, including
“Scenes from Shakespeare” performed by Wild Hare’s Youth Shakespeare actors
February 19, 2019 New 2019 Members’ gathering, hosted by Steering and Membership Committee
Members to welcome 26 new members
February 25, 2019 1st GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at The Museum; Reception, followed by presentations
from GWC Committees and an outline of the voting process for our very first GWC Grant
Awards
March 12, 2019 GWC Presentation, “Learn Give Grow- Women Building Community Through Collective
Grantmaking” at Together SC’s Annual Summit, “Building Bridges” by Trentsie Williams and
Mary Woodiwiss, GWC Steering Committee Members
March 26, 2019 1st GWC Annual Meeting, held at Greenwood Genetic Center; Reception, followed by
confirmation of slate of GWC Officers and Steering Committee, annual highlights, and
celebration of our first GWC Grant Awards, totaling $47,625!
March – November 2019 GWC presentations to community groups to spread the word about GWC
May 13, 2019 2nd GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at Hospice Store; Reception, followed by our program
“Getting Your Ducks in a Row” featuring presentations by: Nancy Corley (CEO, Hospice and
Palliative Care of the Piedmont), the Hon. Travis Moore (Judge, Greenwood County Probate
Court) and Melissa Bane (Senior Client Private Advisor, Greenwood Capital)
July – November 2019 Informal home gatherings hosted by GWC Members and GWC presentations to other
community groups to introduce GWC to community women
July 2019 GWC Membership reached 123!
August 20, 2019 3rd GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at the United Center for Community Care; Reception,
followed by our program “Back to School: Tools to Succeed” featuring presentations by:
Katie Davenport (Executive Director, The Greenwood Promise) and Laura Padgett (Emerald
High School Transition teacher and Emerald High School Thrift Shop)
October 14, 2019 “GWC Fall Social”, at Grand Harbor Clubhouse
November 4, 2019 4th GWC Quarterly Meeting, at The Arts Center; Reception, followed by our program
“Celebrating Community Impact” featuring our eight 2019 GWC Grant recipients
GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Celebrating Community Impact”, at The Arts Center, November 4, 2019
On Monday, November 4th, Greenwood Women Care met at The Arts Center for our Quarterly Meeting, “Celebrating Community Impact”. After a social time in the gallery with delicious treats and beverages arranged by the Social Committee, we moved to the Arts Center’s reception hall for the program. Laura Bachinski, GWC Co-Chair, welcomed approximately 90 Members and guests. Anne Craig, Executive Director of The Arts Center and GWC Charter Member, was our venue host for the evening. She spoke of the importance of supporting the arts in our community and the Arts Center’s role in Greenwood’s vibrant arts offerings. Mary Woodiwiss, GWC Co-Chair, recognized Kelly Buckshorn, Social Committee Chair, for her contributions over the past two years. Kelly was given a rousing ovation and presented with flowers and wine.
Self Regional Healthcare sponsored the audio-visual portion of the evening and was represented by Dr. Kathleen Jeffery, Medical Director of Breast Services. Dr. Jeffery spoke about the new 3-D Mammography capability at the SRH Imaging Center and emphasized that SRH’s is the only center in the Upstate with a high-risk breast care component.
GWC’s Grants Review & Awards Committee presented our program, “Celebrating Community Impact”. Our 2019 Grant recipients were welcomed by Trentsie Williams, GWC Grants Co-Chair, and given delightful handcrafted GWC cookies from Sweet Indulgence. Rossie Corwon, Grants Committee member, introduced the premiere of Impact!, our GWC video featuring 2019 grantees, each speaking about their organization’s mission and project funded by their GWC Grant. They are: Beyond Abuse, Community Initiatives, Meg’s House, Greenwood Community Improvement Foundation (for Women’s Leadership Council), Project Hope Foundation, Models Academy, Greenwood Community Theatre, and Connie Maxwell Children’s Home. Mary Woodiwiss closed our program by inviting Members and guests to speak with our grantees at information tables in the gallery of The Arts Center. Everyone left feeling enlightened and inspired!
GCCF works collaboratively with individuals and organizations that are interested in improving the quality of life in Greenwood. Through annual granting cycles the Foundation provides funding to charitable organizations located in the county.