January 28, 2011

Letter from Furman University: Bridges to a Brighter Future

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Greenville Women Giving at your kick-off event in September! It was an honor to have been selected to speak about Bridges to a Brighter Future. In doing so, you were recognizing the value of Bridges and the importance of what we do in the community to change the course of young people's lives.

I wanted to provide you all an update on the student, Angel, whose story I shared with you at the event. Since speaking to you, Angel was admitted to Converse College and offered an $18,000 scholarship! In addition, she recently was awarded the $2,000 Coretta Scott King Scholarship at the MLK Dream Week Diversity Dinner! She has applied to Furman as well and we are waiting to hear, hopeful she will receive admission to Furman and a nice scholarship package. She is doing very well and is very excited about her future. Her #1 choice is Furman because it will keep her closer to home. However, as she stated, "I will go where I get the most money." She is a smart young woman!

Thank you for your interest in Angel's success. Her success and the success of all our students is in part due to your support, interest, and commitment. I am sincerely grateful for what you have done for Bridges to a Brighter Future and for our entire community!

Warm regards,

Tobi K Swartz - Director

www.bridgestoabrighterfuture.org

June 09, 2009

Letter from Graduate Greenville

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

I am writing to thank Greenville Women Giving for your extraordinary gift of $50,000 to Graduate Greenville. Your commitment to this innovative initiative will help struggling students be successful in high school and life.

The United Way of Greenville County, along with the Alliance for Quality Education and Greenville County Schools, are committed to the long term success of Graduate Greenville. We are closer to achieving our goal - to significantly increase the graduation rate in Greenville County - because of your commitment to our purpose and your generous gift.

Graduate Greenville looks forward to keeping you informed of its success and reporting on the difference you have made in the lives of high school students.

With appreciation,

Ted Henry - President

www.graduategreenville.org

 June 09, 2009

Letter from Loaves and Fishes

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

Thank you, all of the women of Greenville Women Giving for selecting Loaves & Fishes as a recipient of your philanthropic initiative in our community once again in 2009.

We are extremely proud that Greenville Women Giving has seen fit to fund our request in both of the years we have been eligible to apply. We believe that women understand very clearly the problem of hunger and straightforward solution that Loaves & Fishes mission represents.

Thank you for giving the women leaders of our community such a powerful voice in how we tackle the problems that keep all of our neighbors from reaching their full potential.

We are delighted to be associated with Greenville Women Giving and we thank you so much for your support.

Sincerely,

Susan S. Douglas - Executive Director

www.loavesandfishesgreenville.com

June 05, 2009

Letter from the Greenville Literacy Association

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

As the Executive Director of the Greenville Literacy Association, I would like to thank Greenville Women Giving for funding our 2009 Grant request. We were pleased to receive the check for $29,000.

The funds from this grant will be used to support the program Promoting Academic Success and Job Readiness for 17-21 Year-old Literacy Students. The program addresses the needs of an increasing number of young adults who are coming to GLA. This is a low-income, out-of-school population whose educational levels fall between 0 and 8.9.

Greenville Literacy's mission is to help these individuals improve basic literacy skills and to begin preparing for the GED. Although these are areas of established expertise for the agency, the youth population poses special challenges. In contrast to older learners, few in this group have any clear sense of why education is important to them. Most lack work experience and the discipline and maturity fostered by regular employment. These factors pose significant obstacles to student retention and academic achievement.

The program addresses these obstacles by establishing meaningful connections between education and future employment and by providing participants with the skills and adult guidance they need to transition from school to work. Greenville Literacy will carefully track the expenditures from this Greenville Women Giving Grant and adhere to the budget submitted with the grant application.

We truly appreciate the support of our adult literacy work across Greenville County. With partnerships such as this, we are better able to serve the adults who come to Greenville Literacy to improve their literacy levels.

Sincerely,

Jane W. Thomas - Executive Director

www.greenvilleliteracy.org

May 28, 2009

Letter from the Center for Developmental Services

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

It was a great honor to attend the luncheon at Furman last week and to be among the other distinguished Greenville Women Giving grant recipients. You are all making a great impact on our community!
We are extremely grateful to Greenville Women Giving, the Community Foundation of Greenville, and the individual members of Greenville Women Giving for your generous support of the Center for Developmental Services (CDS) with a grant of $25,000. This gift will help us purchase a new telephone system that will be shared by employees from our six partner organizations, improving our combined ability to serve children with special developmental needs and their families.

Again, thank you for your passion and your generosity.

Sincerely,

Jamie Moon - Executive Director

www.cdservices.org

May 26, 2009

Letter from Clarity - The Speech, Hearing, and Learning Center

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

On behalf of the board, staff and especially the clients of Clarity - The Speech, Hearing, and Learning Center, I would like to thank Greenville Women Giving for the $25,000 grant to expand the Preschool Developmental Readiness Program and purchase the psychology and speech equipment needed for the Autism Spectrum Evaluation Team (ASET). The "seed money" for the hearing testing equipment (ABR) is much appreciated and we hope to have that fully funded very soon.

This donation makes it possible for us to accomplish our mission, to help individuals with speech, hearing, learning and developmental challenges realize their potential and improve their quality of life.

With this donation, the children that we see will benefit the most. With the purchase of these testing supplies, we will be able to assess a broader range of clientele, particularly younger children and those with more significant developmental delays. Early detection and diagnosis of autism is so important because the earlier intensive and consistent intervention takes place, the better long-term prognosis is for that child.

We are very grateful to the women of Greenville Women Giving for recognizing the value to our community of the ASET evaluation a Clarity.

Sincerely yours,

Stephen T. Guryan - Executive Director and Audiologist

www.clarityupstate.org

May 26, 2009

Letter from Foothills Family Resources

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

I can't tell you how honored we are to be the recipient of a 2009 grant. All of us at Foothills Family Resources know how hard we work at eliminating poverty in Northern Greenville County. When such a wonderful organization as Greenville Women Giving considers us worthy, it is a confirmation of our dedication to our mission and to the families we serve.

We promise that we will be good stewards of the funds you have given us. We will use the money to reach our program goals and objectives. We will never discriminate. We will always treat everyone that comes into our office with the utmost dignity and respect. We will meet the needs of the members of our community as best we can.

This is the perfect opportunity for publicly showing our collaboration, your financial support and the services we offer.

This grant will go towards supporting our Co-located Services. This is a program that provides support staff and the facility for other Greenville County Agencies to have a presence here in Northern Greenville County.
Thank you so much for helping us provide this critical program to families that reside in this rural area of Greenville County. Please feel free to come by and visit us anytime.

With best regards,

Michele Merrigan - Executive Director

www.foothillsfamilyresources.org

May 26, 2009

Letter from Safe Harbor

Dear Greenville Women Giving,
On behalf of Safe Harbor, I sincerely thank each of you for your involvement with Greenville Women Giving, and for choosing to fund Safe Harbor this year.

We really appreciate that you not only give to local organizations, but also learn about their needs and collectively decide which are more pressing. Through this process, you're creating such meaningful, lasting change in Greenville.

Your support of Safe Harbor this year will allow us to purchase additional security equipment for our new administrative, community counseling and legal advocacy offices. In doing so, you're creating an environment at Safe Harbor in which staff, volunteers and clients feel safe and protected. It is only because of groups like GWG that Safe Harbor can provide its services to women and children in our local community.

Thank you again on behalf of our clients, staff, and Board of Directors. We are grateful!

Sincerely,

Samantha Tucker - Director of Development

www.safeharborsc.org

May 22, 2009

Letter from GAIHN - Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

The guests, volunteers and board of directors of the Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network extend our deepest appreciation for your recent gift to GAIHN. Your generous donation of $30,000 will be invested in a transitional housing unit in which families will live and thrive for years to come.

As you faithfully support our congregation's hospitality efforts, lives are being changed for the better. Ultimately, your gift will prove vital to the enterprise of ending family homelessness in Greenville - family by family, child by child, every day of the year.

Thanks to you, friends, families are benefiting from a safe, nurturing environment as they journey towards self-fulfillment and self-sufficiency. Thanks to innovative organizations like Greenville Women Giving, precious children of all ages know the joy of having some place to call "home". That's genuine hospitality!

You join - and inspire ! - many other Greenville area individuals and organizations whose support is vital as our ministry endeavors to share the experience of welcome with everyone (Matthew 25:35c). Thank you for making a difference that really lasts.

In peace,

Rev, Tony McDade - Executive Director

www.gaihn.org

May 21, 2009

Letter from Graduate Greenville

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

Graduate Greenville would like to thank Greenville Women Giving for the very generous grant to support our graduation coaches, summer programs and Opening Doors to Success Event.

This summer, Graduate Greenville will offer 125 at-risk students a four week head-start on high school thanks to your support. We will also provide students at five high schools the benefit of a Graduation Coach to give them and their families the supoort to help them be successful in high school and get that much needed high school diploma.
We believe that increasing the number of graduates prepared for the work force or higher education will benefit the Greenville community in numerous ways. Each dropout prevented helps us break the cycle for future generations.

Thank you so much for your incredibly generous support of our efforts.

Sincerely,

Judy Snyder - Executive Director

www.graduategreenville.org

May 21, 2009

Letter from Greenville Rape Crisis and Child Abuse Center

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

Thank you! We can't do it without you.

On behalf of the clients, staff and volunteers of Greenville Rape Crisis and Child Abuse Center (GRCCAC), thank you for your generous investment of $25,305 to Prevent Child Abuse Greenville's education program.

As you may know, Greenville County consistently ranks first statewide in child maltreatment. Recent reports indicate that admissions at children's hospitals across the county are increasing as more families struggle to maintain a healthy family environment.

It is for these reasons, and so many more, that GRCCAC works to provide the resources, education, prevention and intervention measures necessary to end child abuse in Greenville County. However, we recognize it takes a community working together to make a difference. It is an honor to be selected as one of your community partners in that endeavor.

We are grateful for the commitment of Greenville Women Giving and each member for her investment in building a healthy community. Whether it is child abuse, hunger, literacy or healthcare, we each have an integral role in creating a better future for all our neighbors. Thank you! We appreciate your support.

Best regards,

Lisa R. Finley - Development Director

www.grccac.org 

May 21, 2009

Letter from Welvista

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

On behalf of Welvista (formerly Communicare), thank you for approving our grant request in the amount of $30,000. With your support, Welvista will continue to provide prescription assistance to Greenville's uninsured.

In 2008, Welvista served over 12,000 patients, thanks to our network of free clinics, other health care providers and 12 national pharmaceutical companies. With support from Greenville Women Giving, we look forward to serving many more deserving uninsured patients in 2009.

Welvista is a single source for making referrals and providing donated prescription medications at no charge to South Carolina's uninsured. Welvista has become a significant resource for the uninsured in South Carolina by providing donated medications and pediatric dental services through our extensive network.

As a leader in the effort to create access to affordable healthcare, I want to thank you again for your support in helping sustain our program.

Sincerely,

Ken Trogdon - Chief Executive Officer

www.welvista.org

May 21, 2009

Letter from Women Build - Habitat for Humanity

Dear Greenville Women Giving,

On behalf of Habitat for Humanity's Women Build Project, I want to thank you for choosing us to be the recipient of a grant for 2009. For me, this is an answer to prayer and a dream come true - 2 women's groups - Greenville Women Giving partnering with Women Build to build a house! What an honor it was for me today, to attend the luncheon and to receive a check in the amount of $26,895. Wow, that's half a house!

Again, thank you for your generous gift!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Lazarian - President

www.womenbuildgreenville.org

February 12, 2008

Letter from the YWCA

Dear Greenville Women Giving,
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight for the members of Greenville Women Giving what great strides the YWCA has accomplished in the past year. What a year it has been!

Thanks in part to the generous grant we received from GWG, the YWCA of Greenville was able to launch the Empowerment Center. The YW Empowerment Center became fully operational as a center in March 2007.
Since its inception, the Empowerment Center has connected women leaders in our community with those women aspiring to achieve. In 2007 we served over 200 women through 18 seminars. Through our Dream Catchers program, we helped five women open or sustain successful businesses.

Elle Bowman expanded her web-based business, Noeslla Jewelry; Elaine Mangrum went from working for a medical equipment supplier to opening her own; Lisa Butler grew her home-based hand-crafted jewelry business; Tamiko Lewis developed a thriving gift basket business; and Valerie Tucker kicked manufacturing of her toddler products into high gear.
We hope to increase the number of women served in 2008 by offering over 70 seminars as well as continuing our Dream Catchers/Dream Achievers mentoring program. In addition, we are pleased to be offering our first economic summit for women, PowerUP: Women Who Lead: Leadership Empowerment. Advancement. Development, to be held in April 2008.

This is an exciting time at the YWCA of Greenville. We hope that you and other members of the Grants Review Committee will visit to see first-hand the powerful momentum being created by the women of our community. Please contact me so that we may schedule a tour and an informal meeting. I look forward to meeting with you.

Best regards,

Phyllis Martin - Executive Director

www.ywcagreenville.org

January 07, 2008

Letter from GAIHN - Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network

Greetings,

Thanks to the generosity of the fine folk at Greenville Women Giving, soon another GAIHN transitional housing unit will be available for homeless families.



The good folk at St. Michael Lutheran Church have successfully navigated their way through the application process for SC Housing Trust Fund moneys (to match the GWG $25,ooo investment 3 to 1), and have secured the house located at 2613 Augusta Road. It is adjacent to their current facilities, and will double their capacity to welcome GAIHN families into their hearts and facilities. SMLC is itself investing several thousand dollars in the purchase and eventual renovation of this house, thus further leveraging the GWG contribution.



Some renovation and refurbishment will begin as early as next week. We hope to locate a GAIHN family in this house by early March. A dedicatory service will be planned at that time, and we'll be certain to include y'all among the invitees and acknowledge GWG's beneficence publicly.



One member of St. Michael, Ralph Mellom, has also provided a sizable gift to assist with this project, and the house will be named in memory of his wife.



It is partnerships like this one that bring out the best of all concerned, and exemplify the spirit of giving that distinguishes the Greenville community. Greenville Women Giving is tapping into that wellspring beautifully, and your work, foresight and inspiration are much appreciated.



Rev. Tony McDade
Executive Director, Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (GAIHN)



www.GAIHN.org