Greetings,

As we are closing our 20^th year, let’s reflect on how we celebrated the significant impact Women in Philanthropy has had in our community. It was thrilling to share the importance of our organization with the news media, new members, and other not-for-profits as we have such a story to tell. I certainly hope you have seen the impressive write-ups in the June Local Life magazine and in the June 7 edition of The Hilton Head Sun. Thank you to Gigi Maxfield and the Community Foundation, Scott, and Rob, for getting our message into these publications. We are also grateful for being highlighted at the Community Foundation’s inaugural Annual Community Meeting.

Another milestone at the end of June is the changing of the guard on the Advisory Board. Join me in saying thank you to Mary Stuart Alderman, who has been our Grants Chair for the last two years, while we were able to exceed our goals for grant making. Under her leadership, the Grants Committee maintained their rigorous process and rewarded amazing organizations with significant grants. Betty Irby has been the Governance Chair for three years. She kept us in step with our guidelines and led us through changes that we needed when we incorporated the Dr. Juliann Bluitt Foster Memorial Fund. Thank you, Betty. Kaye Black stepped up with Martha Anne McDonald to get our membership reenergized following COVID. She has put together a highly motivated committee that is generating many ideas to increase our membership which translates into more funds to grant. Thank you, Kaye.

Stay tuned as you will shortly receive the recommendations for 2023/2024 grant theme and Advisory Board membership. 

Enjoy your summer and be prepared for another active year, beginning in September. Stop by the Community Foundation to pick up our updated Grantmaking Brochure and membership forms to share with friends and neighbors. In the meantime, keep some of our previous grantees in mind as they work through the food challenges many of their clients face during the summer months.

Sincerely,

Lesley

Lesley Gilbert

Advisory Board Chair, 2022-24

Women in Philanthropy

lcg1687@aol.com

No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.

Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the U.S.