Every year, March is designated as Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.

Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (CA) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. 



Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamation designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.

As Dr. Gerda Lerner has noted, “Women’s History is Women’s Right.” It is an essential and indispensable heritage from which we can draw pride, comfort, courage, and long-range vision.”

I ask my fellow Americans to recognize this heritage with appropriate activities during National Women’s History Week, March 2-8, 1980. I urge libraries, schools, and community organizations to focus their observances on the leaders who struggled for equality, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and Alice Paul.

Understanding the true history of our country will help us to comprehend the need for full equality under the law for all our people.

This goal can be achieved by ratifying the 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that “Equality of Rights under the Law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

At the Art Tour and Talk hosted by Four Corners Gallery, Charlene Gardner, the gallery's founder, shared her vision for the gallery, introducing each artist and their unique craft. Following the tour, Linda Warner Constantino delivered an art talk, presenting her exhibition alongside the works of Martha Worthy.

Linda Warner Constantino derives her inspiration from the diverse array of colors, shapes, forms, lines, textures, and patterns abundant in nature. Her artistic pursuits span drawing, painting, designing, and sewing, with each serving as a boundless source of creativity. Collaborating with Martha, they aptly named their show "Counterpoints," reflecting its fusion of design, pattern, and the inventive repurposing of everyday objects. The exhibition was a captivating art history lesson in the Lowcountry.

Since WIP’S inception, our impact on the community has been significant. What started out as a few committed members has grown to nearly 200 women today. And our vision to make a difference in the Lowcountry through the power of collective giving remains strong.

Each year a theme is chosen through member input and becomes the focus of the Grants Committee’s efforts. The Grants Committee is made up of 11 members whose mission is meant to strengthen Lowcountry families and individuals in the areas of health, human services, community development, education, the environment, arts, and culture. Over the years, the themes have touched on topics including hunger, literacy, curtailing violence, women’s health, the environment, and our current theme of "Promoting Mental Health."

As we begin to look ahead, we are excited to see where our next grant season will lead. Have an idea? Please send your thoughts for our 2025 grant season to Stephanie Santos at santos.songer@gmail.com.

Past themes include:

• 2023 theme: Strengthen Mental Health Services for Children and Young Adults. Awarded $124,375
• 2022 theme: Continuing Efforts in Pandemic Recovery to Address Issues of Family Stability. Awarded $111,050
• 2021 theme: Provide a New Major Impact Program for Assisting in Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Three Areas: Medical and Mental Health Issues, Education Issues and Employment Issues. Awarded $85,000
• 2020 theme: Providing Enrichment and Readiness for At-Risk Youth. Awarded $82,800
• 2019 theme: Preserving Our Lowcountry Heritage and History. Awarded $76,200
• 2018 theme: Addressing Women’s Health, Wellness and Justice. Awarded $72,000

Peaches (Shirley) Peterson (left) delivered an exceptional presentation at the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry's Annual Community Meeting on March 20. She eloquently shared compelling, story-based highlights of several grants awarded by the Foundation, emphasizing their profound impact on the community.

We extend our congratulations to Roseann Ball, who has been honored as the Stan Smith Volunteer of the Year by the Boys and Girls Club.

If we overlooked your community involvement, please reach out to gigmaxfield@hotmail.com to ensure inclusion in future newsletters.

On March 14, a WIP New Member Orientation was held at Lesley Gilbert's home.

It was a great turnout and we are excited to meet all of the new WIP members!

How can I get involved in making WIP a success?

By being a member of WIP and renewing your membership annually, your gifts not only support current grant programs, but they also build the endowment for future community needs. If you would like to take a more active role, there are standing committees (Communications, Education, Events, Finance, Governance, Grants, and Membership) on which to serve, and fellowship opportunities in which to participate.