Philanthropy Minutes: 10/10/2024
Location: Uwharrie Bank 12:30-1:30

Attendees: Becky Hart, Cathy Kane, Marilyn Bosian, Mary Schild, Betty Blackwell, Sandi Durst, Donda Thomasson, Myrna Medina, Sandy Wolchok, Susie Marlier, Susan Perkins, Abbie Volpini, Catherine Lewis, Barbara Hambacher, Claire Dykeman, Beth Daniels, Robin Meek.

  Meeting Notes

Hurricane Relief Efforts
Becky mentioned the Hurricane Relief Fund Drive initiative listed on the website’s main page, which runs October 10 – 30.

Holiday Party at Becky’s! 
More details to follow regarding the exact date, time, and what to bring.

Assistance League
Volunteer event Wednesday, November 6, 1 – 3 p.m. at the Assistance League, 5426 Old Pineville Road, Thrift Shop location, to help Terri Fishman prepare the store for the holiday season.   A limit of 12 Volunteers can sign up & registration will open October 18.  An example of the continuous flow of generosity to the League is a recent donation of 2500 coats, worth $50,000, to be distributed to area children.  Clothing donations are always welcomed on Saturdays at the store,

Fall Cleaning at Assistance League!  Bring all your gently used home décor items and children’s toys to the Assistance League of Charlotte Community Collection drive!   Please drop off your items at the Ballantyne Country Club Family Activity Center, located at 14801 Ballantyne Country Club Drive on November 9th from 10:00am-2:00pm.  For Questions, please contact Clare Dykeman at cbdykeman@gmail.com or (508)740-6564.

Classroom Central
Abby Volpini and Barbara Hambacher encouraged all members to volunteer at Classroom Central.  Carpooling from Stonecrest shopping mall makes it easier to get everyone there (Wilkenson Boulevard).  After helping to put together supplies for teacher pick up, it’s always fun to go out to lunch together.  They ask that you register at least a week before the scheduled date, to allow them to give the names and headcount to Classroom Central to better plan for our visit.  

Safe Alliance 
Cathy Kane talked about the Holiday Tree Trimming Event scheduled for November 21 at the Safe Alliance Women’s Shelter.  Members will meet the morning of the 21st around 9 a.m. at Stonecrest Mall to carpool to the Shelter.  For those members who want to drive to the site on their own, Kathy will give you the address the day of the event to avoid compromising the security of the women and children living there. 

Cathy Kane and Kathy Marcello will go to the Shelter soon to assess what decorations are there and will sort and make ready the items in the bins. The goal is to decorate 4-5 trees, with lights and ornaments.  The entire process takes about 3 hours and, although the trees are decorated differently every year, they are always beautiful and festive.  It is a popular annual event, so make sure to sign up as soon as the invitation goes out.  There are only 14 spaces!

Sterling Math & Science
Betty Blackwell and Ruth Hood are planning a fund raiser for March 28, 2025.  More information and details to follow!

 
We were pleased to have Robin Saddler, founder and executive director of the Pink Bow Campaign, as our guest speaker.  The group engages with the local community to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer detection, prevention, and treatment, by offering pink bows for individuals, businesses, neighborhoods, communities, and schools, to “Pink Out” their surroundings and show support for those fighting breast cancer. 

We learned:

Early detection saves lives.
Every woman, starting at the age of 40, should get a mammogram.
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed breast cancer.
1 in 1,000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Campaign’s impact:

Go Jen Go’s mission is to help those who are affected both financially and emotionally by a breast cancer diagnosis.

A special MBC Thriver Pink Bow and MBC Travelers mission to provide bucket list travel opportunities.

Support of patients, survivors, and thrivers throughout the year with Donate-A-Pink Bow and messages of hope. 

Adopt-A-neighborhood supports underserved communities by sharing pink bows and breast health information and awareness.

We spent the last hour of our meeting creating bows and messages of hope to make beautiful Pink Bow Wreaths for distribution and display. 


Upcoming Events:

October 10-30 Hurricane Relief Drive
October 31 Promising Pages 10:00-12:00
November 6 Assistance League 1:00-3:00
November 7 Philanthropy Meeting 12:30-1:30
November 12 Classroom Central 9:00-12:00
November 14 Promising Pages 10:00-12:00
November 21 Safe Alliance 10:00-12:00

       THANK YOU TO ROBIN MEEK FOR THE MINUTES & TO UWHARRIE BANK