For Good. For Ever.
Hello everyone!
I am excited and honored to begin my term as Advisory Chair of Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle. Linda Demmer has done a fabulous job of leading this group over the last few years and I know she will continue tol be involved as an active member and advisor to our organization. I would also like to welcome Jackie Jossey as our new Treasurer and thank Denise Murray for doing such a great job as treasurer over the past few years. We have a wonderful group of ladies serving on the various committees that make Giving Hope a valuable asset to our local community.
Are you looking to become more actively involved in helping women, children and families in 2024? Please consider joining a committee or becoming a board member at large. The commitment is not too taxing and the rewards are great!
The Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle board would like to wish our members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. We look forward to seeing you at our 2024 events!
Karen HanchettChairwomanGiving Hope, Women's Giving Circle
Hello everyone!
We had another successful Dixboro Shopping event on November 29! The owner, Brenda, is always so welcoming to our group. Members were given a 20% discount store-wide during the event and she will also be donating 10% back to Giving Hope in store gift cards that we can use as door prizes at our 2024 events. We had 50 ladies register for the event, many who were members but we also had several guests in attendance. It was a wonderful time for our ladies to socialize and shop for some unique items.
This year we teamed up with Plymouth United Way’s “Hats for the Homeless” event. Our generous members really stepped up to the task and donated over 270 new hats, scarves, gloves and socks! All of these items stay in Plymouth/Canton/Northville and are distributed by Plymouth United Way on an “as needed” basis.
A huge thank you to all of the people who made this event a success—Raeann and the Special Events Committee for getting the wine and cookies, Sharon and the membership committee for greeting everyone and all the attendees who shopped!
The Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle board would like to wish our members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. We look forward to seeing you at our 2024 events!
Karen HanchettChairwomanGiving Hope, Women's Giving Circle
When people think of Christmas, they often think of giving gifts wrapped in pretty paper with a fancy bow; however, the most special gift you can give during holiday season, especially to a senior citizen, is the gift of your time.
What a wonderful way to start the Holiday season and the season of Giving by PORCH volunteers, they spent some time with senior residents in Canton making wreaths for Holidays.
The spirit of sharing and caring is purely visible on the smiling faces of our senior friends.
If you wish to volunteer as a PORCH friend and feel the joy of making someone smile, please fill out the application of PORCH.
It is a volunteer run service provided free of cost to the community
TOY DRIVE
Thursday, November 30th
Westland City Hall
36300 Warren Rd., Westland, MI 48185
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Please bring an unwrapped toy to help the Westland Salvation Army provide Christmas gifts to local disadvantaged children.
A $5 doantion is encouraged.
No registration necessary - come when you can, leave when you must.
Questions? Contact the Community Foundation office at 734/495-1200.
News & Updates
Hello Circle Members,
Thank you to everyone who made time to attend our annual meeting and fall charity event last Wednesday evening. Rocky's did not disappoint, and we enjoyed dinner and time together.
During the business portion of the evening, I shared brief highlights from our past year, including four events and the Living and Learning Enrichment Center tour.
Giving Hope, Women's Giving Circle truly has made an important impact on our local community in need, and we can all be very proud of our efforts.
Treasurer Denise Murray shared the latest financial statement with those in attendance. Our fund and endowments are strong and will enable us to continue our mission of Giving Hope to women, children, and families in need.
It is also time to submit your annual dues, so please do so at your earliest convenience. You may send a check to the CCF/LIA office or use the QR code to make payment online. Thank you in advance.
I would like take this moment to thank Denise Murray for her years of service as the Giving Hope Women's Giving Circle Treasurer. It was a big job and Denise always did it professionally and thoroughly. We have been truly fortunate to have her share her time and talent keeping track of all our expenses, funds, dues, and related information. Many thanks again for a job well done!
Next, I had the honor of introducing and welcoming our newest Giving Hope "Circle" members Jill Dean, Margaret Currie, Rachelle Vartarian. Both Jill and Margaret were presented with their Giving Hope; Women's Giving Circle pins.
I am very proud to let everyone know our current membership count is 64!! Thank you for joining us ladies - the more the merrier and more "Hope" we can "Give" together! Keep telling your friends about Giving Hope and let's keep growing!
Next, Grants Committee Chair Jane Kerjes gave us detailed information about the many grants our Circle has provided to organizations over the years and during our most recent grant cycle.Since the creation of Giving Hope, we have given out over $190,000.00! That is certainly an amazing amount of money that has gone back into helping our local community! Most reently, $13,000 was granted to worthy organzations that applied grants during our yearly spring granting cycle.
They included:
Many thanks to Jane and her dedicated committee for reviewing the applications and making these decisions. We should be proud knowing how much assistance we are providing for these organizations; helping them reach their goals. Well done!
During dessert Katie Montes, the director of Mary's Mantle, gave us a presentation about the charity and what does it does for the community. Mary's Mantle provides housing for homeless, pregnant women in crisis. They currently operate a home where they can house four ladies at a time. The women stay during their pregnancy and receive support services during and after the birth of their children. Mary's Mantle is hoping to grow its facilities and is currently researching local property for their needs. I invite you to look them up on the website to find out more about this great place and its people.
Thank you everyone who supported Mary's Mantle through our Pass the Purse. We raised over $1000. Great job, Ladies!!
The last item of business for the evening was to introduce and welcome the new Giving Hope, Wome's Giving Circle Advisory Board members! Our new Chairwoman is Karen Hanchett, and new Treasurer is Jackie Josey. Thank you, ladies for stepping up to serve in these important positions to ensure the future success and legacy of our Circle. The Advisory Board is still in need of at least two additional members to join the board. The roles of Vice Chir and Membership need to be filled. Please consider joining the board and being a part of this great group dedicated to directing and doing the important work of Giving Hope, Women's Giving Circle!
Thank you!
I would like to say thank you to the Advisory Board and all the members of Giving Hope, Women's Giving Circle to honor and opportunity to work with you and over these past years. I was nervous about becoming Chairwoman but all of you made the experience a wonderful learning opportunity on so many unexpected levels - the one I will always treasure!
From our first and greatly productive board meetings, to the necessary online meetings and zoom event gatherings, to my silly event videos, to our back to in-person gatherings....and all those moments in between; it has been a blast!! Best of all, we made our Circle bigger and stonger together. And that is truly something to be proud of!
I also want to express my deep and sincere gratitude to our wonderful CCF/LIA support staff - Beth Meade, Darice Schubatis and Mili Tandon - for their support and assistance covering all our GH, WGC adminstrative needs. We really couldn't do any great work of Giving Hope without them!
In closing , I give my most sincere and heartfelt thanks to you all and my very best wishes for our amazing organization Giving Hope, Women's Giving Circle! May it continue to succeed in its mission of assisting women, children and families in our local community and grow in its potential to gather and cultivate a strong circle of women philanthropists! Together we can reach these goals and Give Hope to all!
Linda Demmer
Former Chairwoman of Giving Hope, Women's Giving Circle