WGC's 20th Anniversary Pink Party in the Park

Wow - what a night!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in a sea of pink for our WGC 20th Anniversary Pink Party in the Park on June 15. After several years of virtual gatherings, it was wonderful to celebrate the WGC's 20th Anniversary Year together in person on a beautiful summer night on the outside patio at the Robinson Nature Center. 

We heard from:

• WGC Chair Barb Van Winkle who welcomed guests and provided an overview of the WGC, including our focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and our contention that 20 years later, we have met the mission of our founders.
• WGC 20th Anniversary Co-Chairs Candace Dodson Reed and Jennifer Bodensiek, who provided highlights of where WGC is at 20 years, that include: giving $1M in grants, $1.3M endowment, 1,600 donors, numerous nonprofit partners, and our new State of Women and Girls in Howard County.
• WGC Founder Jean Moon, who provided background information about our history and goals from our inception, and illustrated why she believes we've met them, and more 20 years later. 
• WGC Founder and Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, who thanked everyone and discussed what's next for the WGC - including our new WGC Celebrating 20 Years website page, WGC's 20 Years, 20 Stories, WGC's Our Giving, Our Stories, WGC's Upcoming Events including our Black Philanthropy Month Kick-off Happy Hour at The 3rd on Monday, August 1, and 4 Distinct Ways to Give to the WGC.
• WGC Events Committee leaders Mary Thompson & Jade McDuffie McClary provided a beautiful toast to our first 20 years, our next 20 years, and beyond.  

We enjoyed individual charcuterie boxes from Chef Jamila of The 3rd, two specialty non-alcoholic drinks from Sobar - the "Party Pink" and the "Celebration", and pink wine and champagne from The Wine Bin. We invited everyone to wear something pink - and what a beautiful sight it was! We had a photographer snapping pictures and a selfie frame, and we are posting photos using the hashtag #wgcpinkpartyinthepark - check out our Pink Party in the Park Photo Album below. We listened to music from our ever-expanding women's empowerment playlist - let us know what we should add! And, guests left with WGC 20th Anniversary Committee commemorative glasses and  a 20th Anniversary cookie from Sweet Nubbins Bakery.

Many thanks to our WGC 20th Anniversary Sponsors - we appreciate your investment in the WGC, and thus women and girls in Howard County. 

Thank you all for joining us to celebrate what we have accomplished together the last 20 years by pooling our dollars so we can have a bigger impact together than we might otherwise have alone.

This, is the power of a giving circle.

Thank you for being a part of the WGC!

The 2022 WGC Advisory Board

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