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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
We invite you to save the date for our next big event:
A Red, White, Blue and YOU inside Summer Social picnic – June 14th at Spoons in Canton!
Our event special guest speaker will be Retired Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone
Giving Hope, Women's Giving Circle will be accepting Pass the Purse donations to support a Women’s Veterans program.
Register Here to attend the event
Pass the Purse link to donate to Women's Veteran program.
Giving Hope; Women’s Giving Circle
Vol.17 3rd edition
Hello Members and Friends! I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I write to you today! I want to express my most sincere thanks to everyone who attended our Bubbly, Bingo and Bling event supporting MOD Market on March 22!
We had 72 ladies register to attend and join us in our efforts to continue to “Give Hope” to this wondeful organization! The night was filled with fun: shopping, sipping and socializing! And what a treat for all of us to see our Giving Hope; Women’s Giving Circle Grant funds put into action in the soap making shop!! The MOD Market shop made almost $2,000 in sales that evening and there were additional donations made through Pass the Purse! If you missed the opportunity to donate during all the fun, the link to make a donation through Pass the Purse will remain active until Friday, March 31st.
We were also honored to welcome 3 new members to the Circle: Carole Allard, Jackie Jossey and Janet Brady. We are so glad you are part of our community of women philantropists!! If any other of you are interested in joining Giving Hope; Women’s Giving Circle or would just like more information, you may use the second code below to become a member or get better acquainted with our organization and mission!!
Planning ahead- we invite you to save the date for our next big event: A Red, White, Blue and YOU inside Summer Social picnic – June 14th at Spoons in Canton! Our event special guest speaker will be Retired Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone and GH;WGC will be accepting Pass the Purse donations to support a Women’s Veterans program. Please watch for additional details coming by invitation in May!
Lastly, many Thanks to our Special Events Committee- Raeann Neil Chairwoman, for their tremendous efforts in coordinating our Bubbly, Bingo and Bling event- Red, White, Blue and You is sure to be as much fun!!
My sincere thanks again and very best wishes for warmer and many happy days this Spring!!
Linda Demmer
Giving Hope; Women’s Giving Circle Advisory Board Chairwoman
Westland Community Foundation in partnership with Westland Chamber of Commerce present the 3rd Annual Westland Golf Classic.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center • Golden Fox
8768 N. Territorial Rd., Plymouth 48170
9:00 SHOTGUN START
(Registration opens at 8:00)
Click Here for information on sponsoring or golfing
Call Beth at the 734-495-1200 for more information.
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Fall Annual Business Meeting Event October 12th
Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle enjoyed Our Fall Annual Meeting at Rocky’s of Northville. Members were given the updated Operating Guidelines of Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle, along with a reminder that annual dues of $125 are now due.
The Emergency Granting Fund was introduced. Emergency fund requests are vetted by CCF/LIA and approved by the Advisory Board to ensure donations will be used appropriately for true needs.
Members were asked to consider serving on our Advisory Board which meets 4-6 times a year. This is an opportunity to be more involved and collaborate with some talented ladies while providing support to local women, children and families in our community.
New Members
Giving Hope extends a very warm welcome to 5 new members: Penny Irwin, Jackie Jossey, Christine Schingeck, Mary Miller and Sue Smith. Our membership has grown to 64; and this, in turn gives us an even greater opportunity to help those in need!
Annual Meeting Recap
Along with our annual business meeting, ladies enjoyed socializing, a delicious plated dinner and learned about the Lead #Like A Girl program which has been empowering young ladies in our community for success for the past 7 years. The program’s director, Laura Mortier, gave a brief presentation overview of the program. Recent program graduates Sunhani Manosh and Natalie Richardson spoke about their personal experience with Lead #Like A Girl. $841 was raised in Pass the Purse and online donations, which will be applied towards the Lead #Like@Girl college scholarship fund awarded annually at their May graduation celebration. Giving Hope members will be invited to attend the ceremony.
Another treat of the evening was seeing some of our recent granting funds in action. Giving Hope member Christina Bair brought a variety of sample soaps from MOD Market. MOD Market recently received a grant from Giving Hope to support this new soap making program for the participants at Living and Learning Enrichment Center. The soaps will be sold at MOD Market in downtown Northville.
Special thank you to Karen Hanchett for suggesting and coordinating our efforts to support Lead # Like A Girl program and Becky Hurst, who helped clean up after our vent.
Dixboro General Store Christmas Shopping Event
Our next special event will be The Dixboro General Store Christmas shopping event on Wednesday, November 30th 7-9 pm. Invite your lady friends to come shop at 20% off items! Our Pass the Purse will go to support The Rainbow Connection. Their mission is to make wishes come true for Michigan children with life-threatening medical conditions. The Pass the Purse collection will focus on gift cards that the Rainbow Connection can give to wish families.
Suggested gift cards:Taco Bell, AMC, Chic Fil A, Amazon, McDonald’s, Panera, Meijer, Little CaesarsDairy Queen *Cash is always welcome.
Raeann Neil
Special Events Chair
Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle
After a brief hiatus due to Covid, the Westland Community Foundation is back and committed to providing resources to the Westland community.
Since 1996, the Westland Community Foundation has contributed over $1 million to organizations and student scholarships within our community.
Our new partnership with the Local Impact Alliance will help us continue to grow and provide assistance to Westland organizations and students.
Our first event is our annual “Christmas in July” celebration. We hope you can join us on Thursday, July 21st 6 - 9 pm and help us spread a little Christmas cheer !
Your sponsorship dollars will help us fund our scholarship program and provide resources to aid other Westland organizations and residents.
During the event, we will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to the Westland Salvation Army Food Bank and other local food banks.
We look forward to seeing you on July 21st 6-9 pm at the Hellenic Cultural Center to spend some time relaxing, seeing old friends, and helping those in our community who may need assistance.
Call Beth Meade for more information at 734-495-1200 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Here is the link to purchase tickets
June 22 Summer Social Update
Twenty-eight ladies attended our Giving Hope Summer Social supporting Seedlings, Braille Books for Children. Ladies enjoyed our in-person event with friends, warm weather, and a bonus of live dinner music along with a delicious Greek buffet at George’s Senate on Bushwood Public Golf Course. Our newest Giving Hope member Christine Schingeck joined us along with several guests. Giving Hope pins were handed out to members. Members are encouraged to wear their pins to our events. Giving Hope golf shirts are still available for $53. Please contact Linda Demmer.
The Fox Hills Golf prize was given out. We had 4 gift bag prize drawings from Vitrine on Main in Plymouth. Giving Hope ladies were encouraged to participate in the Vitrine shopping event the following Friday & Saturday, in which 20% of sales were donated to Seedlings.
Katelynn Lucus from Seedlings, Braille Books for Children, shared their passion and mission. They believe it is important for all children to be raised in a literacy-rich environment. Visually impaired children also need to be surrounded with affordable Braille materials. Giving Hope Ladies participated in their Buy-a-Book donation program. Every $10 donates a Braille book. Each book donated by Giving Hope will be inscribed “This book was donated by Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle-Plymouth-Canton”.
Online donation: $820
Pass the Purse donaations: $390
(from the event)
Vitrine shopping event donations: $200
(Giving Hope ladies like to shop!)
Total donations= $1,410
That’s 141 Braille Books!
Thank you to all the generous ladies of Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle!
Thank you to the many hands that helped in putting this event together- Beth Meade with eblasts, Linda Demmer with evites, Denise Murray with FaceBook posts, Debbie Maloni for the food choices, Karen Hanchett for the lovely flower vases, Sharon Filips, Karen Christensen & Becky Hurst for attendance and prize drawings, Jackie Norris for her guidance & encouragement and the ladies of Special Events Committee who helped with set up and clean up!
Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle is looking forward to our fall event- (tentative) Wednesday, Oct 12 @ Maverick’s, helping to support Lead Like a Girl. Please make plans to join us and invite friends to come to learn about our mission & passion of Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle- supporting local charities helping women, children & families.
Raeann Neil
Special Events Committee Chair
After a brief hiatus due to Covid, the Westland Community Foundation is back and committed to providing resources to the Westland community.
Since 1996, the Westland Community Foundation has contributed over $1 million to organizations and student scholarships within our community.
Our new partnership with the Local Impact Alliance will help us continue to grow and provide assistance to Westland organizations and students.
Our first event is our annual “Christmas in July” celebration. We hope you can join us on Thursday, July 21st 6 - 9 pm and help us spread a little Christmas cheer !
Your sponsorship dollars will help us fund our scholarship program and provide resources to aid other Westland organizations and residents.
During the event, we will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to the Westland Salvation Army Food Bank and other local food banks.
We look forward to seeing you on July 21st 6-9 pm at the Hellenic Cultural Center to spend some time relaxing, seeing old friends, and helping those in our community who may need assistance.
Call Beth Meade for more information at 734-495-1200 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Here is the link to purchase tickets
