The Women’s Giving Circle Celebrates

By Sarah Stokes

The room buzzed with excitement as people walked through the doors. More than 150 members and dozens of guests turned out to the Women’s Giving Circle annual Spring Gathering at the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club. Warm greetings, laughter, and a true sense of pride could be felt amid all the tables filled with smiling faces.

Jill Prushiek, Chair of the Women’s Giving Circle, welcomed the members and guests to a wonderful night of socializing and a lovely dinner before turning to the program. The event publicly celebrates the very mission of the organization, to raise money and distribute contributions to projects and initiatives that improve the lives of women and children in the Eau Claire area.

Celebrating its tenth year, the Women’s Giving Circle sponsors a Spring Gathering to honor grant recipients. This year, the Spring Gathering had a record-setting turnout for members and guests. It was an exciting year as the Women’s Giving Circle marked the achievement of funding several area programs. The group awarded eight grants in 2016. During the Spring Gathering, the audience learned more about each program as the grant recipients spoke about how they help women and children with their grants of up to $5,000. The grant recipients thanked the members of the Women’s Giving Circle for making a difference.

The event wrapped with a message from the Membership Team’s Pat Markin and a Grant Team report from Mary Ryan-Miller, who expressed the importance of the grant process and how it is at the heart of what the Women’s Giving Circle is all about. As the tables cleared and attendees said their goodbyes, the evening closed with a sense of gratitude for the positive ripple effect this group continues to make in the area and for ten years of important impact.

2016 Grant Recipients:

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley:
Health and Nutrition: Culinary Classroom and Kitchen Program

Chippewa Valley Free Clinic:
Women’s Health and Hygiene

Fierce Freedom:
Hotel Industry Anti-Sex Trafficking Training

Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley:
Investment of Heart & Sole: Curriculum 2 and Program

Lutheran Social Services:
Trauma Services for Women and Children

Safe Sleep Task Force:
Safe Sleep

Trinity Equestrian Center:
Finding Hope Through Horses

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council:
Women’s Business Center