Owensboro is blessed to be the home of several non-profits, most of which focus their attention on a specific sector of our population, such as those with medical, financial, or special educational needs.
These organizations provide vital aid to those in need of their services. They do so with the help of donations from individuals, businesses, and even other non-profits. You see, in the world of non-profits, there also exist those organizations whose sole mission is to uplift and provide financial support for other causes – with their members selflessly laying aside their own interests to take up the mantle of the entire non-profit community. The Women’s Guild of Owensboro is one of the city’s oldest and most effective organizations in that category.
Each year, the Women’s Guild organizes and hosts a luncheon to benefit other local organizations. This year’s 77th Annnual Spring Luncheon was held at the home of Jeff and Marcia Clark, on May 11 and 12. Members of the Women’s Guild prepared the food, which included “Women’s Guild” chicken salad, fresh fruit, cheese wafers, homemade rolls, dessert, and fruit tea. With attendance of 368 individuals, this year’s event was certainly a success. At the time of publication, this year’s donation totals hadn’t been tallied, as contributions were still coming in. But if past years are any indication, the Women’s Guild will be donating somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000 to local charities.
The members of the Guild see their contributions as solid investments, not only in the individual non-profits, but also in the community as a whole. Current President Joyce Edwards says of her involvement with the organization, “As a member of The Women’s Guild, I have served in various roles including being the chairman of the Luncheon two years ago. I appreciate having the opportunity to serve as President. I love helping people, and that is the way I have considered this Presidency – helping the Owensboro community by putting my best foot forward in an attempt to lead this fine organization in fulfilling its purpose. I will borrow a statement from our Governor, Matt Bevin – ‘Service is the rent you pay to live in your community, state and country.’” And the Women’s Guild of Owensboro is definitely service-minded. In year’s past, recipients of generous donations from the Women’s Guild have included: Carenet, Community Dental Clinic, Boulware Center, Down Syndrome Association, Wendell Foster’s Campus for Developmental Disabilities, Hager Preschool, Dream Riders of Kentucky, Help Office, Friends of Sinners, and Owensboro Community & Technical College.
For organizations interested in applying for funds from the Women’s Guild, Edwards explains, “We have an allocations committee for reviewing applications for the funds generated from the luncheon. Applications are mailed to health related non-profits for grants with a deadline for submitting. Once the applications have been received, the allocations committee meets. They will study and review all of the applications and make a recommendation to the membership at the October meeting, at which time the membership will vote on the recipients. All health related non-profits are eligible and encouraged to submit an application.”
Current officers of the Women’s Guild of Owensboro:
President, Joyce Edwards
Vice President, Joy Carroll
Secretary, Beth Johnson
Treasurer, Yvonne Bailey
Arrangements, Gail Reynolds
Allocations, Gail Kirkland
Luncheon chair, Lyllis Shrewsberry
