The Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change Fund in partnership with The Spartanburg County Foundation will present the 2020 Women’s Leadership Virtual Gathering tomorrow, Saturday, December 5, 2020 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. streamed LIVE from the Robert Hett Chapman III Center for Philanthropy on the campus of The Spartanburg County Foundation.
Ten giveaways will be randomly drawn from names of those registered, including a BMW Driving Weekend and two grants from The Spartanburg County Foundation. Register online for this virtual event, here.
“Though this year we are virtual, it’s so important to safely engage with one another,” said Mary Thomas, Chief Operating Officer with The Spartanburg County Foundation and visionary behind this annual event. “We look forward to celebrating some incredible wins in our Spartanburg community and elevating female leaders, whose resilience has been witnessed and experienced through community impact in 2020.”
Five local women will be honored for their exemplary community contributions at the virtual gathering. Our 2020 local honorees are: Marjorie Appiah – Community, Alondra Black – Leadership, Cyndi Beacham – Civic Engagement, Nannie Jefferies – Faith, and Krista Newkirk – Courage.
“The Mary L Thomas annual event is both a celebration of women in this community and a call to all women to challenge themselves to grow and stretch,” said Susu Johnson with Meeting Street Academy, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to the creation of a new mandate for education in South Carolina and beyond. “The goal is to improve our shared world for everyone and celebrate our differences and commonalities.”
In addition to recognizing these five individuals, we are honored to have esteemed speaker, Natosha Reid Rice, Habitat for Humanity’s Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer deliver the keynote address.
Natosha is passionate about providing a voice to the voiceless and opportunities to communities that have been historically disadvantaged. She is a frequent speaker and facilitator for community/civic organizations, churches, colleges and corporate events on topics such as the intersection of faith and justice, race and gender justice, leadership development and community empowerment.
This year’s Mistress of Ceremonies will be the Carolinas’ Chief Meteorologist Christy Henderson with WSPA News Channel 7.
“Come join us as we recognize the accomplishments of women leading change in Spartanburg and use our voices to engage, elevate, and celebrate leading women in our community,” said Thomas.
Confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.