Mary Jeffrey: Greenville County women do make a difference

United Way’s Women’s Leadership was born 12 years ago as a way to recognize the amazing philanthropy of Greenville County women.

We are now over 1,200-members strong, contributing almost $1.7 million in support of United Way and its mission to make our community a better place for us all.

But we haven’t just grown in number. We’ve also grown in our actions in the community. Our members have proven time and time again how their philanthropy is about more than just writing a check.

This year alone, Women’s Leadership members volunteered countless hours to enrich our community. Through United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, our members provided free tax preparation services to help individuals and families maximize their returns. This summer, our members pitched in to help 286 Greenville County students start the school year off right with new school supplies and backpacks through United Way’s School Tools project. And just last week, attendees of our annual Women Make a Difference: Wear One, Bring One luncheon donated hundreds of new women’s undergarments to be distributed to women in need at the Safe Harbor domestic violence shelter.

These efforts have had a real impact on real people in our community, but we’re certainly not finished yet.

Taking a cue from United Way’s efforts to build long-term cycles of success through a focus on school readiness, high school graduation and financial stability, Women’s Leadership has developed an innovative new scholarship program. It’s called the “Jobs to Careers – Women Helping Women” scholarship and it helps strong, capable women improve their financial stability by transitioning from paycheck-to-paycheck jobs to more stable, long-term careers through higher education and training.

It is estimated that right now in Greenville County, more than 31,000 women live in poverty. We know education is a key factor in determining income. About 16 percent of Greenville County women 25 and older did not graduate from high school. Another 30 percent have only a high school diploma.

Unfortunately, we also know that a lack of education and earning power doesn’t just affect the individual women. It also hinders the development of their children. A parent’s level of education and income are some of the most important factors in determining a child’s success in school. That’s one of the reasons we’re so excited about the long-term impact we can have through Jobs to Careers.

Working in conjunction with our partners at Greenville Technical College and Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, we’re allocating up to 3 percent of our annual Women’s Leadership contributions to help qualified, determined women receive the education and training they need to move from a job to a career.

Not only do our recipients receive assistance with their tuition and books, but they also get help with expenses for common barriers to success like transportation and childcare. And again, it’s not just about writing a check. Our members are also donating their time and expertise to serve as mentors to our scholarship recipients. Their knowledge and experience will be priceless as we help guide these women on their paths to success.

Each of our first five scholarship recipients is a working mother trying to carve out a better, more stable future for themselves and their families. While their individual stories and backgrounds are each unique, it’s interesting to note they all have the same vision for the future: They each aspire to careers in which they will work in service to others.

That kind of selflessness is inspiring. It’s what makes us certain these women will one day reach their goals and return the favor down the road as our future women leaders.

There are many more women out there who deserve a chance to realize their career goals and dreams. You can help us expand the Jobs to Careers scholarship program by becoming a fellow member of United Way’s Women’sLeadership. For more information, visit unitedwaygc.org or call 864-467-3551.

Greenville County is an amazing place, and thanks to the leadership and tremendous generosity of our members, we’ll continue to play a valuable role in shaping its future.

Mary Jeffrey is the 2010 Chair of United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council. Women’s Leadership was created in 1998 as a subcommittee of The PalmettoSociety, UnitedWay’s leadership giving recognition group.