Sunny, warm, with abundant bright pumpkins inside on each table and outside the venue, October 10th was the perfect fall day for Seeds of Strength members and guests to gather for our annual fall luncheon. President Amy Bawcom welcomed everyone and thanked SoS members for their generosity. After all, member dues are the engine that makes our shared giving possible.
Guest speakers John McCullough, CEO of James Avery Artisan Jewelry, and Paula Johnson, Charitable Giving Manager for James Avery, spoke about this home-grown Texas company. In addition to information about the founding (1954, Kerrville), its growth and current operations, we learned about core values that guide James Avery Artisan Jewelry’s corporate and community decisions, and its long history of philanthropy across Texas spanning many areas of need — from scholarships, to building community resources, to partnerships with higher education, to disaster relief and more.
To thank John and Paula for their time during this month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Amy announced a $250 donation made by SoS to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and recognized members and guests who are breast cancer survivors. We also heard news about progress made with the new Founders Grant Fund, an initiative SoS announced in May 2024. The first recipient of this new fund will be announced at the December Holiday Party. Members and non-members can support the Founders Grant Fund, which uses donations that are separate from member dues. Click here to read about the fund’s charter, its committee members and its pool of grantee candidates — and make a donation if you wish!
Just before wrapping up the afternoon with door prizes (including several donated by James Avery Artisan Jewelry), Amy recapped Seeds of Strength’s own most recent impact on our community with a report from the Compliance Committee showing the one-year outcomes (June 2023-June 2024) reported by May 2023’s grantees:
| 2023 GRANTEE | GRANT AMOUNT MAY 2023 | GEORGETOWN IMPACT |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Annunciation Maternity Home Sewing, Financial Literacy, Curriculum, Garden & Healthy Living | $10,000 | 30 women |
| Any Baby Can of Austin, Inc. Nurse-Family Partnership | $25,000 | 64 women |
| Breast Cancer Resource Center Patient Navigation Program | $25,000 | 119 clients |
| Georgetown Backpack Buddies Meals for children | $25,000 | 5,213 children |
| Texas Baptist Children’s Home HOPE Program Georgetown | $25,000 | 226 adults, 45 children |
| Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center Continued Growth to Prevent and Interrupt Child Abuse Program | $25,000 | 9,336 children, 930 adults |
| Williamson County Crisis Center (Hope Alliance) The Georgetown Project | $25,000 | 496 adults |
| Total | $160,000 | 16,459 |
