Women's Club of South County
Grow Hope Grants

The GFWC Women’s Club of South County brings together women of diverse backgrounds to provide community support through volunteerism, provision of grants to local non-profit agencies, and awards of educational scholarships to women in need. We are proud to be affiliated with both the International General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the statewide General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Rhode Island.
2024 Grow Hope Grants Committee & Recipients
$31,300 in Grants were awarded to 19 local 501©3 organizations in the key focus areas of
Food Insecurity, Housing, and Mental Health
​​Food Insecurity
Galilee Mission Inc.
Jonnycake Center of Westerly
Jonnycake Center for Hope, Peace Dale
North Kingstown Food Pantry
Peace Dale Dinner Table, Peace Dale Congregational UCC
Rhody Outpost, University of Rhode Island and Alumni Engagement
RICAN, Rhode Island Center Assisting Those in Need
Community Market at St. Peter By-the-Sea
Westerly Area Rest Meals, Inc.

Grant Recipients & Commitee Members – Food Insecurity Focus
Left to right - Katherine Condon (Peace Dale Congregational UCC), Carrie Roberts (Westerly Area Rest Meals), Jillian Easterbrook (Galilee Mission), Leslie Rovetti (Jonnycake Center of Westerly), Becky Johnson (Community Market at St. Peter’s By-the-Sea), Nancy Champagne (North Kingstown Food Pantry), Rachel LaPort (RICAN), Barbara Sweeney (Rhody Outpost), Carol Sugarman, Robin Shields & Penny Lippe (GFWC).
Missing from the photo are Jen Krueger (Jonnycake Center Peace Dale), and Gina O’Connells (GFWC).
Housing
Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
Habitat for Humanity Rhode Island
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Rhode Island
WARM, Westerly Area Rest Meals, Inc.

Grant Recipients & Commitee Members – Housing Insecurity Focus
Left to right - Suzan Amoruso (GFWC), Carrie Roberts (Westerly Area Rest Meals), Kate Anderson (Habitat for Humanity), Kathleen Carland (Domestic Violence Resource Center), Elise Sintra (Neighbors Helping Neighbors), Pat Cole (GFWC). Missing from the photo is Sharon Riordan (GFWC).
Mental Health Support
CANE Child Development Center
The Chris Collins Foundation, Inc.
Galilee Mission Inc.
GEAR Productions, Inc.
Gentle Farm
Girls on the Run Rhode Island
SHRI Service Corps
Wood River Health Services​

Grant Recipients & Commitee Members – Mental Health Focus
Left to right - Chris Gouveia (GFWC), Jillian Easterbrook (Galilee Mission), Joanne Hellested (SHRI Service Corps), Elizabeth McGann (Girls on the Run), Leslie Deering (GEAR Productions), Pam Santos (The Gentle Farm), Beth & Mark Collins (The Chris Collins Foundation), Jan O’Kelley (GFWC), Christine King (Wood River Health Services), Karen Pizzaruso (GFWC).
Missing from the photo are Christina Boone (CANE Child Development Center), and Wendy Bowen (GFWC).



Leslie Deering (Gear Productions)
Leslie Rovetti
(Jonnycake Center of Westerly)
Kathleen Carland
(Domestic Violence Resource Center)

Carrie Roberts (WARM) & Rachel LaPort (RICAN)

Nancy Champagne (North Kingstown Food Pantry)

Jillian Easterbrook (Galilee Mission)
&
Katherine Condon (Peace Dale Congregational UCC )


Joanne Hellested (SHRI Service Corps)

The Gentle Farm (Pam Santos)