When women from around Michigan’s Great Southwest step up to the plate to serve on the Berrien County Women’s Service League, they are asked to make a 10-year commitment to the organization and the community. How cool is it that the organization now sports nearly 100 Life Members who are well beyond that 10 year commitment because they are, in fact, committed for life.
As the Women’s Service League steps into its 87th year of service to the community of Michigan’s Great Southwest, they have established the executive team that will lead them to great things in the year ahead. The new Executive Board has been elected and it includes President Mary LoPresti of St. Joseph, Vice-President Sandie Lieberg of Benton Harbor, Secretary Amy Nolan of St. Joseph, and Treasurer Jennifer Mitchell of Stevensville.
President LoPresti, a teacher at Upton Middle School, says, “We are looking forward to another service-filled and community-focused year with many service projects and fundraising events planned.”
That includes the upcoming 60th Annual Charity Ball on Saturday, February 9, 2019, which will benefit Suitcases for Kids, a local program benefiting foster children. The Charity Ball committee is busy planning their biggest fundraiser of the year with the theme ‘Elegant Birthday Party.’
The Salvation Army of Benton Harbor, which has numerous programs to meet local needs, will also be a focus for the League in the coming year.
The League, which has nearly 60 members, has eight committees that work on projects and service. Those include the Executive Committee, Website/Social Media/Public Relations, Hospitality, Philanthropy/Charity Selection, Operation Coats, Spring Event, Scholarship, and the aforementioned Charity Ball Committee.
LoPresti says a few highlights from last year include:
- Another very successful Operation Coats, collecting and distributing hundreds of coats to those in need in Berrien County.
- A fundraiser for CASA, court appointed special advocates for abused, neglected, or abandoned children, at Watermark Brewing Company in Stevensville which raised $6,000 in cash and gas cards for the advocate volunteers.
- The 59th Annual Charity Ball, which raised a record $20,327 for READY Taekwondo of Benton Harbor, to provide scholarships for students and helping them to get a larger facility to accommodate the growing number of students.
- A service project at The Logan Center doing yard work and landscaping at the Benton Harbor autism learning center.
- The Scholarship Committee awarded two students with $1,000 Athena Scholarships, an annual community service based scholarship for high school seniors.
- 20 members volunteered to check in more than 2,000 athletes at the Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon.
As noted, service doesn’t end after members complete their commitment to 10 years of service. The League has nearly 100 Life Members who continue to support the group and stay involved.
Women interested in joining Women’s Service League can find a membership application at http://www.womensserviceleague.org/get-involved/join. Members will serve on a committee, attend meetings, and participate in service projects and fundraisers. Membership applications for the upcoming year are due no later than November 15th.
Non-profit organizations who would like to be a beneficiary of a Women’s Service League fundraiser, have a need for volunteers, or would like to partner on a service project, are encouraged to contact Philanthropy Chair Allison Arend at allisonarend@gmail.com.
In the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market are 2018-2019 Women’s Service League Executive Board members (from left to right): Vice President Sandie Lieberg, President Mary LoPresti, Secretary Amy Nolan, and Treasurer Jennifer Mitchell. (Photo credit, Amy Bleich Heugel)
