Shawn Tso, left, and Sena Clary, right, chat while getting drinks at Power of the Purse at Riverside Golf Course in Chehalis on Tuesday afternoon. Celebrating the power of womenÕs philanthropy, Power of the Purse is a collaboration of women coming together to acknowledge and commemorate the importance of womenÕs leadership and success in this community.
An event that has become a premier networking opportunity for Lewis County women is just around the corner, and local United Way staff are expecting huge numbers.
The ninth annual Power of the Purse event takes place Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 4:30 p.m. at the Riverside Golf Club Pavilion, 1451 NW Airport Road in Chehalis. The United Way of Lewis County sponsors the gathering, which is now in its ninth year and continues to grow in number during each iteration of the event.
Power of the Purse this year will include several components, such as a fashion show and a purse raffle, in an effort to basically serve as a “night out” for women across the community, according to United Way of Lewis County Development Director Angela French.
“Usually, someone goes to it one year, then they go back and tell their friends and family they need to come with them next year,” French said. “We designed it to appeal to everyone from stay-at-home moms to business professionals.”
What began as a gathering of 50 women in 2006 grew to a total attendance of 225 last year. French says she expects that number to grow even more as word continues to get out about the event.
Although United Way puts the event together, Power of the Purse doesn’t necessarily serve as a major fundraiser for one of Lewis County’s largest nonprofit organizations. Instead, French said it serves just as much of a need in the community in that it brings women together for friendship and networking purposes.
“We call it a ‘friend-raiser,’” French said. “We just really want to bring women together. As long as people are getting something out of it, just the opportunity to come together, then it’s doing what we designed it to do.”
Power of the Purse began something new last year, honoring one local woman with a Woman of Excellence award. They will continue that this year, but French is keeping the name of the recipient closely guarded.
“Even the person receiving the award doesn’t know they’re getting it until they get it,” French said.
Power of the Purse costs $10 to attend. For more information, call 748-8100 or visit www.lewiscountyuw.com.
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Christopher Brewer: (360) 807-8235
