Rev. Alta Smith, left, and Doris Wood-Brumsickle pose for a portrait outside the pavilion at Riverside Golf Course on Thursday afternoon in Chehalis. The two women are longtime organizers of the United Way's annual Power of the Purse event in August.
More than 200 women will fill the outdoor pavilion at Riverside Golf Club Aug. 11 for the 10th annual Power of the Purse event, put on by United Way of Lewis County.
The “friend raiser” provides a unique opportunity for women in the county to network while enjoying an evening of fun, fashion and philanthropy.
The goal is to bring together women of “all walks of life” and provide them with an opportunity to help strengthen the surrounding communities by working together toward United Way’s mission of providing services and ending intergenerational poverty.
Along with a fashion show and a new event called the Prada Parkway Silent Auction, women in attendance will have the opportunity to spoil themselves by purchasing high-end purses and indulging in accessories many women love, including spa packages and weekend getaways.
“There are a lot of events out there, but we want to put on the event where women really, really want to be there,” United Way of Lewis County Executive Director Debbie Campbell said.
That effort has proved successful as the event continues to grow on a yearly basis. During the first event held in August 2006, approximately 50 women attended.
Last year, the event drew more than 225 women.
For the third year in a row, United Way will name a woman of distinction and commemorate someone who has in the past or is currently involved in helping the organization’s mission.
This year, like in years past, the name of the honoree is being kept a secret until the night of the event.
The previous women of distinction include Doris Wood-Brumsickle and Alta Smith.
Wood-Brumsickle has been attending the event since the first year and later became a board member for the United Way of Lewis County. When she was named the first woman of distinction, she said it was a great honor.
“It just seems like I can think of so many women that just quietly go around doing miracles practically every day and they never think a thing about it,” she said. “We all blossom under positive comments and to have someone recognize you especially when you are totally flabbergasted about the whole thing is just so amazingly humbling.”
As a board member for United Way of Lewis County for more than 13 years, Smith said the event is all about making those important connections and giving back.
“Women are generous and they need a way to focus their giving,” she said. “… We really encourage all women to come and meet each other and to celebrate being together as women.”
Much of the philanthropic work surrounding the event takes place all year long as “pods,” or small groups of women, come together throughout the year to help raise money for different causes.
Wood-Brumsickle’s pod, named Doris’ Divas, has to date raised over $26,000 to donate to different agencies that United Way supports.
That mindset of helping organizations empower the community spills over into the annual event, which this year focuses on the theme of friendship.
Organizers said the Power of the Purse has really grown into the event of the summer for women.
“The beauty of this event is people want to be part of it, they want to be there and they want to support it,” United Way of Lewis County’s Resource Development Director Angela French said.
The event does serve as a fundraiser for United Way, and organizers said it brings in $4,000 to $5,000. However, the purpose is not so much to raise money as it is to bring women together for change.
“I would encourage all women to come and be together at this event to grow in their friendships and relationships, both business and social, so we might grow as a community and build up our community into the richness that it can become,” Smith said.
