Maximizing Our Impact Through Leadership, Service and Friendship
A series of unfettered interviews with notable professionals who detail what we need to know and do to identify and access the health, financial, civic information and resources that can help our community flourish.
NOTE: All grant proposals must focus on increasing learning skills and educational opportunities utilizing proper resources/supplies to harness a good learning environment in the classroom
OBJECTIVE
All sites offer drive through services. Times and services vary by site. First come, first served. People who have COVID-19 symptoms or a recent exposure will only be able to receive COVID-19 test.
WEAR A MASK.
The Columbia (SC) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated Joins SC Thrive
to host a Links Day of Health Resources and Information for Seniors in the Midlands
When: Saturday, November 23, 2019
Time: 10:00am – 1:00 pm
Location: St. Johns Baptist Church – 3404 W. Beltline Blvd, Columbia, SC 29203
The Columbia (SC)Chapter, The Links, Inc. and SC THRIVE have partnered to host a Columbia Links Day of Health Resources and Information for Seniors in the Midlands.
The forum is centered around community needs and access to care for adults ages 50 and older and will focus on the following topics:
|
Medicare |
Healthy Connections Prime Healthy Connections Medicaid Many other topics relating to general health |
Dr. Deborah Davis, Co-Chair of the Columbia Links Health and Human Services Facet, said that she was especially pleased that the Columbia Chapter and SC THRIVE will offer Healthy Connections Prime during the forum, a new healthcare option for seniors providing enhanced Medicare and Medicaid services. She also stated that this is a statewide commitment for all South Carolina Links Chapters to help citizens statewide gain the access needed to obtain health care and other community resources.
Healthy Connections Prime offers better care by making it easier for seniors to get all of their Medicare, Medicaid and Part D services from a health plan that they choose, better value through a care team and a care manager that works directly with them and their doctors and better health through benefits that can assist them in their lives.
The forum is free and the public is invited to attend.
The Links Incorporated is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The Links established the Health and Human Services initiative in response to the chronic health disparities that persist in black communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.
SC Thrive is a statewide non-profit organization offering solutions to South Carolinians in need of accessing resources but facing a multitude of barriers. SC Thrive will lead the conversation on access to healthcare, food insecurity resources, and community mental health. Local healthcare organizations will be onsite sharing valuable tools and medical information leading to access to care and local community needs assessments.
Dr. Deborah Davis, Co-Chair,
Health and Human Services Facet
Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston, Chair, Umbrella Program
Columbia(SC) Chapter, The Links, Inc
Contact: 803.351.9232 or btpinkston@yahoo.comfor more information
The Columbia (SC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated is a not-for-profit organization consisting of women of color who contribute to their communities through a variety of service projects and initiatives with a focus on the arts, health and wellness, and youth engagement. The group’s members work with communities to understand their needs and priorities and provide financial and volunteer resources to address them – an inclusive versus a directive approach.
One of the chapter’s most important projects is their Links Scholars program, a scholarship program that awards financial support to deserving students of color. The first year the program was launched, two students received scholarships. Last year, ten students received awards.
Since the creation of the Links Scholars program in the early 1990’s, Dr. Benetta Bell, Vice President of the Links Incorporated, Columbia (SC) chapter, has seen the nonprofit’s scholarship program double.
“If I had to estimate a growth percentage for our scholarship I would say we’ve experienced 100 percent growth,” Dr. Bell says.
“Working with Central Carolina Community Foundation, we have been able to reach further into the communitywith our fundraising efforts and connectwith corporations who know of the Community Foundation. Our corporate donors are comfortable giving to our scholarship knowing that the funds will be well managed.”
Every year, the organization combs through applicants, looking for motivated students who might slip under the radar for other scholarships.
“Our goal with the scholarship was not necessarily to find the top person in a class,” Dr. Bell says. “It was to get the B-plus student, the A-minus student, the student who is not in the top five but is going to college and will be very successful. We wanted to expand this scholarship to reach more of these students and the Community Foundation magnified our impact to the point where we can do that.”
Because of their successful fundraising efforts, the Links members have been able to provide financial support for tuition and books and also provide professional attire for college and business interviews. This year, the Links Scholars program helped ten students realize their dream of attending college. Through the support of the Link’s members, this number will continue to grow and more dreams will be fulfilled.
The Community Foundation’s main impact has been to ease the process of awarding the scholarship. The Columbia (SC) chapter retains control over scholarship applications, recipient selection, and designation of funds, but the Community manages all the finances, compliance, and processing responsibilities, allowing The Columbia Chapter’s leadership to focus on what really matters: helping students in need.
“The Community Foundation assisted with the paperwork needed to administer scholarships as well as helped us stay up to date with the laws and regulations that we needed to comply with to distribute scholarships,” Bell says. “Things change every year and not all of our members can keep up with those changes or even know what the changes are. The Community Foundation has given us a lot of flexibility with how the funds grow, where the funds go, and the best way to utilize them, helping us to save in a wise way.”
Thanks to the Columbia (SC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated’s willingness to serve through Links Scholars, assisted by the management of the Community Foundation, the scholarship is showing a promising trend of growth that can only continue from here.
“It’s been fabulous growth over the years and the Community Foundation has allowed more students to see our scholarship and know it’s there for them,” Dr. Bell says. “So it’s added value for us, it’s added value for the students because they get the opportunities that they would like to have. We hope to offer even more of these opportunities in the future.”
By Rachel Pittman
The Columbia (SC) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated Joins SC Thrive
to host a Links Day of Health Resources and Information for Seniors in the Midlands
When: Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Palmer Memorial Chapel-1200 Fontaine Place, Columbia, SC 29223
The Columbia (SC)Chapter, The Links, Inc. and SC THRIVEhave partnered to host a Columbia Links Day of Health Resources and Information for Seniors in the Midlands onTuesday, October 9,2018 at 6:00pm at the Palmer Memorial Chapel, 1200 Fontaine Place, Columbia, SC.
The forum is centered around community needs and access to care for adults ages 50 and older and will focus on the following topics:
|
Medicare |
Healthy Connections Prime Healthy Connections Medicaid Many other topics relating to general health |
Dr. Deborah Davis, Co-Chair of the Columbia Links Health and Human Services Facet, said that she was especially pleased that the Columbia Chapter and SC THRIVEwill offer Healthy Connections Prime during the forum, a new healthcare option for seniors providing enhanced Medicare and Medicaid services. She also stated that this is a statewide commitment for all South Carolina Links Chapters to help citizens statewide gain the access needed to obtain health care and other community resources.
Healthy Connections Prime offers better care by making it easier for seniors to get all of their Medicare, Medicaid and Part D services from a health plan that they choose, better value through a care team and a care manager that works directly with them and their doctors and better health through benefits that can assist them in their lives.
The forum is free and the public is invited to attend.
The Links Incorporatedis one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The Links established the Health and Human Services initiative in response to the chronic health disparities that persist in black communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.
SC Thriveis a statewide non-profit organization offering solutions to South Carolinians in need of accessing resources but facing a multitude of barriers. SC Thrive will lead the conversation on access to healthcare, food insecurity resources, and community mental health. Local healthcare organizations will be onsite sharing valuable tools and medical information leading to access to care and local community needs assessments.
Dr. Deborah Davis, Co-Chair,
Health and Human Services Facet
Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston, Chair, Umbrella Program
Columbia(SC) Chapter, The Links, Inc
Contact: 803.351.9232 or btpinkston@yahoo.comfor more information
The Columbia (SC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and Allen University announce a voter registration project partnership. GOTV (Get Out The Vote) is an initiative of the National Trends Facet and a national Legislative Affairs initiative.
The Columbia (SC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated will join the Allen University family in a collaborative effort to assist students, faculty, and staff in registering to vote. Allen students will perform a skit “Voting for a Cause: A Tribute to those who Paved the Way.” Following the skit, Link Martha, Link Cynthia, and Mrs. Teshia McSwain, Outreach Coordinator for the Greater Columbia Action Group will address the audience.
At the conclusion of the program, Mrs. McSwain and our Sister Links will assist members of the Allen University family (students, faculty, and staff) with voter registration materials. Our Sister Links will also distribute a Voter Registration Flyer and “First You Register, then You Vote” information.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018, 11:00 am
(Please arrive by 10:30 a.m.)
Allen University (Gymnasium)
1530 Harden Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29204
LINKS SISTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ASSIST WITH THIS HBCU INITIATIVE. SERVICE HOUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE.
The Columbia (SC) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated JOINS SC THRIVE to host
Links Day of Health Resources and Information for Seniors in the Midlands
DATE: Saturday, September 29, 2018
LOCATION:
Cecil Tillis Center
2111 Simpkins Lane
Columbia, SC 29204
The Columbia (SC) Chapter, The Links, Inc. and South Carolina THRIVEhave partnered to host a Columbia Links Day of Health Forums on Saturday, September 29, 2018 from 10:00am-1:00pm at the Cecil Tillis Center in Columbia (light lunch served). The forum is centered around community needs and access to care for adults ages 50 and older. The program will focus on the following topics:
Medicare
Mental Health
SNAP
Healthy Connections Prime
Healthy Connections Medicaid
Many other topics relating to general health.
All are welcome to attend.
The Links Incorporated is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The Links established the Health and Human Services initiative in response to the chronic health disparities that persist in black communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.
SC Thrive is a statewide non-profit organization offering solutions to South Carolinians in need of accessing resources but facing a multitude of barriers. SC Thrivewill lead the conversation on access to healthcare, food insecurity resources, and community mental health. Local healthcare organizations will be onsite sharing valuable tools and medical information leading to access to care and local community needs assessments.
DeAndrea G. Benjamin, President
Columbia(SC) Chapter, The Links, Inc.
Contact: Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston, Chair, Columbia Links Umbrella Program
803.351.9232 or btpinkston@yahoo.comfor more information
Ms. Breon Walker has been appointed to the Richland-Lexington Airport Commission and will represent the City of Columbia on the Commission. Ms. Walker is a litigation attorney and partner with Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A., in the firm’s Columbia, South Carolina office. Her practice includes defense of personal injury claims, products liability defense, commercial litigation and government relations.
Mrs. Alice Hurley (center) poses for a photo with Dr. Hiram Spain (left) and Columbia Urban League President/CEO J.T. McLawhorn.
The Columbia Urban League recently celebrated it’s “50th Anniversary Equal Opportunity Gala by recognizing the Leagues founder Alice Wyche Hurley, a member of the Columbia (SC) Chapter of The Links, Inc. and her late husband, Anthony Manigault Hurley. Just three years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed, they worked together to establish the first League in South Carolina, with a mission to empower communities and change lives. The Columbia League eventually chartered both the Charleston and Upstate Leagues. Mrs. Hurley stated that “It was natural that I started the Columbia Urban League due to the current issues at the time. The NAACP had its place, but when the issues are brought to the surface, organizations like the Columbia Urban League make the mission consistent and ongoing.”
By: Mary G. Elam
Columbia (SC) Chapter, The Links, Inc.
Members of the Health and Human Services Facet of the Columbia Chapter of Links recently collaborated with the Women at Heart at its annual forum and exhibition at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The facet team, chaired by Dr.Deborah Davis, and co chaired by Dr.Felicia Goines, conducted the drive where it facilitated donor registration and provided education about the importance about donating organs, tissue and bone marrow.
Linkages to Life: Organ, Tissue and Bone Marrow Donation Awareness, is the signature program of the Health and Human Services Facet. Its mission is to promote and facilitate programs that support the maintenance of good health and the elimination of chronic health disparities in communities of color through education, health advocacy and optimal utilization of health resources. The Columbia Chapter of Links is actively engaged in promoting awareness about the critical need for organ donors in the African American community. A linkage to Life is truly the ultimate community service. It fosters working in collaboration with other organizations to increase awareness and participation by African Americans in organ donor programs in various venues. The full measure of what the Links, Incorporated will be able to accomplish with this program will not be realized for some years to come. The combined efforts of its national membership in informing and mobilizing African Americans to become bone marrow and organ donors will provide a great legacy and public health enhancement.
Founded in 1946, The Links Incorporated, an international women’s service organization is among the most prestigious associations of Black Women in the world. From its modest beginnings with nine women, the organization born in the wake of world war 11 has expanded and refined its mission and membership and today has a membership of 12,000+ women of African descent in 275 chapters in the United States and in the Bahamas. The members of the Links, Incorporated are physicians, dentists, judges, attorneys, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs, elected officials, non profit executives, authors, corporate executives and homemakers. They use their considerable resources to improve thee quality of life for others.
The chapter’s president, Mary Miller McClellan, believes that with continued education, our community will become galvanized and more responsive to the needs of African Americans waiting for transplants by becoming donors in order to make the ultimate gift, the gift of life. This program initiative was facilitated by Beryl Dakers, the chapter’s program Chairperson.
For additional information, please visit the chapter’s website: www.columbiasclinks.org
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PO Box 11193, Columbia, SC 29211 // ColumbiaSCLinks@gmail.com
