More than 150 women attended the Pearls of Empowerment annual meeting, Thursday, Nov. 12 as they celebrated “Thanks for Giving” at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center.

Darlene Fuller, Pearls of Empowerment chair, welcomed the women and local agencies as she opened the meeting. Following lunch, the women were entertained by Ann B. Ross, NC author of the Miss Julia books, as she shared Miss Julia’s thoughts on being charitable.

The highlight was awarding $38,158.47 in grants to local non-profits and agencies to have an impact on the lives of women and children in Davie County.

Awards were presented to the following:

• Davie County Health Department was awarded $550 for Dental Health for Women and Children.

• Mocksville/Davie Recreation Department was awarded $750 for Middle School Food Fun and Games.

• Big Brothers, Big Sisters was awarded $1,500 for Summer Reading Program.

• Farmington Community Association received $2,500 for Farmington Friends Special Needs Program.

• Davie Pregnancy Center was awarded $2,500 for JEWYL (Just Earn While You Learn) Program.

• Hillsdale United Methodist Church received $3,000 for Heavenly Bags.

• Hardison United Methodist Church received $3,000 for Summer Food Bags.

• Dragonfly House Children’s Advocacy Center received $3,000 to fund a Psycho-educational Teen Survivors Support Group.

• A Storehouse for Jesus was awarded $3750.47 for Cool Kids, Warm Nights.

• GFC-NC Mocksville Woman’s Club received $3,780 for Visual and Performing Arts Education Enhancement for Central Davie Academy.

• Smart Start of Davie County received $3,828 funding for Parents as Teachers Teen Parenting Program.

• Davie Domestic Violence Services was awarded $5,000 for Legal Representation for Victims of Domestic during the 50b process.

• Just Hope received $5,000 for Homeless Prevention.

Pearls is a women’s giving circle operating under the direction of the Davie Community Foundation. These women pool their annual contributions to make grants to non-profit programs that benefit women and children in the community. In its first six years Pearls has made 48 grants totaling more than $171,121.

All women in the community may join. Members contribute $1 per day; $365 annually, which is divided into three parts: $300 toward grant making, $35 to the endowment, and $30 goes to the operating expense fund.  Send a check made payable to Davie Community Foundation (with “Pearls” in the memo) to PO Box 546, Mocksville, or go to www.daviefoundation.org, click on Donate   and select Pearls Annual Dues dropdown.

To learn more, contact Debbie Koontz at 753-6903 or dkoontz@daviefoundation.org.