{"id":147098,"date":"2025-02-19T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=147098"},"modified":"2025-02-19T21:12:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T03:12:29","slug":"womens-council-celebrates-quarter-century-of-transforming-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/womens-council-celebrates-quarter-century-of-transforming-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"Women’s Council Celebrates Quarter Century of Transforming Lives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Philanthropic organization to celebrate 25th anniversary, plan for ‘exciting future’<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Jonathan Scott<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From seeds planted a quarter century ago, the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy<\/strong> has grown from a novel idea into one of the most innovative scholarship programs in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Women’s Council<\/a> celebrates its 25th anniversary on Friday, February 21<\/strong> at The Lyric<\/strong> in Oxford<\/strong>. Entertainment will be provided by The Eaglemaniacs<\/strong>, a popular Eagles cover band. Proceeds will support the OMWC, and event tickets are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event’s theme, “Paint the Town Red,”<\/strong> reflects the council’s success in expanding the number of scholars it supports, said Karen Moore<\/strong>, a longtime OMWC member from of Nashville, Tennessee, and one of the gala organizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The 25th anniversary is a celebration of what we’ve achieved and a reminder of the impact we’re making as we look to an exciting future,” said Roane Grantham<\/strong>, of Oxford, OMWC chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patty Lewis<\/strong>, an OMWC founding member from Oxford, credits three people among the principal organizers of the council: Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat<\/strong>; Gloria Kellum<\/strong>, vice chancellor emerita for university relations; and Ellen Rolfes<\/strong>, now retired from Ole Miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The timing was perfect, recalled Edith Kelly-Green<\/strong>, of Memphis, who served as the council’s inaugural chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As the 20th century ended, women had become financially successful and were responsible for making and\/or influencing the majority of all charitable gifts,” Kelly-Green said. “Ellen believed women could and should lead a philanthropic effort here and that we would make a tremendous impact on the university and its students. She was right.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Ole Miss Women’s Council’s Global Leadership Circle program provides resources to allow student scholars to study abroad. Submitted photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The founders divided its mission into three areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n