Rebecca Frierson holds the Oldest Purse

The second annual fundraiser, Power of the Purse, hosted by Women in Philanthropy (WIP) at the Columbia Museum of Art last week, was fun and functional, just like a good purse should be.

Along with live and silent auctions, Midlands women and community leaders participating heard updates on the non–profit organization’s progress to date. The Arts, Education and Environment Allocations committee recently awarded $20,000 in mini– grants to Alcorn Middle School’s Knights Electronic Learning Center, Crayton Middle School’s Bienvenidos A Crayton! (Welcome to Crayton), and Midlands Middle College High School.

Marti Weaver shows off her handmade purse pin named Most Original. In April Women in Philanthropy expects to award $40,000 to one or two of the top program recipients.

Participants at the purse party were among the first to hear about a new partnership between WIP and Columbia College. The alliance will offer members additional educational, advocacy, and mentoring opportunities.

For more information about becoming involved in WIP, call 733-5419.

The purse Awards

Ann Britton’s handbag was named Most Elegant

Lani Stringer

with a Gamecock

purse

Funkiest

Betsy Mashburn

purchased her purse at a Spring Valley

auction.

Oldest

Auctioneer Rebecca Frierson, with HammerDown Auctions, entered her Great Aunt Agnes’ bag in which she found, as she dressed for the purse event, tickets to an Evansville Philharmonic, the last time her relative had carried the bag.

Susan Shaw’s purse won Most Colorful

Most Elegant

Ann Britton

Most Colorful

Susan Shaw’s vibrant orange purse,

reminiscent of a pumpkin, was a treasure brought back from a trip to the Dead Sea.

Dot Ryall, event judge, (l), Violet Rose Henniger, and Jennie Branham, event judge, stand with winner of Most Meaningful, Dorothy Henniger.

Most Original

Marti Ann Weaver made, just for the event, the purse pin she wore on her

jacket.

Most Daring

Cathy Duggan

Most Meaningful

Dorothy Henniger brought back her purse, a tightly woven mask made by Chocoa Indians, from a trip to Panama.

Funniest