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The Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island marks 50 years of giving back to the community.
Shortly after relocating to the Lowcountry in 2004, Maria Donahue was introduced to the Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island through a local real estate agent, a relationship that got her a house, a friend and a group that remains important to her today.
But the story of Donahue, the Women’s Association’s historian, isn’t unique. Most of the 562 local women who belong to the organization discovered it through a friend. Despite being the area’s largest nonprofit women’s organization, the group — which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year — is one of the island’s best-kept secrets.
Linda Kellom is the Women’s Association’s publicity co-chair. She’s lived on the island for 10 years, but has only been a part of the group for the last five. Kellom attended her first meeting as a guest, but was hooked right away. “I probably joined on the spot,” she said. “I found a wonderful way to meet people outside of your gated community.”
Kellom said the organization peaked in the mid-’90s, before women from Sea Pines and Hilton Head Plantation formed their own organizations.
“Despite starting off modestly and growing into huge numbers — and then the attrition — we’re building back up,” she said. “We have the enthusiasm to be a viable group that gives back to the community.”
Organized in 1961 as the Hilton Head Garden Club, the group’s initial membership was 23 strong. Its name changed in 1965, but its mission stayed consistent: to promote the natural and cultural beauty of the island, encourage projects that benefit the community and facilitate communication among area women.
The group hosts four lun-cheons each year, one of the rare occasions that the entire Women’s Association meets in one room. Within the larger framework of the organization are about 30 special-interest groups that focus on shared hobbies, such as calligraphy, books, tap dancing, cooking, bunco, travel, history, interior design and tennis, among others.
Dodi Eschenbach, the Women’s Association’s publicity co-chair, joined the group in 1999. Since then, she’s been with her book club, Starry-Eyed Readers, and has formed lifelong friendships. “It’s double-layered,” she said about the organization’s structure of a main group and many subgroups. “Those (four) luncheons introduce you to all kinds of interesting communities, leaders, authors and a sense that you are part of an organization that is concerned is about community.”
For 30 years, the Women’s Association has given more than 100 monetary awards for public service to local youths from both public and private schools; in 2010, for instance, it divided $3,000 among four high school seniors. WAHHI also supports the Children’s Center at Christmas and has made donations to the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Shelter Cove Park and the Hilton Head Island branch of the Beaufort County Library.
To help celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Women’s Association recently donated $15,000 over three years to the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn.
“It isn’t just a bunch of ladies getting together,” Donahue said. “Its purpose is to give back to the community.”
