Planting Seeds

For 30 years, the WCP has held one enormous Twilight Gathering in one location: Milford.  On July 8, 2010, a new tradition began.  The gathering of friends to support WCP took place simultaneously in five locations across the state:  Detroit, Lansing, Battle Creek, Jackson and Traverse City.  Here are the observations from the Jackson hostess, Nancy Willyard. 

I had the honor of hosting one of the first WCP regional events at the Jackson Twilight Gathering last week.  I'd attended the big Twilight Gathering in Milford every July for many years and always had a good time meeting new women in that gorgeous setting on Carol's sprawling lawn. I applauded the mission of the Women's Caring Program, too.

I spent 42 years of my life as an early childhood educator.  Seven of those years I was working in Lansing as the Governor's Director of Head Start Collaboration where I worked on numerous committees to make sure we had quality childcare available in Michigan.  When I left Lansing and returned to my hometown of Jackson, I discovered that many college students couldn't afford quality childcare and had to drop out of college instead of continuing to work toward a degree.  I decided that I needed to get involved in Jackson so these students would know about WCP's early education and childcare assistance.  I also wanted my local friends and colleagues to know more about WCP. 

I was excited to co-host the event with Jennifer Kelly, a Jackson attorney and cousin of Carol Walters. The site chosen site for holding the event was the Ella Sharp Park Museum because it was centrally located in Jackson County.  We were planning to have it in the courtyard of the Museum, but due to the stormy weather, we stayed indoors at the Granary restaurant on the Museum grounds.

The Granary chef put together a lovely display of assorted appetizers and wines, which the guests enjoyed while watching the Women's Caring Program DVD and networking.  Since our event took place after museum hours, it gave me a feeling of being at a "Night at the Museum."   

We were delighted that many mothers and daughters, grandparents and early childhood professionals attended and I think we'll continue to promote that in the future.  It was nice to see the younger women under 35 in attendance, who not only were supportive of the program but eagerly wanted to get involved as well.

This first gathering was a good size to begin the awareness of WCP in Jackson and I felt that everyone walked away with a better understanding of the organization and how we could promote further events in our county for this statewide program.  Almost everyone who came stayed until the very end, thanked us for a lovely evening, and expressed an interest in coming next year and bringing others.  We also had two gentlemen who attended, and several women said that they wished they had brought their husbands as well!

My friend, Shelly Hendrick, who is the new CEO for the Women's Caring Program, told me that she thought one of the amazing parts of our event was the terrific response from potential volunteers, and how many new friends she made.  She noted that the support for children and families in Jackson County was impressive. 

All in all, we had a great cross-section of ladies and gentlemen from the business and education communities, and agreed that this was the first of many Twilight Gatherings to take place in Jackson. 

Nancy Willyard

For 30 years, the WCP has held one enormous Twilight Gathering in one location: Milford.  On July 8, 2010, a new tradition began.  The gathering of friends to support WCP took place simultaneously in five locations across the state:  Detroit, Lansing, Battle Creek, Jackson and Traverse City.  Here are the observations from the Battle Creek hostess, Kathleen Mechem.  

We had an intimate gathering of close friends in Battle Creek, co-hosted with me by my good friend Laura Walters.    We had a wonderful evening of laughter, networking, mingling, eating and drinking.  Laura's company, Laura's Gourmet Catering, provided fabulous, easy to prepare hors d'oeuvres in a Movable Feast format, accompanied by wines I selected to go with Laura's menu. Lisa Hoffert of the Child Care Commitment staffed our gathering.  Our attendees included business and professional associates, co- workers, old friends (some going back to childhood), relatives, friends-of friends, and neighbors.  Although it rained in the afternoon- by the start of the party at 5 p.m. - it was clear and HOT!  (Fortunately- not as hot as the 99 degree temps the day before!)

Laura and I had planned this event over the course of several months.  We met to plan the menu, theme and format, and to taste wines and some of the menu items.   We have worked together on many parties and events, and always have a blast!  This event was really fun to plan because it was for such a great cause, and for a group with such a rich history.

Our program began with brief opening remarks from Carol Walters, Laura, and me.   Carol talked about the history and mission of the WCP, and thanked the attendees for their support.   I've been attending WCP events for nearly 30 years.  I talked about the power of friendship, and noted that a number of those who were unable to attend tonight still had provided support to WCP.   I noted the long term nature of many of the relationships in the room.  Carol and I have known each other for about 30 years; she and I worked together in the Michigan Commerce department many years ago ... one of my high school friends came from near Flint to attend our event in Battle Creek... my sister was there, from the Detroit area... Laura's family and the Mechems have been close for ages....clearly; we all support each other through many aspects of our lives, including support for social causes.

Laura then told about the food, wine, and sequence of events for the evening.  Finally, onto the food and wine!

Our first station, on my screened in porch overlooking the pond, included: blue cheese and chopped pecan-coated grapes, grilled asparagus, and Caprese salad bites accompanied by a 2008 Arancio chardonnay from Sicily.   We then moved to my (air conditioned) kitchen, where Laura prepared various grilled sausages and onions, accompanied by baguettes and different mustards, and chicken curry/cherry tomato bites.  These were accompanied by a Raza Malbec 2009 from Argentina. Lastly, we moved into the dining room, where Laura served a fruit and cheese platter and chocolate mousse, accompanied by Taylor Fladgate Vintage 2003 Port. 

It became a running joke through the evening that it was obvious Laura and I had a lot of fun planning the party- because we kept talking about all the wines we had tasted together!   I had prepared recipe booklets for each course, and Laura provided informative overviews of the recipes, food and wine pairings, and presentations.  We ended the festive evening with a viewing of the WCP video, and a raffle of a hand-strung freshwater pearl necklace generously donated to WCP by Karen Benson, my college roommate and sorority sister.  All proceeds of the Battle Creek Twilight Gathering were donated to WCP.

Although our gathering was relatively small by Twilight Gathering standards, it was a good first start in a new location, and people liked the intimacy.  We want to do it again next year, and grow it.  I know those who attended this year will bring their friends and associates, and just like the initial event grew - ours will also.   We were just glad and honored to be a part of WCP's history, and its new era of expansion throughout Michigan.  Thanks, WCP!

The non-profit Michigan foundation Women's Caring Program (WCP), which has hosted a growing annual garden-party/fundraiser in Southeast Michigan for nearly 20 years is, for the first time, holding similar simultaneous events in five locations around the state.  Held annually on the second Thursday of July, the "Twilight Gathering," a popular early evening outdoor event in Milford, will this year be celebrated in Lansing, Battle Creek, Traverse City, Jackson and Detroit on July 8.  WCP supports early childhood education through licensed quality childcare for working poor families across Michigan.  Hostesses in each of the five cities have been long-time supporters of WCP.

WCP began on a front porch in 1979 as a simple wine-and-cheese get-together in East Lansing among a handful of women who wanted to expand their circle of friends.  It is now an energetic, growing public foundation funding a unique cause.  Repeated yearly for several years, the original party grew by friends inviting friends and became a humble potluck that blossomed into the Twilight Gathering garden party in Milford, when host and founder Carol Walters moved there in 1988.(?)   The group elected a board of directors of earnest supporters and gained non-profit status several years later.  In recent years, the summer event has regularly attracted more than 800 women statewide.  WCP celebrated its 30-year history at last summer's Gathering and recently made some changes to its fundraising structure and became a public foundation. 

"Since 1995, we've been serving the needs of children in working poor families throughout the state of Michigan who need quality early education and childcare to make them kindergarten ready while their parents are working to provide for them," said founder and board president Carol Walters.  "Our supporters and attendees have come from all over Michigan, and some from out of state, too.  We decided to start taking the party to them, to further expand the reach and awareness of this very important program."

WCP's signature statewide program, ChildCare Commitment provides tuition assistance for quality care and early education for children ages birth to five from working poor and disadvantaged families who are not eligible for childcare payments from another funding source. Grants to help working families with payments for licensed child-care facilities are distributed across Michigan with priority focused in regions with population density and high poverty levels.  It has helped families in 64 Michigan counties.

When at-risk children start kindergarten behind their middle class peers, studies show they rarely catch up.  Research shows quality early care and education enhances a child's school performance and work-life success. The single most important factor in improving a child's ability to be successful and productive is quality education. Studies indicate every dollar invested in quality early childhood education and care for disadvantaged children yields a significant return as a result of reduced social problems and increased economic productivity.

"Too often, we find that government and private assistance programs focus only on the most disadvantaged among us," Walters added.  "Through ChildCare Commitment, we bring much-needed stability to the lives of working Michigan families for whom just a little help can make all the difference, making kindergarten readiness and future success in life more of a reality."

Among families who pay for child care, families in poverty spend an average of 29 percent of their income and families between 100 and 200 percent of poverty devote an average of 14 percent of their income on care.

Among families who pay for child care, families in poverty spend an average of 29 percent of their income and families between 100 and 200 percent of poverty devote an average of 14 percent of their income on care.  The average cost of childcare in Michigan for one child in 2009 was $6,717.

In Michigan, two out of every five children reside in low-income households (income under $44,100 for a family of four).  This rate is up more than six percent since 2000, and is the highest in the Midwest.  The average cost of childcare in Michigan for one child in 2009 was $6,717. There are currently 340 families on the ChildCare Commitment's waiting list.