Episcopal Church Women

Helping Women Achieve Self-Sufficiency

Art work was just some of the items sold at Church of the Good Shepherd's "Awesome Autumn Auction," a portion of whose proceeds benefited the Lex Mathews Scholarship fund. The Lex Mathews Scholarship Fund Challenge was issued by the Lex Mathews Scholarship Committee in 2005 as a way to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Lex Mathews. It increased awareness about the program and at press time had come tantalizingly close to the goal of raising $20,000 for the fund.

The Diocesan ECW administers and helps finance the scholarship program. It is geared toward women of the Diocese of North Carolina age 23 and older who are seeking either specialized training in vocational or technical skills, a degree or certification below the masters or doctorate level, or continuing education courses for upgrading job skills. It is named for the man who advocated for women and children and headed Christian Social Ministries for the diocese before his death in December, 1985.

To mark the 20^th anniversary of his passing, a yearlong campaign was initiated wherein Episcopal Church Women throughout the diocese, either individually or as a group, were encouraged to make a special gift to the scholarship fund. Velma Bradshaw, Vice-President of the Diocesan ECW and Chairwoman of the scholarship committee, reports that 28 ECW branches responded to the Challenge. Their contributions came to $12,172.09. Members and friends of the Mathews family donated another $7,494.83, bringing the total raised to $19,666.92.

An added benefit of the Challenge, says Velma, was the parish fellowship that resulted from the activities organized by the ECW. A complete listing of donors will appear in the next issue of ECW Works.

"Thanks to many hours of hard work and the generosity of the people of this diocese, even more women will be able to move forward with the help of further education and realize self sufficiency," adds Velma.

The top five fund-raisers were:

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