By Dawn Hatfield

DailyAdvocate.com

GREENVILLE — Greenville Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Club hosted their annual Guest Night Extravaganza titled, “Sweaters and Cider,” in Greenville on Oct. 13. The event-filled evening began with vendor shopping. Several female business owners/operators were gathered to offer a variety of goods. From housewares to clothing, jewelry, crafts, and even essential oils and massage — there was something for everyone! A buffet-style dinner catered by Sure Shot Tap House provided pizza, soft pretzels with cheese, and boneless chicken wings for all.

Key sponsors included the following: Beanz Buttercream bakery, Better You Boutique, Biller’s Stamps & Engraving, Ciao Bella Boutique, Cox Insurance, Edison State Community College, Financial Achievement Services Inc., Friends of Darke DD, Montage Café, Prosperity Promotions, Sure Shot Tap House, Teaford’s Pizza & Subs, Thrivent, Tribute Funeral Homes, and Zechar Bailey Funeral Homes.

A beautiful style show was presented during dinner by Better You Boutique (Hannah Rhoades – Greenville) and C & C Clothez (Jodie Bohman – Versailles). Family and friends of Rhoades and individuals from Darke County DD did a fantastic job flaunting the fashions. Interspersed throughout the night were door prize drawings and a silent auction to bid on more than 50 donated gift baskets from local businesses who support the efforts of the Greenville BPW. The night ended with the excitement of a 50/50 raffle, half of which went to a lucky dinner guest, and the other half will help fund young women’s scholarships.

The Guest Night Extravaganza was a perfect way to kick off National Business Women’s Week® (Oct. 16 to 22), which pays homage to the United States’s nearly 75.5 million-strong female workforce. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), women made up 47 percent of the total number of employed individuals in the country in 2020 with that percentage trending upward. By 2029, the DOL projects women will overtake men by representing 51.5 percent of the labor market. National Business Women’s Week has been celebrated since 1928, just six years prior to the 1934 founding of the local Greenville BPW. Currently, 40 percent of U.S. businesses are women-owned, totaling 12.3 million establishments that generate $1.8 trillion in sales.

The Greenville BPW hosts several events throughout the year, such as Summer Chicken BBQ, Breakfast with Santa, and of course, Guest Night Extravaganza, to raise funds for scholarships offered to young women of Darke County. Their mission, “to achieve equity for all women in the workplace and to empower all women through advocacy, education, and information,” is a driving force behind all BPW does.

The BPW Scholarship Committee annually canvasses all eight Darke County high schools for applicants. In March, more than 30 young women competed for eight $1000 scholarships and one $500 Anna Britton scholarship awarded through BPW.

Through the month of October, membership dues to join Greenville BPW have been discounted from $40 to only $30. The club meets at various local venues on the second Thursday evening of each month from September through June. Contact Susan Fowble at [email protected] to join or Committee Chair Maria Moore at [email protected] for additional information on Greenville BPW. Additional photos and updates can be found on the Greenville BPW Facebook page.

Contact Daily Advocate Reporter Dawn Hatfield at 937-569-0066 or [email protected].