barbara-edwards_web.jpgMIAMI — The Dade County (FL) Chapter of The Links Inc., a women’s service organization, will celebrate its silver anniversary this month with a series of activities and gala with the theme, “A 25- Year Snapshot of Friendship and Service.”


The chapter is a branch of The Links, Incorporated, a national organization founded in 1946 in Philadelphia with the aim of promoting civic, educational, and cultural advancement.

Since its inception, the chapter has been involved in community initiatives that include mentoring at-risk children, breast cancer awareness, scholarships for college-bound students graduating from Miami-Dade County public schools, and support of the arts.

The chapter also supports the Carmen Hamm Davis Endowed Scholarship Fund at Florida Memorial University.

This year, the organization partnered with HIS HOUSE Academy, a faith-based private school that offers at-risk students an education, facili- tating six interactive workshops on childhood obesity prevention.

The chapter began when Geneva Knowles Woodard, a retired school administrator, and retired educators Jessie Stinson and Dolores Washington formed an interest group of 28 professional and com- munity-minded women. The Links, Incorporated, chartered the group on June 1, 1986, at a ceremony held at the then Pavillion Hotel, now the InterContinental Miami Hotel.

Its membership has grown to 55 women who volunteer many hours to community service projects and outreach programs.

For its June 17-19 anniversary celebration, the chapter will return to the hotel where it started.

“We have been planning for the last year,” said Woodard, who chairs the anniversary planning committee. “Everyone is bursting with excitement, and we know it will be an electrifying weekend.”

As part of their celebration, the chapter will host a black-tie gala on Saturday, June 18, at the InterContinental Hotel, 100 Chopin Plaza.

“There will be dinner, dancing, live entertainment and a great time for everyone,” said chapter president Barbara Edwards.

The gala, as well as a breakfast on June 18, are open to the public. The cost for the breakfast is $15 per person and for the gala it is $100 per person.