Pamela Gentry, President, Annapolis (MD) Chapter
The Links, Incorporated, founded in 1946, is one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.
The idea behind the creation of the Annapolis chapter developed in the summer of 1961, when a group of like-minded friends and neighbors gathered for various cultural celebrations occurring in the “Arundel on the Bay” area of Annapolis. This community of African-American professional women wanted to align themselves with an organization that promoted the same ideals and visions that they had for their community. The Annapolis Chapter of the Links, Incorporated was installed on August 20, 1962. The twelve charter members built the chapter’s foundation on their pursuit to ensure a circle of friendship while supporting the needs of the community.
Your support of the Winter Wonderland Gala provides programming throughout Annapolis and the greater Anne Arundel County community. This event creates a wonderful opportunity to gather with old friends, meet new ones and network with likeminded civic leaders while supporting our programs and community outreach.
This elegant evening is our largest fundraiser, and this year is more important than ever! The communities we serve are counting on us, and we are counting on you! Your support will fortify our existing programs and give life to new ones spearheaded through our five programming Facets: Services to Youth, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, Health and Human Services and The Arts.
Our programs include:
Services to Youth Facet: Change Engineering and The Leadership Academy programs provide monthly workshops on business, life, and career skill building along with social consciousness for 50 minority young women at Annapolis High School.
National Trends and Services: This Facet sponsors health fairs that target heart health, provides free screenings and includes assistance with accessing to the State Health Exchange. Additionally, this Facet works with women who are formerly incarcerated and helps assist, and provide tools to help them enter back into society. The Facet has also sponsored a reception for Female Veterans and host an award-winning Woman Empowerment Forum, which included discussion on domestic violence and financial literacy.
International Trends and Services Facet: This Facet collects and ships eyeglasses, footwear and sporting equipment to schools to Ghana. Members do mission work each year in Jamaica and supports children with a variety of activities in some of the schools that most need it.
Health and Human Services Facet: This Facet provides a multi-year Health Academy at the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis where students receive ongoing lessons and experiences on healthy eating and lifestyles. Students have taken field trips to the Safeway Supermarket and prepared healthy meals at the Whole Foods Model Kitchen. Students demonstrated their knowledge of healthy eating and lifestyles by creating commercials which have aired for a number of years on the City of Annapolis TV station.
The Arts Facet: This Facet has sponsored women’s book signings and art shows, joined in partnership with the Annapolis Film Festival and has ongoing sponsorship of the Annapolis Opera Contest. In addition established the Joyce Picot McManus Musical Exploration and Expression Grant Award (JPMEE Grant Award) in 2019. This grant program is in memory of the significant contribution in music made by Mrs. McManus to the Anne Arundel County Public School System, the Annapolis Opera, and the Annapolis Chapter of Links.