Celebrating Generosity and Commitment
Honoring the timeless generosity of one woman and the commitment of many for our Fellowship Program.
February 23 is very special at Westminster Canterbury Richmond; we will celebrate Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Day! This campus-wide event is a celebration of our greatest benefactor Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans and the volunteers of the Shops on Main (Echo Shop, Treasure Chest, Furniture Room and Men’s Corner), Fall Craft Fair, Small Crafts and the Unique Boutique, winners of the 2017 Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Award.
Since 1985, this award has recognized distinguished volunteer service, leadership and philanthropy that supports and advances the mission and purpose of Westminster Canterbury Richmond. The 2017 award winners have displayed a tireless commitment to our mission, doing more than can be listed to keep their shops and programs running smoothly – all to support Westminster Canterbury Foundation’s Fellowship Program.
These volunteers are deeply committed and give generously of their time and talent. Shops on Main volunteers spend dozens of hours each week accepting, sorting and preparing new donations, organizing and re-organizing items and, of course, giving their Friday mornings to opening and staffing their respective shops. Fall Craft Fair, Small Crafts and Unique Boutique volunteers work throughout the entire year making and preparing their various crafts for sale at different events on campus.
Through these thousands of hours of hard work over the more than 30 years since the Echo Shop first opened, they have made an enormous impact in philanthropy for Westminster Canterbury Foundation and more than 500 recipients of Fellowship support. These resident-run groups have made donations to the Foundation totaling $2 million dollars, making them the second largest donor to Fellowship, with only the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation providing more support. This is a truly staggering achievement, which we are so thrilled to celebrate.
And celebrate we will! We will gather at 2:30 p.m. in the Sara Belle November Theater at Westminster Canterbury Richmond to tell about Lettie Pate’s amazing life of generosity! Following the program, we will have a reception in the Cochrane Commons where Lettie Pate cookies will be served, a tradition at Westminster Canterbury. These cookies, inspired by Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans and her first husband, Joseph B. Whitehead, are made with Coca-Cola and are only served once each year on Lettie Pate Day.