Weesie Newton,
co-founder of Women Making a Difference

A native of Charleston, S.C., Louise "Weesie" Newton formed Women Making a Difference in 2002. Propelled by her desire to adopt a philanthropic cause and make an impact on the community, Weesie quickly realized her limited time and finite resources were best suited for an organization that did not exist locally. Not yet. A meeting with two other like-minded women, Nancy Snowden and Katie Dukes, set the wheels in motion for what would become the area’s first sustained giving circle.

“The first event was a wine and appetizer party hosted by Nancy at her home,” recalls Weesie, “and we each invited a certain number of potential members. We had about 35 people attend that night, and everyone was really excited about the idea. We felt as though we had struck a nerve in the community.”

A relatively new concept, giving circles hinge on the concept that pooled resources leverage a greater impact. Thanks to a September 2005 article in the New York Times, people across the nation are gaining greater awareness of these grassroots fundraising groups.

According to a February 2005 study by New Ventures in Philanthropy, giving circles have donated more than $44 million since 2000. Women Making a Difference has generated over $150,000 in grants since 2001, all aimed at improving the quality of life within the community Weesie is proud to call her lifelong home.

“The vision for Women Making a Difference is essentially the same as it was in the early days,” says Weesie, “the organization has become more defined over the last few years, but we still hold firm to the tenet that women can do anything they want if they pool their resources and work together.”

Weesie is an equal partner in Fleet Landing alongside her husband Tradd, in addition to her primary occupation as a full-time real estate agent. Weesie attended Ashley Hall, the Madeira School and she holds a B.A. in English from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. She and Tradd have three children.