"Seizing the opportunity to provide world class leadership, frie-ip and service" is the guiding principle for The Links Inc., a nonprofit corporation with more than 12,000 members in 270 chapters in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

The Links is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations. Links members contribute more than 500,000 documented hours of community service annually, seeking to improve the quality of life for others through four program facets -- The Arts, International Trends and Services, National Trends and Services, and Services to Youth.

Links are business and civic leaders, role models, mentors, activists and volunteers who work towards a common vision by engaging like-minded organizations and individuals for partnership.

The partners are passionate about their involvement with The Links Inc. and play a critical role in helping the organization of women work toward the realization of making the name "Links" not only a chain of frie-ip, but also a chain of service.

To continue its service locally through partnerships, endowments, scholarships and other contributions, the Orangeburg Chapter of The Links will hold its annual fund-raiser, this year, a Hawaiian Luau, on Friday, May 1, at Tourville Lodge. For more information or tickets, call 803-531-6226 or visit linksinc.org.

The Links has partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to promote the Circle of Promise to local communities. The Orangeburg chapter provides a booth at the annual Wellness Celebration in order to reach and teach the citizens of Orangeburg and surrounding communities about proper breast health care.

The Links also partner with the National Cares Mentoring Movement, which aims to mobilize the community to become mentors, volunteers and advocates for young people in association with national and community organizations. Another partner is The Heart Truth, a national campaign that aims to increase women's awareness of heart disease and its dangers.

The Orangeburg Chapter supports these initiatives and more, says Chapter President Carolyn Sherman. The Orangeburg Links recently won top honors -- $1,000 for each -- for their programs on Health Disparities and Rosenwald Schools at the biennial Southern Area Conference competing against chapters from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, The Bahamas and South Africa.

The Health Disparities Program is an umbrella project in which each of the four facets of the organization is involved in educating the public about a chosen disparity: diabetes, HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy and domestic violence. A series of infomercials on the health issues featuring experts in the field were produced and aired.

The Rosenwald Schools Program is a collaborative effort with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the S.C. Department of Archives and History, the S.C. African American Heritage Commission and the Orangeburg Chapter of The Links Inc. The overall goal of the program is to identify the sites of all Rosenwald Schools built in Orangeburg County and place historical markers on the designated sites. A marker was installed at the site of the Great Branch School and Teacherage in November 2008. The chapter hopes to place markers for Rosenwald School sites in Elloree, Holly Hill, Bowman and Felton Laboratory School in the near future.

In support of the educational endowment effort of the Southern Area of The Links Inc., the Orangeburg Chapter recently presented a check for $5,000 to Claflin University as a down payment on an endowed scholarship. Additionally, the chapter makes an annual scholarship contribution to South Carolina State University. The Links Inc. is the recipient of awards from the U.N. Association of New York and the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation for its premier programs. It is also an International Civil Rights Walk of Fame Inductee and was honored at the 2009 annual Trumpet Awards.

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