Bluffton’s Maureen Cooley Honored as 2024 Woman of the Year by United Way of the Lowcountry

Bluffton’s Own Maureen Cooley Wins Woman of the Year Award

On a delightful October 25th, a heartwarming celebration took place at the Culinary Institute of the South in Bluffton. The spotlight was on Maureen Cooley, a remarkable resident of Dataw Island in Beaufort County, who was recently named the 2024 Woman of the Year by the United Way of the Lowcountry’s Women United. This prestigious award recognizes incredible women who dedicate themselves to making their communities a better place through tireless volunteerism.

Making a Difference in the Lowcountry

Cooley is known far and wide for her unwavering commitment to helping those in need in both Beaufort and Jasper counties. Through organizing donation drives, she has made a significant impact, aiding various local organizations such as Hopeful Horizons, St. Francis Center, The Keyserling Cancer Institute, The Salvation Army, and the Beaufort County Animal Shelter. Imagine countless carloads filled with care packages containing food, clothing, toys, baby supplies, and personal items—all delivered with love and care to those who need it most! Maureen’s flair for organizing these drives has brought smiles and relief to many families in her community.

A Role Model for All

Her dedication didn’t go unnoticed! Claudia Aller, the previous year’s Woman of the Year, praised Maureen’s inspiring work, stating, “Maureen exemplifies everything that Women United and this award represent. Through her tireless dedication to helping those in need, she has touched countless lives and created lasting change in our community. She is a true advocate for the most vulnerable among us.” Such poignant words speak volumes about Cooley’s influence!

Spotlight on Women United Scholarship Fund

As the delightful event unfolded, attendees were treated to a keynote address from Michelle Brenner, the owner of Aesthetic Science Institute. With over 35 years of experience in the skincare and wellness industry, Brenner encouraged all women in attendance to embrace their passions and get involved in their communities!

But the celebrations didn’t end there! Women United took this opportunity to recognize its largest class of Women United Scholarship Fund award recipients yet! Students like Geobana Alvarez, who is pursuing Accounting, and Alyssa Robert along with Kayla Townsend, both majoring in Elementary Education, were among those honored. Other scholarship recipients included Paul Madrid and Tymeca Sawyer, both studying Nursing, and Angela Thomas, who is majoring in Business Administration/Management.

Empowering Women for Tomorrow

The Women United Scholarship Fund has been an incredible initiative since it was established four years ago, encouraging non-traditional female students in Beaufort and Jasper counties to chase their academic dreams. The scholarships not only require recipients to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 but also emphasize the importance of giving back through community involvement. Talk about a win-win situation!

Join the Movement

For anyone looking to learn more about this inspiring initiative and the incredible work done by Women United, keep an eye out on their website for further information and opportunities to get involved. Bluffton is lucky to have such passionate individuals dedicated to uplifting their communities! Here’s to Maureen Cooley and every woman out there making a difference, one smile at a time!