Help Us Lift
Your support and contributions will enable us to continue serving the community through our programs.
2022 CWIL Scholarship Winner
Miss Olivia Minor, graduate of Riverside High School, wins the 2022 CWIL Scholarship. Olivia will be attending Fairmont State University in the fall.
Announcing the 2021 CWIL Scholarship Winner
Miss Malia Whiting earns the 2021 scholarship.
Malia with her parents and members of CWIL.
Happy Birthday, CWIL!!
Charleston Woman's Improvement League Celebrates 123 Years in Existence!
The women of Charleston Woman's Improvement League celebrated the League's 123rd birthday in pink and pearls. Celebration apart but unified.
In Memory
In Loving Memory-- Cadaris Woods (October 3, 1954 ~ April 16, 2020)
Cadaris, a devoted member of CWIL, will be missed by all who knew her.
To view obituary:
About Us
How We're Helping
The Charleston Woman’s Improvement League, Incorporated, also known as CWIL, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization with a one hundred and twenty year history of giving back to the community.
The CWIL owes its existence to nine prominent African American women who came together on January 20, 1898 in Charleston, West Virginia to form a club. The all-female organization provided opportunities for leadership that were not always available to them in the larger community. The members were committed to improving the social, cultural, educational and civic life of African Americans in the Kanawha Valley. The singular term “woman’s” was used in the early naming of the organization to emphasize not only group involvement, but also the individual obligation that each woman had to personal and civic involvement.
After six years of obscurity, CWIL reorganized in 2012 and invited women of all ages, ethnicities, interests and professions to join.
Our Founders - Get Involved
Are you passionate about what we're doing? Let us know! We are always looking for new members to help us make our vision a reality. We'll help you find a way to participate that best suits you. We're excited to have you join our team!
Members of the Charleston Woman’s Improvement League in 1928. From the left, they are, seated, Mary Clark, Rebecca Bullard, Flora Webster Brooks, Ruth S. Norman, Jane Spaulding, Karolyn Franklin, Florence Gordan, Leota Claire, Nancy Carper, and Ethel Davis; standing in the second row are, from the left, Mary Kimbrough, Cornella Wright, Lucenda Sanders, Hattie Clark, Vera Ford Powell, Carrie James Crichlow, E.A. McGhee, Lizzie Hopkins, Maude Wanzer, Inez Hall, Josephine Moore, Mary Carper Gray, and Ida Page; standing in the back row, from the left, are Flora Gardner, Nan Lou Stephenson, Sarah Bullard, Nina C. Gamble, Amy Hopkins, and Maude Clark Peters.
CWIL 2012 Reorganization
Members of the Charleston Woman’s Improvement League in 2012
Front row, from the left: Donna Campbell, Barbara Lacy, Estella McCain, Vicky Mosley, Versie Hill, Twana White; second row, from the left: Natalie Harris, Thelma Hughes, Rosalind Felder, Minnie Jones, Deborah Morris, Deborah Staples and Tootsie Coleman (not pictured).
We continue to evolve and support the values of our our founding members.
Pictured: Twana White and Donna Campbell-Walker
Our Organization's Color and Flower
Pink and White
Our Passion is Never Ending
The Carnation Flower
There is something about the colors Pink and White. They are soothing, calm and beautiful. Each petal is a part of a beautiful flower. Each petal represent a CWIL Member who has joined our organization and who has blossomed into a full perfect flower. "We bring with us love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness and temperance. We are the petals of a flower."
The Carnation Flower
Our Passion is Never Ending
The Carnation Flower
The Carnation Flower represents a new beginning for the young girls and women that we mentor. They will move on to become leaders and career women in our communities. A Pink Carnation means, "gratitude or I'll never forget you."
Our Passion is Never Ending
Our Passion is Never Ending
Our Passion is Never Ending
Our passion is an ongoing effort to instill the positive thoughts in every young girl and woman that we come across. We will not leave; not one girl or woman behind. That is a promise to them. Shown left to right: Mrs. Thelma Hughes, Leslie Brooks and Mrs. Minnie Jones.
121 Year Celebration
We Celebrated 121 Years
"NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE." We celebrated CWIL's Birthday on January 20, 2019 at the Woman's Club of South Charleston, 219 D Street, South Charleston, WV 25303 at 3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. We celebrated 121 Years of helping women to achieve their dreams, their goals and their accomplishments.
We Celebrated 121 Years
"NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE." We love what we do for our women in our community which reaches far and wide.
We Celebrated 121 Years
"NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE." We have served women in our community for 121 Years. Help us celebrate them in 2019. Shown from left to right are: Mrs. Wilma Dixson, Cadaris Woods, Mrs. Marva L. Dowdin, Mrs. Annette Jones and Mrs. Debbie Staples.
What We Do to Raise Money
Charleston Woman's Improvement League, Inc.
Charleston Woman's Improvement League, Inc. raised money and donated $1,000.00 to the Mountain Mission on February 23, 2019 from the proceeds from our "5th Annual Red Evening Affair Event." Accepting the check is Chris Akers. Seen here from left to right are CWIL Members Natasha Hairston-Tyson, President and Twana White, Vice President.
Charleston Woman's Improvement League, Inc.
At our "5th Annual Red Evening Affair Event" on February 23, 2019, over 35 gift baskets were raffled to raise funds for our scholarships and community programs.
Charleston Woman's Improvement League, Inc.
At our "5th Annual Red Evening Affair Event" on February 23, 2019, many different gift basket themes were auctioned to raise money for scholarships and community projects.
Mountain Mission Donation/Scholarship/Heart Assoc.
Mountain Mission
Charleston Woman's Improvement League, Inc. donated $1,000.00 to Mountain Mission on February 23, 2019 from the proceeds from the "5th Red Evening Affair Event." Accepting this donation is Chris Akers and presenting the check is Natasha Hairston-Tyson, President and Twana White, Vice President.
Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson Scholarship
On August 25, 2018 at West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, our CWIL organization donated $1,000.00 to the Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson Scholarship Fund which will benefit students majoring in STEM fields, with emphasis on assisting talented individuals who are underrepresented in those fields.
American Heart Association
Charleston Woman's Improvement League, Inc. donated $1,000.00 to the American Heart Association on February 6, 2016 from the proceeds from our Red Evening Event.
Mission WV Gifts
Mission WV Gifts for Foster Children 05/01/2019
Today, Carol Phipps picked up the many backpacks and personal care items that were donated by Teresa Logan.
Pictured here from left to right are: Marva L. Dowdin, Philanthropic Chair., Teresa Logan, Carol Phipps, Debbie Staples and Twana White.
Mission WV Gifts for Foster Children 05/01/2019
These are the beautiful backpacks and personal items that were donated by Teresa Logan for the Foster Children at Mission WV.
We Have Fun Giving
We are a team of women who have a lot of fun, especially when we are giving to those who need it. Pictured here left to right are: Twana White, Marva L. Dowdin, Debbie Staples and Teresa Logan.
Recovery Point
Recovery Point Donation - 2018
CWIL gave Recovery Point a $250.00 Donation for their women on December 21, 2018. Shown here is Mrs. Marva L. Dowdin, Philanthropic Chair. and Fran Gray.
Mission WV Foster Care Recipient - 2018
Our CWIL Members donated items to give to a Foster Care Teen for Christmas. Shown here is her Social Worker from Mission WV, Carol Phipps.
Mission WV Foster Care Recipient - 2018
Our CWIL members donated gifts for Christmas for a Foster Teen. Shown here is Mrs. Marva L. Dowdin, Philanthropic Chair.
Nursing Home Gifts/Carry On
Genesis Health Care Nursing Home Gifts - 2018
Gifts were give to every patient at the Genesis Health Care Nursing Home located at Northgate in Charleston, WV on December 14, 2018 after our CWIL Members sung Christmas Songs.
Mission WV - Carry On Program - 2017
Our Philanthropic Committee saw a need to supply Foster Care Teens in association with Mission WV with suitcases filled with personal care items upon their arrival and departure of various Foster Care Homes. This program is called, Mission WV - Carry On Program.
Mission WV Foster Care Recipient
Mission WV Foster Care Recipient - 2017
Mrs. Versie Hill and our Philanthropic Committee have a partnership with Mission WV. We donated suitcases filled with personal care items to be given to Foster Care children upon their arrival and departure of various Foster Care Homes.
Mission WV Foster Care Recipient - 2017
The CWIL Members donated these items for a Foster Care Teen with the help of Mission WV as our partner, who transferred these items to the Foster Care teen.
Mission WV Foster Care Recipient - 2017
The CWIL Members donated gifts for a Foster Teen which were given to her on special occasions. Mission WV helped with the transfer of these gifts.
Donate Now
Your generous gift will help us fund our mission to help young girls and women in need. Whether you help through monetary donations or become a new member through word-of-mouth, we thank you. We could not have accomplished our goals without the help of supporters like you. Together, we can make a difference.