34 | September/October 2018
G I V I N G
Cindy White, president of the
Fayetteville chapter of The Links
T
he Links, Incorporated,
is one of the oldest and
largest volunteer service
organizations of women
of color.
at's true both nationally – the
national organization was founded in
1946 – and locally. e 32nd chapter
of e Links, Inc., was established in
Fayetteville in 1951.
Today, the Fayetteville chapter is
61 women strong, including 43 active
members and 18 alumnae. Each of the
latter has at least 30 years of service.
And the national organization
is headed by a Fayetteville native,
Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, who grew
up watching her mother Marye Jeffries'
participation with the local chapter of
e Links.
e Links is a story of friendship
and service to the community, both
locally and globally, with a focus
on issues and needs in the area of
education, youth, health, humanity,
the arts and more. Committed to
enriching, sustaining and ensuring
the cultural and economic survival
of African-Americans and others of
African ancestry, the organization
has 289 chapters in 41 states, as well
as the District of Columbia and the
Bahamas. Members contribute more
than 500,000 documented hours of
community service annually.
"Exposing our youth to cultural
enrichment through the fine arts is a
favorite area of service of mine," said
Cindy White, the current president of
the local chapter of e Links. "Some
of the service projects that positively
affected youth in Cumberland County
are Boys & Girls Club, NATAI Girls,
and Great Oaks."
Volunteerism and
Philanthropy Are
Alive and Well
BY KELLY TWEDELL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW WONDERLY
Meet the Fayetteville
Chapter of The Links,
Incorporated
