The Links, Incorporated is one of the nation’s oldest volunteer service organizations, consisting of more than 17,000 professional women of African descent. The not-for-profit corporation has 299 chapters located throughout the United States, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. Wegmans Director of Community and Media Relations for the Syracuse Division, Evelyn Ingram, also serves as chapter president of The Syracuse (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. We recently sat down with her to learn more about the Links, Incorporated and Wegmans partnership with the organization.

How did you get involved with The Syracuse (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated?
It’s an invitation only organization, and the Syracuse chapter has about 20 members. One of the chapter members, who I’ve known for years, recommended me to be a member and the chapter approved. I’ve been a member since 2016, and I currently serve as the chapter president.

Can you please describe what The Links, Incorporated does?
Our focus is on friendship and service. Our monthly meetings have a social component, but the focus is on community service planning as well. We talk about the different events we’re sponsoring, what approach we want to take, and develop plans of action to achieve our community service objectives.

Because we are an international organization, each year the corporate team determines the strategic plan for the types of community projects we should be working on at our local level. The projects are based on our five facets, which include Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services.

How does Wegmans support the Syracuse Chapter?
Wegmans support helps us to implement various programs throughout the year.

One of the things we focused on in 2024 was our Black Family Health and Wellness Expo. Over thirty different agencies participated. They shared information with attendees about their programs and services. We held it at one of the local community centers, in an area of the city where residents may not always have access to a lot of health information, or health services. We felt it was very impactful and informative, and we’re planning to have another Expo in March of this year.

Wegmans also provides snacks and supplies for students in our Services to Youth programs. During COVID, we began a partnership with the National Society of Black Engineers to provide STEM activities with a math or science focus to a cohort of students that meet twice a month. The program exposes students to STEM activities and STEM careers. It was originally held virtually, which was helpful during the pandemic because it allowed kids to have something to do while they were indoors, but we continued the program in person.

Each year, we hold a student art competition which is implemented in partnership with the Community Folk Art Center, an African American art gallery at Syracuse University. We work with the local school districts to have students submit artwork for the competition. Prizes are awarded for each age bracket, from middle school up through high school, and students get to see their art featured in the gallery.

Wegmans support also helps us to bring the Colgate Dental Van to Syracuse each year. We partner with local dentists to provide dental exams to young children in the mobile van. For a lot of these young people, it’s their first time visiting a dentist, and they leave with tips for taking care of their teeth, or referrals for a follow-up exam and for future care.

We run this event in conjunction with another event that Wegmans sponsors, which is the Mary Nelson Youth Day Barbecue. It’s held every August, and students are given backpacks filled with school supplies. Wegmans provides supplies for the backpacks. There’s no registration required, although recommended. However, if people just show up, they will receive a backpack and dental exam.

Finally, Wegmans support helps us to provide scholarships to young women in high school who are entering college. Students are required to submit an application that includes essay style questions, and we select a few based on financial need, grades, and their plans for attending college. Recipients are required to show us their college acceptance documentation. We also request their grades for the first semester so we can make sure they’re on track. We try to maintain contact with these students throughout the year, checking in on them to see how things are going. If they’re having difficulties, we rally our resources to help get them through. It really enables us to have more of an impact than just sending them a check for college. We try to provide them with enough information and resources to help them be successful.

Why is it important for Wegmans to support The Links, Incorporated?
I think it’s important to make sure that we are supporting all groups, all people. I’m very proud to be a member of the Syracuse Chapter, and it’s a nice feeling to know that my employer also sees the benefits of supporting an organization of this nature. It makes me feel good to realize that what’s important to me is also important to Wegmans.

This organization has a proven record of its commitment to supporting communities around the country. We have so many chapters throughout the country that are working on the same planned facets, which enables us to really have a strong impact nationwide.

In addition to our support of the Syracuse chapter, Wegmans was a sponsor for the Links Eastern Area Conference in 2021 and has provided financial assistance or donations to chapters in Rochester, New York; New York, New York; Bergen County, New Jersey; Central New Jersey; Arlington, Virginia; and Chesapeake/Virginia Beach.