It began in 1987 when four good friends put their heads together.  Catherine Browning, Alice Folger, Sally Saussy and Patty Norman assembled a diverse group of women to serve as the convening committee of what would soon become Good Friends.  Good Friends was modeled after Good Fellows, an organization of men who have met during December for the past 75 years.  Like Good Friends, they raise funds for those who need help and have exhausted all other agencies and resources.

The first event held on December 8, 1987 at Christ Episcopal Church with a e goal of $16,000.  The 400 women who attended actually contributed $32,000.  Each year since this beginning, the organization has continued to grow as have contributions now totaling over $1,000,000.

The timeline tracks the rich tradition that began in 1987:

The Good Friends tradition began in 1987.  This timeline tracks the highlights of our annual celebration since our beginning:

Date: December 8, 1987 – First Annual Good Friends Luncheon
Location: Christ Episcopal Church
Attendance: 451
Speakers: Velva Woolen, Joan Zimmerman, Jeanne Bohn
Donations: $32,205.00
Members: Convening Committee of 20 Women

December 13, 1988
Charlotte Civic Center
725
Betty Chafin Rash, Patty O’H. Dewey, Sara James
$53,956.28

December 15, 1989
Charlotte Civic Center
790
Caroline McMillan, Moira Quinn, Jonnie McLeod
$64,757.25

December 11, 1990
Charlotte Civic Center
800+
Jean Graham Ford, Betsy Smith White, Miriam Suarez Musgrave
$75,815.00

December 12, 1991
Charlotte Civic Center
961
Peggy Culbertson, Deborah Harris, Lisa Cooley
$71,586.00

December 15, 1992
Charlotte Civic Center
940
Reverend Lisa Saunders, Sonja Gantt, Ruth Shaw
$121,475.72

December 14, 1993
Charlotte Civic Center
1,000
Margaret Gragg, Emily Zimmern, Suzanne Steven
$90,000

December 13, 1994
Charlotte Civic Center
1,000
Dee Dee McKay, Muriel W. Helms, Viola T. Alexander
$94,500

December 12, 1995
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
1,200
Ann B. Clark, Stephanie Counts, Mary Lou Babb
$105,481

December 12, 1996
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
1,050
Marjorie Warlick Tate, Linda Lockman-Brooks, Betty T. Hunter
$126,000

December 9, 1997
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
1,200
Denise Dory, Cary Bissell Pickard, Pamela A. Syfert
$120,658

December 8, 1998
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
879
Ruth Castleberry, Elizabeth “Pepper” Dowd, Sharon Decker
$120,562

December 7, 1999
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
985
Lisa Saunders, Dianne Ward English, Judy Diamond
$121,676

December 12, 2000
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
815
Jill Flynn, Jane Summey Mullennix, Emily Zimmern
$134,398

December 11, 2001
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
738
Mary Howerton, Karen Geiger, Cyndee Patterson
$113,338.84

December 10, 2002
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
602
Jeannie Falknor, B.E. Noel, Kathy Southerland
$105, 302.10

December 9, 2003
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
785
Harriet Sanford, Pamela Lewis, Emily Smith
$131,259

December 7, 2004
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
772
Mary Tribble, Sally Van Allen, Judy Allison
$116,010