Charms, Incorporated

Charms, Incorporated (Inc.) comprises nineteen chapters throughout the United States. 

Mission Statement

Charms, Incorporated is a civic, cultural and social organization of women dedicated to high cultural standards and humanitarian services that will improve the quality of life for all.

The members of Charms, Inc. make this mission statement a reality with the support and help of their husbands, known as Charmers; their children, called Gems; friends, and supporters.

Local Chapters

Chapters are located in the following cities:  Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Benton Harbor, Michigan; Birmingham, Alabama; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; Durham, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas; Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida;  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Savannah, Georgia; Toledo, Ohio; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Washington, DC.

Founders

In 1952, Mrs. LaVera Hord organized a group of Pittsburgh women who initially called themselves the Midnighters, because they met late at night to achieve their goals.  Founding Members - Laura J. Stewart and Betty Watkins, members of Squaws before Squaws, Inc. was chartered  - are still members of the Pittsburgh Chapter. 

The group later adopted the name of Squaws, Incorporated (Inc.)  The initial purpose of the organization was to create a social outlet for the women involved.  The Squaws, soon became actively involved in the area of civic responsibility.  Feeling the need for expansion and growth in this area, Squaws applied for and received their charter in 1962, thereby making the Pittsburgh group the "founding Chapter,"  and Rebecca Hairston of Pittsburgh became the first National President.

National Projects

Also in 1962, the Squaws became the proud possessors of a lifetime membership in the NAACP.  In 1969, Squaws, Inc. launched its first National Project, the Legal Defense fund of the NAACP.  In recent years, some of the other national projects have been the American Sickle Cell Anemia Association, Hypertension, the United Negro College Fund, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the African American Cancer Society.

Because of the combined social, cultural and civic makeup, Squaws received a charter as a non-profit 501C7 organization.

Name Change

In 1996, at the Fifteenth Biennial Conclave in Las Vegas, Nevada, the organization's name was changed to Charms, Inc. by a majority vote, and the organization officially applied for and received an amendment to the original charter.  On February 11, 1997, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania officially granted a new charter to reflect the new name - Charms, Inc.

Charmers and Gems

Being an integral part of the former organization known as Squaws, husbands of Squaws were known as Braves and the children were called Papooses. Since the name change, husbands of Charms are now known as Charmers, and children are known as Gems.  Today husbands of Charms also continue to play an extremely important role outside the official structure of the organization.