Annual Report - General Federation of Women's Clubs

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Education Community Service ProgramYear in ReviewThe GFWC Education Community Service Program promotes advocacy, education, and action to address theimportance of literacy and education awareness. Below are several examples of education projects led by GFWCclubs.GFWC Huntsville Woman’s Club (Alabama) is dedicatedto ensuring that women who are in need of further educationto better their lives have the opportunity to do so by providingscholarships to well-deserving women in its community. Theclub presented a $1,000 scholarship to a mature woman ofMadison County wanting to further her education. The $1,000scholarship recipient for 2009-2010 is a single mother who hasreturned to college to complete her degree in communication artsand foreign language. In addition to the $1,000 scholarship, two$500 scholarships were given to women who were struggling tofinance their educations while raisingchildren.Children with disabilities benefitfrom interaction and observation oftheir normally developing peers andGFWC clubwomen have provided thisopportunity. GFWC Columbiana Novella Club (Alabama)gave a party for the Eclipse Class of Special Needs Children, aninclusive preschool program for three- to four-year-olds with andwithout disabilities. The members prepared food for the party,purchased favors, and attended the party with the children.GFWC Centralia Junior Woman’s Club (Illinois)maintains a Discovery Room at the local library. The DiscoveryRoom is a section of the library that helps pre-school agedchildren discover or learn in different subject areas. The room isfull of learning materials and a different theme is chosen everymonth. Learning tools such as puzzles, books, and blocks areavailable for the children to explore and discover.GFWC Marlboro Junior Woman’s Club (Massachusetts)partnered with its local Rotary club to bring an interactive“Reality Fair” to the high school. High school seniors learnedabout financial responsibilities by choosing a career, receiving apaycheck, and budgeting their incomes.Exeter Area GFWC (New Hampshire) has a major projectsponsoring the “N.H. Seacoast Expanding Your Horizons inEducation by the NumbersDollars Donated $4,099,312Hours Volunteered 905,604Projects Completed 18,933Science and Math Conference” for young women. The conferenceis designed to immerse young women in sixth to eighth gradesin hands-on experiences in science, math, engineering, andtechnology. Professional women from math and science-relatedfields facilitate workshops and serve as role models for theparticipants. During 2009, the club hosted the fourth annualconference and began planning for the fifth annual conference.More than 150 women from 25 different schools attended a fullday of fun including 13 workshops; a key note address from MollyHarrington, a pediatric endocrinologist; and a student panelwhich was opened for discussion.The GFWC Dominion Woman’sClub (Virginia) implemented aBag-A-Book literacy program at alocal elementary school for thirdgradestudents who were strugglingwith reading and testing below their grade level in readingcomprehension. The club prepared for the 2010 progam in 2009by collecting supplies and purchasing 500 books and 85 bookbags. GFWC clubwomen and community members from thelocal Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and localbusinesses were trained as volunteer book club leaders. Duringthe second half of the school year, (January-June 2010) studentsread books that had been purchased by the club. Each week thestudents read the books at home with their families, recordedtheir reading experiences in journals, and shared their journalentries in book clubs conducted by club volunteers.Through a continuing program with their local public libraryand health department, the GFWC Woman’s Club ofWestminster, Inc. (Maryland) supported education in theircommunity by assembling 100 “Books for Babies” kits. Clubmembers purchased books for each kit, which were containedin bags that the club decorated with the message, “I Read to MyBaby.” The kits also included publications from their local librarysuch as finger play booklets, a schedule of upcoming libraryevents, and a “Tips for Reading to Young Children” pamphlet.6 2009-2010 GFWC ANNUAL REPORT
Home Life Community Service ProgramYear in ReviewThe GFWC Home Life Community Service Program promotes advocacy, education, and action to create a betterquality of life for all citizens by strengthening individuals, families, and communities. Below are several examplesof home life projects led by GFWC clubs.GFWC Woman’s Club of Palo Alto (California) began a newproject in 2009 called “Be the Change.” At each “Be the Change”evening a local, needs-based nonprofit organization is invited toexplain the purpose of the organization and its programs. Clubmembers learned about volunteer opportunities and donatedgoods needed by the invited organization. For example, in Aprilthe “Be the Change” evening featured the Palo Altos DowntownStreets Team, which trains and employs at-risk (homeless/under-housed) individuals in local maintenance occupations.Through these evenings, club members have had an opportunityto see the needs in the community andrespond appropriately.GFWC/IFC ESO Tri CountyWoman’s Reading Club (Indiana)continues to increase the aid it givesto the local food pantry. Membershelp stock the shelves, pack bags of select food items that aredistributed to needy families, and help prepare kits of food forspecial occasions. Volunteers prepare food for Thanksgivingand Easter, and assemble kid kits to ensure that families andchildren have adequate food for the holidays. The club membersalso bring food and paper products to meetings, which are thendonated to the food pantry.GFWC Prestonburg Woman’s Club (Kentucky) teamed upwith the cities of Prestonburg and Archer Park to make Christmasa little brighter for local children by hosting Christmas in the Parkat the Archer Park skating rink. Christmas in the Park was opento the public and over 200 children ages 12 and under attendedwith their families. Each child was given the opportunity to meetwith Santa Claus and receive a gift. Other activities included facepainting, coloring, games, and refreshments. This family funevent gave back to the community and to those who needed a littleextra Christmas cheer. The club also branched out to help theneedy animals of the community. Members donated, collected,and delivered cat and dog food to local animal shelters.GFWC Mexico Woman’s Club (Missouri) participated in alocal heart disease awareness program called “Heart to Heart.”Community organizers and individuals were asked to donate apurse that showed the personality of the group or individual.Home Life by the NumbersDollars Donated $22,547,609Hours Volunteered 1,063,440Projects Completed 31,717These purses were eventually auctioned to raise funds for heartresearch. Each member donated an item that was dear to herheart to be put in a purse fashioned by one of the members. Theclub was recognized at the event as a valuable contributor.GFWC Harvey Lake Woman’s Club (New Hampshire)donates to a local hospital to help women who have had breastcancer surgery. They make and deliver “comfort pillows” tothe women recovering from surgery at Concord Hospital. Themembers bring in their sewing machines and fabric and enjoysessions at the clubhouse where theysew and socialize. In one year, theclub donated over 200 pillows to helprecovering women battling breastcancer.GFWC/MFWC Florentine Club ofFlorence (Mississippi) worked to enhance the quality of life forthe mentally challenged patients at the State Hospital, for whomthere were limited government funds to provide recreationaland personal growth opportunities. In coordination with localmerchants and artists, volunteers assisted with several uniquefundraisers including a linen sale, jewelry sale, and medicaluniform sale. The club also donated money for a fountain, inmemory of a deceased member, and made other improvementsto the grounds. Members provided magazines, clothes, andtoiletries to patients throughout the year. At Christmas, theysponsored a party and provided gifts for the residents.GFWC Woman’s Club of Springfield (Virginia) initiated alayette project several years ago in response to the growing needof the local hospitals to provide basic supplies for mothers andtheir newborn babies. The club has continued to enthusiasticallysupport this program and has been working with Fairfax Hospitaland Alexandria Hospital to meet the needs of their new mothers.Members donated onesies, diapers, bottles, socks, receivingblankets, and burp cloths. In addition, members crocheted,knitted, and sewed blankets and quilts. The social workers at thehospitals expressed gratitude for the club’s interest in meetingthe needs of these new mothers.2009-2010 GFWC ANNUAL REPORT 7
Page 1 and 2: 2009-2010Annual Report2009-2010 GFW
Page 3 and 4: Year in Review(January 1-December 3
Page 5: Conservation Community Service Prog
Page 9 and 10: Public Issues Community Service Pro
Page 11 and 12: Juniors' Special Project: Advocates
Page 13 and 14: GFWC Haiti Disaster Relief Fund Don
Page 15 and 16: Friends of the WHRCFriends of the W

Annual Report - General Federation of Women's Clubs

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