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Temecula Valley Woman's Club - Mission

“The Temecula Valley Woman’s Club is part of an international organization dedicated to the improvement of the educational, ethical and cultural life of the community through volunteer service.”

 

We are committed to education.
TVWC is a founding member of the Temecula Valley High School Scholarship Foundation. From our perpetual Scholarship Fund funded by the Holiday Homes Tour & Gala, yearly we award three scholarships to each Temecula Valley high school to deserving graduating seniors. In addition, we annually sponsor and provide funds for high school sophomores to attend the Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar, a CFWC-sanctioned project. In 1999 we established a permanent scholarship fund with the Mt. San Jacinto College foundations to provide an annual scholarship to a local deserving female to enhance her skills to enter/re-enter the workforce.
Proceeds from previous Holiday Home Tours and Galas have been donated to purchase stadium seats at TVHS, the Stadium Fund for Chaparral high school, and to Sober Grad Night festivities at local high schools.

Support the arts.
TVWC has been instrumental in the formation of the Temecula Arts Council. We have provided encouragement and support of art for the youth through Youth Art Fairs, the Golden Valley Music Society (an art and classical music collaboration), and additional outreach programs to the Valley’s schools.

Cherish our community’s roots.
We have contributed proceeds from the Holiday Home Tours to the Temecula Valley Museum Building Fund, and our members support the Museum as volunteer docents. TVWC has also donated to the Chapel of Memories in Sam Hicks Park, the Temecula Town Association Community Center Building Fund, and to the Temecula Community Recreation Center (CRC) Building Foundation. Our contribution to the purchase of a portable piano for the CRC is noted by a plaque displayed at the Center.

Contribute to seniors and youth.
Our many contributions include raising funds to purchase a new 12-passenger Chevrolet van (with capabilities for accommodating the handicapped) for the Senior Center in Old Town Temecula. Over the years, we have also donated proceeds to the Center for the purchase of other needed items such as automatic entry doors for their facility. Through our Caring Committee we sponsor a monthly luncheon and socials for an assisted living facility.

We have made donations to Make-A-Wish, childcare facilities at local elementary schools, Temecula Boys and Girls Club, Temecula Community Recreation Center (CRC) Summer Program, and Temecula Community Partnership (an anti-drug youth program). Our Child Care Reading Program Committee visited local elementary schools each week to read books to our youngest citizens, and donated funds for the purchase of books. We have also donated to the development of the interactive Children’s Park in Old Town Temecula.

Help those in need.
In our effort to care for others and help needy families, we make donations to community food banks. From our Community Charity Fund, we have made donations to various other charities such as Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research, Arthritis and Cystic Fibrosis Foundations, Leukemia Society of America, American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, and Operation Smile. We have also made donations to “Canine Companions for Independence” and “Save the California Condor.” We have reached out internationally to Japan-Tsunami relief programs and sponsored a training/skills program for women in Kenya to find employment to support their families. We have also donated to international organizations such as Save The Children, Shot@Life, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders.

History Timeline

Our founder and first president, Ann Woodward, believed passionately regarding the benefits a women’s club could bring to the Temecula Valley. With vision and hard work, this small group of women known as the “Rancho Temecula Area Woman’s Club,” has grown and evolved to become the Temecula Valley Woman’s Club. Throughout our history, we have contributed over $3 million in community projects and educational scholarships, and over some 1,500,000 hours in community service. Through cupcake and bake sales, flea markets, fashion shows, and ultimately the Holiday Home Tours and Gala, our club has found numerous avenues to raise funds for education and special projects within our community.

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GFWC Federation (Did You Know?)

For over 120 years women across the US and in many other countries have benefited from the existence of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC). In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that because of GFWC initiatives and action programs, the world has benefited.

The GFWC was formed in 1890 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1901. Jane Cunningham Croly, otherwise known as “Jennie June,” formed the Federation of Woman’s Clubs. Her desire for an organization of women united together for common purposes reflects the GFWC motto “Unity in Diversity”. The GFWC is the world’s largest and oldest woman’s volunteer organization.

Our National Headquarters is in Washington D.C. at 1734 N Street NW. GFWC’s Headquarters and home is designated as a National Historic Landmark and is part of only five percent of such landmarks that highlight women’s history.

A Historical note… Eleanor Roosevelt was a member of the Chautauqua Woman’s Club. As First Lady, Eleanor maintained a close relationship with GFWC, through speaking engagements, holding meetings of the GFWC at the White House, and hosting teas for members.

The California Federation of Women’s Clubs (CFWC) was organized in 1900 with 40 clubs and 6,000 members. The CFWC adopted the motto “Strength United is Stronger.” By 1906 there were 175 clubs and today there are 281 with over 13,000 members in California.

1980/81 Founder and 1st President Ann Woodward Youth Drug Abuse Prevention; Rancho California Library Building Fund; Ronald Reagan Sports Park; Scholarships which continue to be funded annually.
1981/82 Willadean Mason Temecula Valley Library Foundation, Ronald Reagan Sports Park.
1982/83 Kathie Gray Temecula Town Hall Association Building Fund for construction of the Community Center.
1984 Martha Minkler Curbs for the Children's Playground at Ronald Reagan Sports Park; formation of H.E.A.R.T- Helping to Eliminate through Education; Abuse in Rancho-Temecula; HOBY which continues to be funded annually.
1985 Joy Sullivan** Bleachers and seats for Temecula Valley High School.
1986 Barbara Steffey Committee Improvement Project (won third in State); Temecula Valley Library Building Foundation. Make-A-Wish.
1987 Irene Robertson** Temecula Valley Library Building Foundation.
1987 Betty Taylor** Child Care/Youth Facility for after school care;Temecula Valley Museum Building Foundation.
1988/89 Mary Jo Helmeke Underground surface and more curbs for playground equipment at Ronald Reagan Sports Park. Funds for a new piano and stage at TVHS.
1990 Kathy Clayes Hospice.
1991 Joan Wahlig** Temecula Community Recreational Center Building Foundation.
1992 Gabrielle Finley Oak, electric, double doors for the handicapped at Mary Phillips Senior Center.
1993 Patricia Olhasso** Temecula Valley Museum Building Foundation; pews and altar for ?Chapel of Memories? wedding chapel.
1994 Nanette Jimenez Transportation van for Mary Phillips Senior Center.
1995 Maxine Bendikson** Temecula Valley Museum Building Foundation.
1996 Barbara Affolter Community Improvement Project: LINK Telephone Community Help Line; From LINK proceeds started the Mt. San Jacinto Scholarship Fund for women returning to college.
1997 Norma Melill LEAF - Lake Elsinore Animal Friends Shelter and two Veterinary Medicine scholarships.
1998 Janet Yorke Community Improvement Project: Habitat for Humanity.
1999/2000 Terry Blanton SAFE - Safe Alternatives for Everyone, shelter for abused women and children started from the Elba J. Salisbury Memorial Building fund and club donation.
2001 Carol Niles SAFE - Safe Alternatives for Everyone.
2002 Bev Weeks Temecula and Murrieta Public Libraries Building Foundations.
2003 Mary Dackerman Make-A-Wish Foundation; Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research. Purchased sweatshirts for the Temecula Valley Special Olympics Swim Team. Obtained the domain name: TVWC.com
2004 Linda Woods ** Animal Friends of the Valley Shelter Building Fund.
2005 Peggi Nash ** Special circumstance scholarships other than academic. Kyle Toth, wood crafter, first recipient in 2008.
2006 Lorrie Thomas Community Improvement Project: Oak Grove Autistic Building Fund.
2007 Vickie Hackworth Research database for Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
2008 Nanette Jimenez Transportation van for Warrior Foundation.
2009 Gail Fitzpatrick Foster care programs, special hearing-aids and batteries for children.
2010 Pat Farmer Michelle's Place, Back on Track, providing re- entry programs in education and job training.
2011/12 Nancy Alcorn SAFE's Girls Circle and Boys Council program, The Temecula Valley Libraries and Murrieta Public Library. Community Improvement Project: Rancho Damacitas Serenity Garden
2013 Jean Lash Women Against Child Trafficking (W.A.C.T.)
2014 Mary Lou Rothacher All from the Heart, Wheels for Warriors Program, HOBY (Hugh O?Brian Youth Leadership) Student Scholarships.
2015/16 Pamela Moe Canine Support Teams. Temecula Valley Museum Interactive Children?s Park (Tom Hicks Park). This project was cancelled, before it was started the funds were returned to the club. These funds were redirected to our 2020 and 2021 President?s Projects.
2017 Juanita Brown Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Education Foundation ?No Child Left Inside? Program.
2018 Peggy Baumann Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary
2019 Wendy Bolduc Temecula and Murrieta Public High School , Career Pathways and HOBY Scholarships
2020 Carol Stern National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Temecula Valley
2021 Barb Purdy JDS Creative Academy
2022 Barb Purdy Animal Friends of the Valley
2023 Beverly Webb Shakespeare in the Vines
** Deceased