Club Founders 
Pat Taylor and Jane Westerman

Our Club History
The Women's Club of Pittsford owes its beginning to a dynamic group of women who belonged to the Pittsford "Welcome Wagon" group who then decided to create a new Club, a Service-oriented Club. Founded in February 1984 by Pittsford residents, Patricia Taylor and Jane Westerman, WCOP became a nonprofit, voluntary organization that was formed in friendship and is dedicated to charitable, civic and educational purposes. Federated in May, 1984 with the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), we stand as proud members of the largest nondenominational, nonpartisan, international service organization of volunteer women in the world!

Throughout our Club's 34 year history, making a difference in our community has been of the utmost importance. Our actions have been recognized by GFWC-NY and we have won 1st Place Awards for our Community Improvement Projects!  WCOP is proud of our Coats for Kids, the Pittsford Food Cupboard, Domestic Violence, St. Pauly Textile Shed, the Home and Kitchen Tour and Bunco For Charity projects. In addition, successful Fundraisers such as the Haunted House, Hearts & Flour Cookbook, the Home and Kitchen Tour, Cindy Miller Cabaret Night and Bunco For Charity have enabled WCOP to contribute $340,000.00 to Rochester Area Nonprofit organizations serving those in need.

As charity begins at home, our local support of the Pittsford Food Cupboard, the Pittsford Senior Citizens and Coats For Kids resulted in our receiving the "Hands Across Pittsford" Award. In honor of the 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote in New York State and the 200th Anniversary of the Erie Canal, WCOP was proud to participate in a historic celebration, "Votetilla 2017". Projects affecting the health and welfare of our residents were met with our hands on support to agencies such as St. Joseph Neighborhood Center, the American Heart Association, Hillside Children's Center, Gollisano Children's Hospital, Meals on Wheels and Resolve against Domestic Violence. Recognized for our civic responses and "Americanism Through Action", WCOP received the prestigious American Legion "Red, White and Blue" Award for supporting our U.S. Military men, women and their families. Our participation in projects such as "Sew Much Comfort", "Cookies for Troops", "Wreaths Across America" and marching in the Memorial Day Parade reflect our dedication to honor those who serve.

Our Charity knows no bounds as we have raised money to help provide food, clothing and supplies in areas hit by Natural Disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey and Irma. In the aftermath of the tragedy of 9/11/2001, WCOP raised much needed funds to collaborate with other GFWC-NY Clubs to purchase an ambulance for NYC. Internationally, WCOP raised funds to buy a well for the "Water For Sudan" project and have adopted a family in Haiti for years in which we supported them with money for food, clothing and education. Pillowcases were made into dresses for girls in Uganda to discourage Human Trafficking. Our daily involvement with the St. Pauly Shed enables collections of gently used clothing to be distributed to people locally, nationally and in 3rd world countries as an effort to reduce, reuse and recycle.

WCOP members truly "Live the Volunteer Spirit" and continue to make an impact locally, nationally and internationally. General meetings are held once a month from September to June and includes a social gathering, an educational program and a business meeting. Membership is open to all women who are residents in the Greater Rochester Area. 

Endowments

2018 Endowment Recipients
WCOP donated $8,500 to Rochester Area Organizations

First Time Recipients are detailed below:

Home Start Hope
Home Start Hope provides essential household items to women and their children transitioning to independent living from emergen-cy shelters (Sojourner and Bethany House). Since 2010 they have serviced over 300 women and children. We gave $1,000 to pro-vide safety items for their children. Items such as baby gates, electrical outlet covers, baby monitors and oven knob covers to pro-vide a safe environment in their new surroundings.

St John’s Foundation
St John’s Foundation develops financial resources to support St John’s mission to nurture life with vibrant caring and life affirming relationships. The goal of the project is to improve the nursing home residents well being through enhanced communication meth-ods. We donated $660 to purchase 2 iPads and multiple dry erase boards. The project will serve approximately 130 residents.

Sophia Community
Sophia Community aims to empower women as a ministry of the United Methodist Church. The agency plans to provide a “Little Free Refrigerator” and to expand their service to the hungry in our community. There has been a “Little Free Pantry” in front of the location since 2014. The refrigerator will enable them to provide dairy products, fruits, eggs and vegetables to round out the nutri-tional offerings. WCOP donated $500 for the refrigerator.

Life Listening Resources
Life Listening Resources provides educational and religious resources for individuals to learn the practices of listening and discern-ment which lead to personal and corporate transformation. Life Listening Resources assumed management of the Coffee Connection whose mission is to support women in their recovery from addiction. We donated $200 to help train management staff in marketing and business development
In addition WCOP awarded grants to the following organizations:
Muscular Dystrophy Association
National Alliance on Mental Illness-NAMI
St Joseph’s Neighborhood Center
Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach
Spiritus Christi Mental Health Center
De Paul Community Service
Junior Achievement of Central NY
East House
Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley
The Endowment Committee also donated $500 to the Pittsford Food Cupboard
For information about applying for a grant, please see the following page:
APPLY FOR A GRANT​

Scholarships

Meet the WCOP Service Scholarship Recipients
Each June our club gives a $500 service scholarship to a high school senior from Mendon and Sutherland High Schools. This year’s recipients are Victoria Soong from Southerland and Annie Bryson from Mendon High School.

Victoria Soong is the recipient from Sutherland High School. Victoria is described as a natural leader and giver. In addition to volunteering in the City of Rochester, Victoria has been a dedicated member of the Sutherland Interact Club. Victoria has volunteered more than 438 hours, more hours than any other Sutherland student. She also served as Vice President and Presi-dent of the Club. Victoria has maintained an average of 91. She is interested in pursuing a degree in nursing at Nazareth College.

Annie Bryson is the recipient from Mendon High School. She has been a class officer or all school officer where she leads through quiet diligence and discernment. She is committed to school leadership and a positive school environment for all. Her young sense of leadership is reflective in her life learning, particularly as it relates to history and engaging her elders. Annie volunteers at Friends of Strong where she serves family members who have patients receiving care at the hospital. Annie is pursuing a degree in History at Cornel University.