Club Founders Jane Westerman and Pat Taylor |
Our Club History
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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
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2019 Endowment Recipients
New Organizations’ Funded by WCOP in 2019:
Association for Encouragement of Children's Creativity The Association for Encouragement of Children's Creativity exists to encourage creative thinking and expression in young children and to support the arts in education. The Magic Dragon, a quarterly print magazine, presents work of 65-75 children and includes poetry, short stories, essays and art. The grant will be used to redesign their web site. An approved web site will help the organization to reach more children and offer them the opportunity to submit their writing and art for publication. Flower City Arts Center The Flower City Arts Center (formerly the Genesee Center for Arts & Education) is a community based 501©(3) that encourages, educates and inspires all people to create and enjoy the arts. The Flower City Arts Center will partner with the Rochester Vet. Center to conduct a twelve week photography and writing program for women combat veterans. The project provides the Veterans the opportunity to express their unique stories and share them with the community. Women comprise 14% of today's military forces. Female suicide rate is twice that of males and five times higher than civilian women. Rochester Engaging in Action with the Chronically Homeless A volunteer organization from the Monroe County area who have come together to support people who are housing vulnerable. REACH Home is an emergency shelter which has been used during Rochester’s coldest months over the past 4 years. They anticipate a continuing need. The grant will be used to provide security deposits for their guests as they seek permanent housing. Other Organizations also funded this year: Association For Encouragement of Children's Creativity Community Child Care Center of the Third Ward CURE for Childhood Cancer Association Flower City Arts Center Isaiah House Inc Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York Muscular Dystrophy Association of Central & Western New York REACH Advocacy Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach Spiritus Christi Mental Health St John's Foundation Pittsford Food Cupboard |
Scholarships
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The WCOP Service Scholarship Recipients |
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Each June our club gives a $500 service scholarship to a high school senior from both Mendon and Pittsford Sutherland High Schools.
In June 2019 the recipients were Anisha Sathasivam from Pittsford Sutherland and Rachel McCarthy from Mendon High School. |
Click logo above to go to the GFWC website
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Members of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), the largest nondenominational, nonpartisan, international service organization of volunteer women.
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