Club Founders Jane Westerman and Pat Taylor |
2020-2021 Co-presidents
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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 N.Y. 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 third 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. |
Past WCOP Presidents
With great pride, we recognize our past Presidents and the important leadership that each brought to WCOP. We appreciate the contributions they have made and continue to make in promoting our mission.
1984-85
Pat Slimmer
1985-86
Jody Lehr
1986-87
Scootie Seeman
1987-88
Ann Curtin-Knight
1988-89
Barbara Lipari
1989-90
Karen LaVecchia Crotinger
1990-91
Patrice Pallone
1991-92
Anne Stimson
1992-93
Tommi Klinsky
1993
Linda Whiting
1994
Marcia Bell
1994-95
Patricia Taylor
1995-96
Carmen Wallner
1996-97
Alice Swetman
1997-98
Jan Conant
1998-99
Pat Block
1999-00
Betsy Helfrich
2000-01
Bridget Kolano
2001-02
Wanda Ward
& Marguerite Rose
2002-03
Kathy Canzano
2003-04
Beverley Pierson
2004-05
Nancy Schoenberger
2005-06
Kathleen Bankey
2006-08
Linda Litchfield
2008-09
Linda Ward
& Bridget Kolano
2009-10
Pat Rahn
2010-11 Bonnie Haugh
& Paula Reitz
2011-12
Jan Pickering
& Betsy Helfrich
2012-13
Jackie Aab
& Pati Robben
2013-14
Beverley Pierson
2014-15
Ann Dickerson
2015-16
Maureen Mulley & Ronna Treier
2016-17
Linda MacKenzie & Carol Michaels
2017-18
Betsy Helfrich
2018-20
Susanne Daly
Endowments
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2020 Endowment Recipients
The Women’s Club of Pittsford received 27 applications for funding. Of the twelve organizations that applied for the first time, six received funding. A total of twelve organizations received grants this year. All the awards were in the GFWC Home Life category.
The organizations that received grants for the first time are: Asbury First United Methodist Church requested funds to purchase food in order to meet the rising demand due to the virus and poverty rates as high as 40% -50% in city neighborhoods. More than 40,000 nutritious hot meals are served every year to approximately 2,000 homeless and other low-income guests. Asbury also provides showers, haircuts, laundry facilities, computers, phones etc. for their guests. Allergy Advocacy Association requested funds to purchase an epi-pen 2 pack that they will award to a large daycare center in Pittsford. The epi-pens are used to prevent anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction to an allergen. The Association is concerned about children not diagnosed with allergies being stung by a bee. If an epi -pen is not available..it may be too late be the time an ambulance arrives. Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. New York Chapter #1. The Blue Star Mothers operate a Food Pantry to help veterans make the transition when they leave service. The food supplies generally give the veterans a boost toward learning skills as they attempt to re-enter the real world and fend for themselves. There is also education offered to help the veterans learn to budget their money so they won’t run into the same difficulty month after month. The Margaret Home, Inc. requested funds to replace worn and dated carpeting on the main floor, staircase and upstairs hallways of the building. The Margaret Home is expanding services to pregnant and parenting moms at least 18 years of age who are experiencing homelessness or unstable living conditions in the Rochester region. The home will provide services for 8 women and their children in need of housing with access to a caring and self-sustaining home environment. Saint’s Place Ministry of St. Louis Church focuses on newly arriving refugees to the Rochester, N.Y. area. Refugees receive clothing appropriate for their new climate, winter boots and shoes as well as backpacks full of school supplies and toys for their children. Saints Place also serves migrants, secondary migrants, immigrants, resettled refugees struggling with poverty. The grant will allow the purchase of an additional 25 pair of winter boots. Strong Memorial Hospital, Palliative Care Unit 4-1200 is a 12 bed in-patient unit that cares for patients with a terminal illness who have a 2 week or less prognosis. The funds will be used to purchase supplies of a personal legacy item such as blanket, scarf, pillowcase or a stuffed animal. The items can brighten the patient’s day and serve as a tangible memory of their loved one. Death is often seen as a failure of treatment. The unit strives to restore dignity and support patients and their loved ones during this difficult journey. Listed below are organizations that have received awards in the past and are recipients of 2020 awards: Friends of Washington Grove Habitat for Humanity Spiritus Christi Mental Health Ctr. Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach Veterans Outreach Center Pittsford Food Cupboard |
Scholarships
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The WCOP 2020 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.
The 2020 recipients are Kyle Legg from Pittsford Sutherland and Sharanya Parvathaneni from Pittsford Mendon. |
About the General Federation of Women’s Clubs
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a unifying force, bringing together local women’s clubs, with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With almost 80,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change by supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement, and working toward world peace and understanding.
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a unifying force, bringing together local women’s clubs, with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With almost 80,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change by supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement, and working toward world peace and understanding.
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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