Cincinnati Womans Club

A CENTER FOR WOMEN ORGANIZED TO ENRICH LIVES THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC ACTION AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

EDUCATION: EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE A CORNERSTONE OF CWC PROGRAMMING. THEY ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, VIA 34 EDUCATIONAL GROUPS. EDUCATIONAL GROUPS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES BASED ON THE FORMAT OF THE PROGRAMMING. GROUPS THAT TYPICALLY HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION, LECTURE, OR SPEAKER ARE CALLED PROGRAMS/LECTURES. THESE INCLUDE ANTIQUES, ART, BUSINESS & FINANCE, CIVICS, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, DRAMA, FILM, GARDEN, GOURMET, GREEK, HISTORY, LUNCH-N-LEARN, MUSIC, SCIENCE, SUMMER PROGRAMS, TECHNOLOGY, TRAVEL, WOMEN'S HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND WORLD RELIGIONS. THE REMAINING GROUPS, WHERE MEMBERS USUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM ITSELF, ARE CALLED CLASSES. CLASSES INCLUDE ARTS AND CRAFTS, BIBLICAL LITERATURE, BOOK DISCUSSION, BRIDGE, CHORAL, CREATIVE WRITERS, DRAWING, GREAT BOOKS, MAH JONGG, NEEDLEWORK, PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, PLAYERS, TAI CHI, AND YOGA.ALL EDUCATIONAL GROUPS SCHEDULE ACTIVITIES FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY, OFFERING MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES PER YEAR. PROGRAMS/LECTURES TYPICALLY MEET BETWEEN THREE AND NINE TIMES PER YEAR, AND CLASSES MEET AS OFTEN AS WEEKLY. CHAIRPERSONS, SELECTED BY EACH GROUP, PLAN PROGRAMS AND OBTAIN SPEAKERS OR INSTRUCTORS, AS NEEDED. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPEN TO ALL CWC MEMBERS, CONSISTENT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF WELCOMING MEMBER PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE AT ALL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND STUDIES. MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO INVITE GUESTS TO ALL PROGRAMS/LECTURES AND MANY CLASSES. THE EDUCATION COORDINATION COMMITTEE ADDS POP-UP PROGRAMS AND CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS COVER TOPICS THAT ARISE DURING THE YEAR, OR ARE HANDS-ON CLASSES ON SUBJECT MATTERS NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE IN THE CWC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. THE SUMMER PROGRAMS OFFER A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT OF MEMBERS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

IN KEEPING WITH THE CINCINNATI WOMAN'S CLUB MISSION STATEMENT, PHILANTHROPY CONTINUED TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CLUB MEMBERS AND OF THOSE IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY AREA. MEMBERS' GENEROUS DONATIONS AND SUPPORT OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND SERVICE PROJECTS HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT GENERATIONS TO COME.COMMUNITY IMPACT:THE COMMUNITY IMPACT ENDOWMENT FUND PROVIDED FUNDING FOR ALL ACTIVITIES. THESE INCLUDED SERVICE PROJECTS, COLLECTION AND RECYCLE PROJECTS, HANDICRAFT PROJECTS, GIFT RESEARCH GRANTS, AND THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. EACH HAD A DIRECT EFFECT ON OUR GREATER CINCINNATI AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES. YEAR-END GRANTS USING AVAILABLE FUNDS FROM THE COMMUNITY IMPACT BUDGET WERE MADE TO THE SWEET CHEEKS DIAPER BANK, JOSEPH HOUSE, AND WELCOME HOUSE. SERVICE PROJECTS: ANGIE'S HOUSE OF FREEDOM AND MIRACLES-SERENITY HOUSE: THIS AGENCY PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE TO ADDICTED AND ALCOHOLIC WOMEN OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WITHIN A STRUCTURED AND CARING ENVIRONMENT. THEY ADDRESSED POVERTY, DRUGS, ALCOHOL ADDICTION, AND THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABUSE. UP TO 15 WOMEN LIVING IN A COMMUNAL SETTING CAME TOGETHER EACH EVENING FOR DINNER. CWC VOLUNTEERS SHOPPED FOR INGREDIENTS BEFORE VOLUNTEERS MET TO COOK THAT DAY. THERE WERE 104 CASSEROLES, 150 APPETIZERS, 30 TREATS, BAGGIES FILLED WITH CARROTS, AND 50 COOKIES. WHEN THE ITEMS WERE DELIVERED, THE LADIES CAME OUT TO HELP. THEY WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE FOOD AND EXCITED TO RECEIVE ESSENTIAL ITEMS. BLANKET PROJECT: WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE 280 BLANKETS, UP FROM 245 LAST YEAR. DURING THE YEAR, MEMBERS TOOK HOME "BLANKET KITS" TO CUT THE FRINGE, HELPING US MEET OUR GOAL. IN NOVEMBER, WE DELIVERED 280 BLANKETS TO EIGHT DIFFERENT AGENCIES: JOSEPH HOUSE, SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER CINCINNATI, LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES, MARY MAGDALEN HOUSE, THE CENTER FOR RESPITE CARE, EPISCOPAL RETIREMENT CENTER, SANTA MARIA COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND WELCOME HOUSE.CENTER FOR RESPITE CARE: THE RESPITE CENTER IN OVER THE RHINE HAS PROVIDED QUALITY, HOLISTIC MEDICAL CARE TO HOMELESS PEOPLE NEEDING A SAFE PLACE TO HEAL AFTER HOSPITALIZATION AS WELL AS ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. IN SEPTEMBER, CLUB MEMBERS PREPARED FOUR ENTREES, EACH TO SERVE 24 PEOPLE. THE STAFF AND RESIDENTS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THESE COMFORTING, NUTRITIOUS MEALS. IN MARCH, MEMBERS MADE 80 MEALS, 37 SNACK BAGS, 26 BAGS OF VEGGIE STICKS; 32 MUFFINS; AND 45 TREATS. THE MEALS WERE DELIVERED TO THE AGENCY ALONG WITH 51 BARS OF SOAP, 10 LARGE BOTTLES OF SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER, 15 TUBES OF TOOTHPASTE, AND 20 TOOTHBRUSHES.FERNSIDE CENTER FOR GRIEVING AND WELCOME HOUSE: FERNSIDE CENTER HAS BEEN OFFERING SUPPORT SERVICES, OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION TO GRIEVING FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. WELCOME HOUSE HAS WORKED TO END HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES WHICH INCLUDED HOUSING STABILITY AND SERVICE COORDINATION TO THEIR CLIENTS. MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER TO FILL JARS OF PASTA SOUP MIX AND HOT CHOCOLATE MIX. SIXTY JARS OF HOT CHOCOLATE MIX WITH 120 PACKS OF COOKIES WENT TO FERNSIDE CENTER. SEVENTY-TWO JARS OF SOUP MIX WENT TO WELCOME HOUSE.JOSEPH HOUSE: THIS OVER-THE-RHINE AGENCY HAS WORKED WITH HOMELESS VETERANS SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS. THEY HAVE PROVIDED BOTH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 VETS TO HELP SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO RECOVERY. TWELVE MEMBERS PREPARED SEVERAL TYPES OF CASSEROLES RESULTING IN 114 MEALS. TO THESE, THEY ADDED 45 PACKETS OF SNACKS, 70 COOKIES, AND 124 APPETIZERS.LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH SERVICES-MECUM HOUSE: AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THIS HOUSE HAS OFFERED A SAFE HAVEN TO YOUTH, AGED 10 TO 17, WHO HAVE NOT FELT SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOMES. THE STAFF HAS FACILITATED EDUCATION, COUNSELING, AND FURTHER CARE, IF NEEDED. IN OCTOBER, A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS PREPARED RECIPES WHICH RESULTED IN 96 MEALS. COOKIES AND INDIVIDUAL PORTIONS OF SNACKS WERE ADDED TO THE CARE PACKAGE. WHEN DELIVERED, THE MEALS WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED BY A MOST GRACIOUS HOUSEPARENT AND SEVERAL RESIDENTS THERE AT THE TIME.LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH SERVICES-SHEAKLEY CENTER: THIS CENTER IN MT. AUBURN HAS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO YOUNG ADULTS AGED 18-24 BY CREATING PLANS FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY, SAFETY, AND SUCCESS. MEMBERS MADE COOKIES, MEAT LOAVES TOTALING 36 SERVINGS, 30 CASSEROLES, 85 SNACK BAGS, AND 130 APPETIZERS. THE CO-CHAIRS DELIVERED THE MEALS AND COLLECTION CORNER ITEMS. OFF THE STREETS: IN MAY, CWC MEMBERS SHARED A DELICIOUS BBQ DINNER AND CONVERSATION WITH 24 RESIDENTS AND TWO STAFF MEMBERS. THE DINNERS AND CAMARADERIE WERE MUCH APPRECIATED. THERE WAS ENOUGH FOOD LEFT OVER FOR THEM TO ENJOY LATER. MANY PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS FOR THE RESIDENTS WERE ALSO DONATED BY CLUB MEMBERS.PROJECT CARE: OUR PURPOSE HAS BEEN TO SUPPORT U.S. SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN WITH CARE PACKAGES AND TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THEIR DAILY SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY. THE CLUB COORDINATED WITH THE YELLOW RIBBON SUPPORT CENTER. MEMBERS FILLED 40 BOXES WITH PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS, NOTECARDS, CANNED FOOD, CANDY, GAMES, PUZZLES, BOOKS, AND ATHLETIC SOCKS ALONG WITH PERSONAL NOTES FOR TROOPS SERVING OVERSEAS.THE VICTORIAN AT RIVERSIDE: THE MISSION OF THIS COVINGTON AGENCY HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY, PERSONALIZED CARE TO SENIOR WOMEN IN A COMMUNITY-BASED, HOMELIKE SETTING AND TO ASSIST THEM WITH BASIC CARE NEEDS IN A MANNER RESPECTING THE INDIVIDUAL'S DIGNITY, MAXIMIZING INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONING, AND ENCOURAGING SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. MEMBERS GATHERED TO MAKE 20 DOOR WREATHS. IN ADDITION, CLUB MEMBERS DONATED 27 PAIRS OF SOCKS AND 20 BOXES OF STATIONERY.SUPER CAN DO: OUR SUPER CAN DO CENTERED AROUND YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH TWO AGENCIES, CHILDHOOD FOOD SOLUTIONS AND SWEET CHEEKS DIAPER BANK. SWEET CHEEKS REALIZED THE NEED FOR DIAPER DONATIONS FOR CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. OUR GENEROUS MEMBERS DONATED 2,833 DISPOSABLE DIAPERS AND A MONETARY GIFT OF $850. OUR MEMBERS WERE ALSO BUSY PREPARING 38 CHILD-SIZE FLEECE BLANKETS AND 40 ADULT-SIZE ONES TO GIVE TO SWEET CHEEKS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO NEEDY FAMILIES. WE ALSO CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 800 CHILDREN'S BOOKS TO THE CINCINNATI LITERACY NETWORK TO DISTRIBUTE AMONG VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. CWC DONATED A MONETARY GIFT OF $1,000 TO CHILDHOOD FOOD SOLUTIONS FOR NEEDY INNER-CITY CHILDREN.HANDICRAFT PROJECTS:ARTS AND CRAFTS PHILANTHROPY PROJECT: IN SEPTEMBER, THE ARTS AND CRAFTS CLASS MET TO DECORATE 70 BASEBALL CAPS FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN. THE CAPS WERE GIVEN TO ST. ELIZABETH FLORENCE PEDIATRICS. WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO MAKE SOME SMALL CHILDREN HAPPY!CLARA GATES IRVING MEMORIAL KNITTERS: ONCE A MONTH, THE KNITTERS MET TO KNIT CHILDREN'S SWEATERS. WE COMPLETED 102 SWEATERS, WHICH WE GAVE TO THE FIRST STEP HOME (20), THE SALVATION ARMY (22), YMCA CHRIST CHILD NURSERY (27), AND BETHANY HOUSE (25). OUR KNITTERS ALSO MADE PRAYER CLOTHS TO SEND TO OUR SOLDIERS IN THEIR HOLIDAY BOXES. SALVATION ARMY DRESS-A-DOLL: THE TOY SHOP, A KEY MISSION OF THE SALVATION ARMY, HAS HAD THE GOAL OF MAKING SURE CHILDREN IN FAMILIES SUFFERING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP COULD WAKE UP ON CHRISTMAS MORNING TO FIND A NEW TOY. MEMBERS MADE CLOTHING FOR NINE DOLLS, PURCHASED OUTFITS FOR 13 TEDDY BEARS, AND CREATED FIVE DOLL QUILTS.COLLECTION/ RECYCLE PROJECTS:PILL BOTTLE COLLECTION: OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS, DONATING PILL BOTTLES OF EVERY SIZE. THEY FILLED MORE THAN 60 TALL KITCHEN TRASH BAGS WHICH WERE DELIVERED TO MATTHEW 25: MINISTRIES IN BLUE ASH. THERE THEY WERE CLEANED FOR REUSE OR RECYCLED FOR INCOME TO SUPPORT THEIR MINISTRIES.EYEGLASS COLLECTION: BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY OF CLUB MEMBERS, 92 PAIRS OF PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES WERE DONATED TO LENSCRAFTERS. THROUGH THEIR CORPORATE ONESIGHT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, THESE EYEGLASSES WOULD BE RECYCLED TO BRING BETTER VISION TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.COLLECTION CORNER: THE GIFT SLEIGH CHANGED ITS NAME TO THE COLLECTION CORNER, REFLECTING THE YEAR-ROUND NATURE OF THE CLUB'S PHILANTHROPIC MISSION. THE CORNER CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CAN DO EVENTS AND THE SUPER CAN DO BY GATHERING ITEMS REQUESTED BY THE SERVICE AGENCIES THEY SUPPORTED. GENEROUSLY DONATED BY CWC MEMBERS, THESE INCLUDED PERSONAL HYGIENE ARTICLES, TOILETRIES, BOOKS, DIAPERS, SHEETS, AND NOTE CARDS.HOLIDAY SOCK AND MITTEN DRIVE: CWC MEMBERS GENEROUSLY DONATED MORE THAN 500 PAIRS OF SOCKS, MITTENS, HATS, AND UNDERWEAR FOR CHILDREN. THESE WERE DISTRIBUTED TO ST. ELIZABETH FLORENCE PEDIATRICS, THE CARE CLOSET, AND THE SALVATION ARMY.RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES: CINCINNATI'S RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE (RMHC) HAS BEEN SHELTERING OUT-OF-TOWN FAMILIES WHO USED THE SERVICES OF CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER. FOR MANY YEARS, RMHC HAS SOLD DONATED ALUMINUM PULL TABS AS SCRAP METAL TO FUND THEIR ACTIVITIES. THIS YEAR 55 POUNDS OF PULL TABS WERE DONATED BY OUR MEMBERS.

SCHOLARSHIPS:SCHOLARSHIPS: REFLECTING A FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF OUR CLUB, SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF PHILANTHROPY SINCE 1926. THE 2021-2022 CLASS OF CWC SCHOLARS CONSISTED OF 22 OUTSTANDING WOMEN. THESE COMPRISED 19 STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI (UC), PLUS THREE SCHOLARS FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY (2) AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY (1). THE COMMITTEE ALSO AWARDED ONE BECK SCHOLARSHIP OF $3,000 TO A STUDENT OF ABSTRACT ART. BASED ON AVAILABLE LONGACRE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, THE COMMITTEE WAS ABLE TO AWARD TWO $3,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS STUDYING PRINTMAKING.

GIFT RESEARCH: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CLUB MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) AGENCIES BENEFITING THE GREATER CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY AREA WITH AN AWARD AMOUNT DESIGNED TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THEIR CONTINUING OR EXPANDING SERVICES. PHILANTHROPY STEERING COMMITTEE MET TO SELECT EIGHT RECIPIENTS FROM THE 20 NOMINATED. EIGHT MEMBERS GATHERED INFORMATION, MET WITH A SPOKESPERSON(S) OF THEIR AGENCY, AND PREPARED AND PRESENTED SIX-MINUTE REVIEWS TO CLUB MEMBERSHIP. AFTER HEARING THE PRESENTATIONS, MEMBERS VOTED FOR THEIR TOP TWO RECIPIENTS. AVAILABLE FUNDS TOTALED $48,000. THE EIGHT RECIPIENTS WERE:OHIO JUSTICE POLICY CENTER - $9,600PROKIDS - $7,2004 PAWS FOR ABILITY - $5,200CENTER FOR RESPITE CARE - $5,200LEARNING GROVE - $5,200LYDIA'S HOUSE - $5,200PINK RIBBON GIRLS - $5,200ROSEMARY'S BABIES COMPANY - $5,200STEMPOWER: IT WAS DECIDED THAT $50,000 OF STEMPOWER FUNDS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE EXTENSIVE STEM PROGRAMMING OFFERED BY THE GASKINS FOUNDATION. IN PARTICULAR, THIS FOUNDATION HAS OFFERED TWO PROGRAMS -NUMERACY/ALGEBRA BY 7TH GRADE AND YOUNG STEMINISTAS, WHICH HAVE SERVED HUNDREDS OF CINCINNATI STUDENTS FROM GRADES 3 TO 12 WITH GREAT SUCCESS. WE ENVISIONED A BROADER IMPACT ON MANY, MANY STUDENTS THROUGH THE GASKINS FOUNDATION AND A BRIGHT STEM FUTURE FOR CINCINNATI.CHATFIELD COLLEGE: THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF CWC MEMBERS, THE 2022 PRESIDENT'S PROJECT DONATED $107,500 TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF CHATFIELD COLLEGE. AS ANOTHER PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S PROJECT, CLUB MEMBERS WERE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF CHATFIELD COLLEGE THROUGH THE PILOT TUTORING PROGRAM BY DIRECTLY ENGAGING WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE COLLEGE'S NEW SUCCESS COACH IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING SUCH A PROGRAM FOR INTERESTED CLUB MEMBERS AND STUDENTS.