Newtown Woman’s Club Supports Many Causes

By Nancy Crevier

Journalist Jane Cunningham Croly founded the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, one of the oldest women’s volunteer organizations in the world, in 1889, in support of the arts, education, lifestyles and civic and world involvement.

The GFWC has promoted many worthwhile causes in the last century, beginning with the push for childhood immunizations and the concepts of Kindergarten and public libraries in the 1800s. Today’s GFWC is instrumental in the formation of literacy projects and leadership programs all over the United States, as well as other philanthropic endeavors.

The Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC, Inc has been a Newtown institution since 1968. Every year, members raise money to support local charities. All of the money raised goes directly to charities voted upon by the membership. Operating costs for the club are raised strictly within the club.

The more than 90 members of the Newtown club last year donated $17,676 to state and local charities and projects. Local recipients included the Newtown chapter of Hospice, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Kevin’s Community Center, Meals on Wheels, The Newtown Fund, Canine Advocates, FISH, Newtown Woman’s Club Scholarship, NUSAR, C.H. Booth Library, and The Spay and Neuter Association of Newtown (SNAN).

Projects sponsored by the GFWC of Connecticut were also aided by the Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC, Inc, as were several other area charities. The club designates money each year for unexpected needs that arise in the world, such as last year’s Katrina disaster.

“It is a wonderful club,” said chairperson of the finance committee, Marilyn Alexander. “The fabulous work of our Ways and Means Committee has allowed us to donate to many charities this past year. Every member must belong to a committee, even if it is just making telephone calls, so it is really all the work of the entire club.”

The installation ceremony for new club officers was held at Rock Ridge Country Club on Thursday, May 18. Peg Forbell, Marilyn Alexander, Pat Denlinger, Lynn Buttner, Joan Grosshart, Dot O’Byrne, Calla Sellner, Sylvia Poulin and Lorraine VanderWende were installed at the luncheon meeting that also hosted 12 of the 24 previous presidents of the Newtown Women’s Club GFWC, Inc. Lorraine VanderWende, founding president, Marcia Cavanaugh, Nancy Brady, Coke Cramer, Charleen Swanson, Mary Antey, Barbara Krausz, Mary Jo Tyler, Norma Gray, Ducky Loewenstine, Charlotte Kalley and Mary Antey, outgoing president were in attendance.

The club provides many opportunities for community involvement. It meets the third Thursday of each month, September through May. Any woman interested in joining may contact Dolores Judge at 426-5286.