The Westport Woman’s Club, founded in 1907, is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization dedicated to volunteerism and the raising of funds in support of the charitable, educational, cultural and public health services in Westport and surrounding towns.
“Westport Woman’s Club members and friends participated in the
MAKING STRIDES Against Breast Cancer Walk on 10/20/19, led by WWC Past President,
Audrey Rabinowitz, who has organized the club’s participation for the past 14 years.”
Photo taken by WWC Member Gloria Smithson
Westport Woman’s Club members and friends joined survivors, caregivers, and walkers of all ages at the MAKING STRIDES Against Breast Cancer Walk this morning at Sherwood Island State Park for the WWC’s 14th consecutive year of supporting this cause. The American Cancer Society has organized this MAKING STRIDES walk in Fairfield County for the past 26 years to raise funds for research and support for those diagnosed with breast cancer. To learn more about MAKING STRIDES of Fairfield County, contact your local American Cancer Society office during standard business hours (Katie Divenuto, FairfieldCTstrides@cancer.org, 203-563-1513). Continue Reading
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and on Sunday, October 20th members of the Westport Woman’s Club will again be walking as a team in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Sherwood Island State Park. This walk, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, helps to raise funds for breast cancer research and to raise awareness. Continue Reading
Women of all ages interested in joining The Westport Woman’s Club are invited to a wine and cheese New Member Mixer on Wednesday, September 25, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, in our historic clubhouse, located at 44 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT. Please drop by to learn more about our club and its opportunities for community service, fundraisers, special interest groups and monthly membership meetings with catered lunches and speakers. To see event flyer click here
You do not have to be a Westport Resident to join The Westport Woman’s Club. We look forward to meeting and partnering together to make a difference in our community, and to have fun in the process. Unable to attend the September 25 reception? Prospective members wishing to learn more about the WWC or have a tour of our clubhouse may contact Membership Director, Robin Clark, at rclark@westportnational.com or the WWC Office at 203-227-4240 to register. Continue Reading
The Westport Woman’s Club is currently accepting donations of clothing for its October 2019 Clothing Tag Sale. Tax deductible donations of new or gently-worn women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, as well as accessories (shoes, handbags, scarves, hats, jewelry, etc), are now welcomed through October 18. Please drop off donated items any weekday (9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm) at the Westport Woman’s Club (44 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT). Continue Reading
The Westport Woman’s Club is accepting grant proposals for 2019-2020 from Fairfield County non-profit organizations. Proposals are being accepted until Thursday, October 31, 2019. Grant Application Form
Grant requests for projects that will make a continuing difference in the community may be in the form of funds, or a one-time use of the Westport Woman’s Clubhouse for an event. Grants are considered each year to deserving organizations in education, health and safety-related programs and in the arts. This past spring, the Westport Woman’s Club awarded community service grants to 34 Fairfield County non-profit organizations. Continue Reading
The Westport Woman’s Club’s Ruegg Committee presented their 2019 Ruegg Grant, in the amount of $10,000, to Aspetuck Land Trust to help sponsor their “Green Corridor: Saugatuck to Shore“ program, focusing on “Westport: A Model of Change.” This WWC grant will be used to educate and motivate homeowners to take care of their yards in more sustainable ways to increase biodiversity and improve the environment by planting native plants, switching to organic lawn care, and reducing pesticide usage. The land trust is developing two model native landscape demonstration sites in Westport: one at Earthplace, and another at the land trust’s Caryl and Edna Haskins Preserve on Green Acre Lane. This effort to educate Westport residents will involve workshops and partnerships with Westport non-profits, as well as local businesses. Aspetuck Land Trust shares, “Every homeowner can make a difference by taking care of their yards in more sustainable ways.”
The WWC Grant Awards Breakfast was held on Wednesday, May 22nd and gratitude was the main course! The Westport Woman’s Club Community Services Director, Susan Hricik, presented Grant Awards to 34 local non-profit organizations, totaling $33,000. These funds were raised from the WWC Yankee Doodle Fair and other yearly WWC fundraisers which support these annual Community Service Grants. Also awarded was a Bedford Hall Grant, which allows a one-time free rental of our Hall by nonprofits for fundraising or friend-raising purposes. Continue Reading
Members arriving for December Club Day were treated to a festive clubhouse, decorated for the holiday season, thanks to many dedicated members of the WWC Garden Department (chaired by Garden Chair Vivian Rosenberg). From the handmade wreath gracing the WWC foyer door, decorated trees from the Dining Room to the Bedford Hall Stage, handmade centerpieces of seasonal greenery from our clubhouse gardens, to a boutique for member holiday shopping, Garden Department members provided all attending with a beautiful holiday setting. Continue Reading
Arantxa Mateo, a weight management mentor, was the guest speaker at November Club Day. Ms. Arantxa’s personal struggles with weight in her teen years, propelled her to study biology and nutrition as an educational path. Arantxa has developed the 32 Mondays Weight Management Program (32mondays.com), which is not a diet but rather an educational program to teach people how to manage their weight for the rest of their lives. Her club day program featured 25 Tips, Recommendations and Best-Kept-Secrets to avoid gaining weight over the Holiday Season, as well as her three “S” for weight management success.
October Club Day’s program featured Deby Goldenberg, a certified yoga therapist and a Tai Chi/Qi Gong instructor, who has also achieved a 3rd degree black belt. Deby began her post-luncheon program by demonstrating the saber form, followed by introducing WWC members to Qi Gong in a guided meditation, including both standing and seated positions within Bedford Hall. Qi (“subtle breath” or “vital energy“) and Gong (“skill cultivated through steady practice“) is a mind-body-spirit practice that improves one’s mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-massage, sound, and focused intent. Continue Reading
The Guest Speaker at the September Club Day was CT State Senator, Will Haskell. This non-partisan talk featured Senator Haskell’s life, growing up in Westport, and how he came to be the youngest Connecticut State Senator in the history of the CT General Assembly. Senator Haskell represents the 26th District, which includes the towns of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton. Continue Reading
Bedford Hall was fittingly decorated in a red/white/blue patriotic theme for the club’s June luncheon, as the membership prepares for their largest WWC fundraiser of the year ~ the YANKEE DOODLE FAIR (June 13 – 16).
Following lunch, our featured speaker was our own WWC Board member, Donna Pellittieri, who was trained as a Fashion Designer at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. Donna initially worked in the fashion industry, but decided to return to school to become an O.R. nurse to support her “art habit”. Donna described seeing an ad in the back of a woman’s magazine, ordering a kit, making dolls with her artistic flair, entering her creations in competitions, and ultimately finding her passion in “Art Dolls”. Donna has now been making dolls for over 30 years. Continue Reading
Westport Woman’s Club members made memories marching in the 2019 Westport Memorial Day Parade. Thanks to our WWC First VP, Kim Reichert, for organizing all the logistics of the morning maneuvers to get this group to our starting line ~ no easy feat! What a beautiful day and meaningful tradition. Continue Reading
