COMMUNITY

OUTREACH

As Saturday Club members, we are committed to contributing our time and energy to helping those in need and to enhancing the quality of life in our community. Community Outreach is a cornerstone of The Saturday Club’s philanthropic mission. Members find community service activities to be a very rewarding part of their Club experience. Group and individual service projects provide opportunities to lend valuable assistance, build friendships, and expand individual interests and talents. Here’s a snapshot of what we have planned for the 2009-2010 Club year:

1. Volunteer at Thorncroft, Dressage at Devon www.thorncroft.org;
2. Bake for members of the United States Military;
3. Assemble brown bag lunches to benefit St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen in Philadelphia;
4. Collect new, unwrapped toys for holiday gifts for families involved with Philadelphia Society for Services to Children www.pssckids.org;
5. Collect basic supplies for The Laurel House www.laurel-house.org;
6. Volunteer at Wayne Senior Center Valentine’s Day Luncheon www.wayneseniorcenter.com;
7. Plan and host an American Red Cross Blood Drive at our Clubhouse www.redcross.org;
8. “ConKerr Cancer” by making pillowcases for children undergoing treatment at local hospitals www.conkerrcancer.org;
9. Provide birthday celebrations for the student residents of the Radnor ABC House who are far away from their families www.radnorabc.org;
10. Help sorting items at the Giving Factory for Cradles to Crayons www.cradlestocrayons.org; and
11. Make boxes with activities for children undergoing treatments for chronic conditions  www.thejaredbox.com. 
    

PHILANTHROPY

If Community Service is the heart of the organization, The Philanthropy Committee makes up the soul. Twice a year, in November and April, the Club grants awards to other worthy charitable organizations. Selections are subject to Board approval. As a Club, we strive to support other philanthropic organizations that enrich the lives of women and children. These philanthropic contributions are made possible by the hard work and enthusiasm contributed by each Club member. In Spring 2009, the Club selected the following non-profit organizations for philanthropic awards:

SPRING 2009 PHILANTHROPY RECIPIENTS

Wayne Senior Center                                               

108 Station Road Wayne, PA 19087            

www.wayneseniorcenter.com

610-688-6246

The Wayne Senior Center provides direct services to seniors and their families in our local community.  They offer many programs and services which include exercise classes (land-based and water), a fitness center, computer lessons, tai chi and yoga classes, trips, piano lessons and a hot lunch daily, just to name a few.  They serve 75-100 people daily.  They provide these services for no money or a nominal fee.   No one is ever turned away.  They are fervent advocates for older adults in an environment which is both caring and upbeat.  Our grant allows The Wayne Senior Center to purchase an automatic external defibrillator. 

Girls Star, Inc.                                                           

50 W. Welsh Road Exton, PA  19341                      

www.girlsstar.org                                                      

610-873-0815

Girls Star Inc. is a peer-mentoring program initiated in 1997 to empower adolescent girls to make healthy choices and to support them in identifying core values, self-worth, and their critical value to other girls and their community.  They foster connections between women and girls that provide opportunities for mentoring, education, support, personal and teen mentors.  They also have structured programs to teach communication, conflict resolution and coping skills.  They serve adolescent girls in Chester County between the ages of 12-18.    Our grant will allow Girls Star to provide research and development in two areas.

1.      An add-on to an existing Facilitator’s Manual for Relational Aggression between Adolescent girls (this will serve 50 girls in a school year and 100 girls in an assembly format)

2.      A Pilot Group for a four-week unit on Creativity.  This unit will foster a girls sensitivity to her imagination and creative expression.(this will serve 10-15 girls in the pilot group and they expect 30-40 girls in the 2009-2010 school year)

Soup Kitchen-St. Johns Church                               

23 E. Airy Street Norristown, PA  19401                 

www.stjohnsnorristown.org

610-272-1755

The Soup Kitchen started in 1982 and serves over 600 meals each week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  The volunteers purchase, store, and prepare all of these meals.  They are an outreach program of St. John’s Church and they serve the poor, homeless, disabled and needy community in Norristown.  Our grant will help pay for costs of food, supplies and paper products.  Due to the skyrocketing prices of products and services that is necessary to run the operation, and due to the economy which has truly impacted the giving of local organizations, individuals, churches and corporations, they are struggling to continue to provide quality meals to their clients.

St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter                                             

209 Emmett Street Phoenixville, PA  19460            

www.stmarysfs.org

610-933-3097

St. Mary’s is an emergency shelter for homeless families.  They house people for up to eight weeks and offer case management, as well as other services, on site.  .  Our grant will help fund service-related transportation costs.  They have two vehicles:

1.      A van which transports families to appointments, interviews, house hunting, and relocation

2.      A truck which they use to collect donated furniture and household items and to move residents’ belongings when they leave.

Family Forum                                                            

120 Bloomingdale Avenue Wayne, PA  19087                    

www.FamilyForumInc.org

610-964-0004

Family Forum is an organization whose primary function is to promote family well-being and personal growth.  The Center sponsors a variety of educational programs, including courses, study forums and seminars.  They are available both onsite and offsite for schools, organizations, and public access channels.  Some of their courses are New Mom/New Baby, Parenting of Young Children, Sibling Rivalry, Raising Sons, Raising Daughters and Parenting of Pre-teens and Teens.  Our grant enables Family Forum to provide their programs to a group of hearing-impaired parents. 

Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival

Katie Samson Foundation Inc.

1800 One Liberty PL WAYNE, PA  19087-0000

In-Kind Donation:  Katie Samson, a local Radnor girl and lacrosse standout, became paralyzed from the chest down after a sledding accident in 2000.  Katie’s family started the Katie Samson Foundation which supports the annual lacrosse festival held here every spring. Local high school teams play in the event at numerous fields.  There are also amusement events and education that go along with the festival.  All of the proceeds from the festival are donated to spinal cord research.  This year’s event will be April 25 and 26.  Our donation of the use of our clubhouse allows the organization to have a “Thank-you Volunteers” party to start their festival weekend.

FALL 2008