GFWC Massachusetts ~ History and Accomplishments
Julia Ward Howe
From church circles providing religious education and community work, to quilting bees of the early days our country grew into established women’s clubs with purpose and mission.
Founded in 1893, by 23 clubs with Julia Ward Howe as the first President (1893-1898) GFWC Massachusetts has a rich history of making an impact in communities across our state. Our oldest club, The Ladies’ Physiological Institute of Boston and Vicinity was formed in 1847, 174 years ago. Founded in 1893 by 23 clubs, with Julia Ward Howe was the first President (1893-1898) and her theme was: "To learn, to teach, to serve, and to enjoy,"
GFWC Massachusetts has a rich history of making an impact in communities across our state.
The Book From The Past To the Future: A History of the Massachusetts Federation of Womens Clubs: 1893-1988 was written by the History Committee of the Massachusetts Federation and published in 1988. This book is for sale (Members: Fundraising).
GFWC Massachusetts has a long list of milestones and accomplishments, some of which are listed below.
♥ Purchased 277 acres of prime woodland near Wayside Inn, Sudbury, in 1949. Building of a Headquarters was completed at this site in Memorial Forest in 1987. In 1999 over 200 acres were transferred to Sudbury Valley Trustees for maintenance and preservation of open space.
♥ Raised over $40,000 for the New England Assistance Dog Service Project.
♥ Raised over $30,000 for Talking Information Center for reading service to print-handicapped people.
♥ Raised over $25,000 for an Emergency Medical Assistance Vehicle for the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center.
♥ Donated over $24,000 to purchase a van for the Pine Street Inn, a Greater Boston outreach and job training center for homeless men and women.
♥ Donated over $15,000 for the Children's Trust Fund, Family Resource Centers.
♥ 2000-2002 ~ Massachusetts clubwomen worked 1,745,708 volunteers hours, and gave $1,732,721 to community service with $333,047 in club and state scholarships.
♥ 2002-2004 ~ Massachusetts clubwomen donated $6,362 and made 2,229 Blankets for Project Linus.
♥ 2004-2006 ~ Massachusetts clubwomen donated an estimated $23,000 in checks and sports equipment to The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc.
Founded in 1893, by 23 clubs with Julia Ward Howe as the first President (1893-1898) GFWC Massachusetts has a rich history of making an impact in communities across our state. Our oldest club, The Ladies’ Physiological Institute of Boston and Vicinity was formed in 1847, 174 years ago. Founded in 1893 by 23 clubs, with Julia Ward Howe was the first President (1893-1898) and her theme was: "To learn, to teach, to serve, and to enjoy,"
GFWC Massachusetts has a rich history of making an impact in communities across our state.
The Book From The Past To the Future: A History of the Massachusetts Federation of Womens Clubs: 1893-1988 was written by the History Committee of the Massachusetts Federation and published in 1988. This book is for sale (Members: Fundraising).
GFWC Massachusetts has a long list of milestones and accomplishments, some of which are listed below.
♥ Purchased 277 acres of prime woodland near Wayside Inn, Sudbury, in 1949. Building of a Headquarters was completed at this site in Memorial Forest in 1987. In 1999 over 200 acres were transferred to Sudbury Valley Trustees for maintenance and preservation of open space.
♥ Raised over $40,000 for the New England Assistance Dog Service Project.
♥ Raised over $30,000 for Talking Information Center for reading service to print-handicapped people.
♥ Raised over $25,000 for an Emergency Medical Assistance Vehicle for the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center.
♥ Donated over $24,000 to purchase a van for the Pine Street Inn, a Greater Boston outreach and job training center for homeless men and women.
♥ Donated over $15,000 for the Children's Trust Fund, Family Resource Centers.
♥ 2000-2002 ~ Massachusetts clubwomen worked 1,745,708 volunteers hours, and gave $1,732,721 to community service with $333,047 in club and state scholarships.
♥ 2002-2004 ~ Massachusetts clubwomen donated $6,362 and made 2,229 Blankets for Project Linus.
♥ 2004-2006 ~ Massachusetts clubwomen donated an estimated $23,000 in checks and sports equipment to The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc.
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♥ 2006-2008 ~ Homeless Veterans, Veteran's families, hospitals, and programs were supported with hands-on volunteer assistance and over $24,000 in donations. Banners from clubs around the state (above) were displayed at the Statehouse in Boston during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
♥ 2008-2010 ~ Massachusetts clubwomen volunteered 350,000 hours in over 3,000 programs and donated $600,000. Also, a Long-Range Planning Committee was established and created a long-range plan for GFWC Massachusetts, improvements were made at our Headquarters, and the Unity Walkway Project was established.
♥ 2010-2012 ~ $9,200 was raised and presented to a member of the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and many of the items in our long-range plan were implemented. Also, the Unity Walkway added many bricks at GFWC Massachusetts headquarters, and continues adding even today.
♥ 2012-2014 ~ Donated $5,000 and $10,000 worth of goods to the President’s Project, Birthday Wishes, Inc. and funded a full scholarship for a domestic violence survivor. Gave $2,000 to One Fund Boston for Marathon victims and supported the Marathon Daffodil Project by providing a mile of daffodils on the Marathon Route. Established the first GFWC Juniorette Club.
♥ 2008-2010 ~ Massachusetts clubwomen volunteered 350,000 hours in over 3,000 programs and donated $600,000. Also, a Long-Range Planning Committee was established and created a long-range plan for GFWC Massachusetts, improvements were made at our Headquarters, and the Unity Walkway Project was established.
♥ 2010-2012 ~ $9,200 was raised and presented to a member of the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and many of the items in our long-range plan were implemented. Also, the Unity Walkway added many bricks at GFWC Massachusetts headquarters, and continues adding even today.
♥ 2012-2014 ~ Donated $5,000 and $10,000 worth of goods to the President’s Project, Birthday Wishes, Inc. and funded a full scholarship for a domestic violence survivor. Gave $2,000 to One Fund Boston for Marathon victims and supported the Marathon Daffodil Project by providing a mile of daffodils on the Marathon Route. Established the first GFWC Juniorette Club.
♥ 2014-2017 ~ Members have worked hard in support of resolutions to aid victims of human trafficking, youth living with autism, young people who have aged out of the foster care system in addition to programs in support of women’s health, conservation initiatives, and veterans. GFWC Massachusetts has been a major sponsor of MassSTAR, a leadership and citizenship conference for high school sophomores in Massachusetts for more than 15 years.
♥ 2017-2020 ~ GFWC Massachusetts partnered with Women’s Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts promoting the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment and donated to the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial being built as a national landmark. Clubwomen mobilized to source over 35,000 books in support of the President’s Project, More Than Words, empowering disenfranchised youth. Members raised money to fund domestic violence club grants to assist victims of abuse in local communities. A successful Mini-LEADS seminar was held, and a “Legacy of LEADS” ceremony honored all past Massachusetts LEADS graduates. Embracing the President’s theme Stronger Together, Massachusetts Junior Clubs joined Women’s Clubs for a Combined Midwinter Meeting featuring workshops on using social media to build membership.
♥ 2020-2022 ~ With the pandemic putting in-person meetings at a standstill, GFWC Massachusetts clubs still managed to find creative ways to give back to their communities and beyond. Face mask making and donating to food pantries became a priority. Virtual meetings were held via Zoom, and members became even more tech savvy. At our 60+ acres of Memorial Forest, the Diane McCurley Memorial Garden was dedicated, and the renewed 10-year Forest Stewardship Plan & Forester for the Birds Program was approved and implemented. A full GFWC Success for Survivors Scholarship of $2500 was donated. Through donations we were able to fund domestic violence club grants to clubs ($4500). Shopping at the Heart-to-Heart shop and participating in a blue and yellow auction and raffle helped us to assist victims of abuse in local communities. Once able to meet in person, State Meetings joined Women's Club members and Junior Membership members together with meeting as one group, with one purpose and vision.
♥ 2023-present ~
♥ 2017-2020 ~ GFWC Massachusetts partnered with Women’s Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts promoting the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment and donated to the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial being built as a national landmark. Clubwomen mobilized to source over 35,000 books in support of the President’s Project, More Than Words, empowering disenfranchised youth. Members raised money to fund domestic violence club grants to assist victims of abuse in local communities. A successful Mini-LEADS seminar was held, and a “Legacy of LEADS” ceremony honored all past Massachusetts LEADS graduates. Embracing the President’s theme Stronger Together, Massachusetts Junior Clubs joined Women’s Clubs for a Combined Midwinter Meeting featuring workshops on using social media to build membership.
♥ 2020-2022 ~ With the pandemic putting in-person meetings at a standstill, GFWC Massachusetts clubs still managed to find creative ways to give back to their communities and beyond. Face mask making and donating to food pantries became a priority. Virtual meetings were held via Zoom, and members became even more tech savvy. At our 60+ acres of Memorial Forest, the Diane McCurley Memorial Garden was dedicated, and the renewed 10-year Forest Stewardship Plan & Forester for the Birds Program was approved and implemented. A full GFWC Success for Survivors Scholarship of $2500 was donated. Through donations we were able to fund domestic violence club grants to clubs ($4500). Shopping at the Heart-to-Heart shop and participating in a blue and yellow auction and raffle helped us to assist victims of abuse in local communities. Once able to meet in person, State Meetings joined Women's Club members and Junior Membership members together with meeting as one group, with one purpose and vision.
♥ 2023-present ~
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August 15, 2009
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Massachusetts has its headquarters in Sudbury, MA where our Board of Directors meetings take place.