The Women's Club in the News

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The Women’s Club of Great Falls celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Scholarship Fund at an Oct. 23 tea at River Bend Club in Great Falls.

The organization was founded in 1980 as the Great Falls Woman’s Club and began its Scholarship Fund in 1982. The club in 2011 merged with Newcomers of Great Falls and became Great Falls Friends & Neighbors and later was renamed the Women’s Club of Great Falls.

The club bestowed 2022 scholarships to the following students (majoring in these subjects): Iqra Mian (nursing), Sara Michels (government and policy), Safa Idelbi (international politics), Jabed Hossen (computer science), Amanda Torres Ogisi (education), Nadia Rizvi (autism-spectrum disorder), Sujin Jeung (occupational therapy), Faith Ennin (social sciences), Monica del Rosario Castillo Rodas (international organization), Helen Agbapuruonwu (early-childhood education) and Christopher Ayala (financial planning and wealth).

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On Sunday, Oct. 23, the Women's Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund board of directors gathered with partners, supporters, and friends at the River Bend Club in Great Falls for the 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Fall Tea 2022. Among the special guests present were students who had received scholarships from the fund and endowments, Khaseem Davis, director of the Early Identification Program at George Mason University, Kaitlin Cicchetti, Ph.D., director of Advancement University Life at George Mason University, along with the past presidents and board officers.

Directors serving on the fund and others help raise monies to support annual scholarships for deserving higher education students with need in Northern Virginia to help them graduate on time and debt-free. This academic year, the scholarship has made a difference for Iqra Mian, reducing the financial burden associated with obtaining a master's degree. Mian is a first-year student in the nurse practitioner program. "It mentally and physically allowed me to focus more of my time in my classes," she said.

Jabed Hossen is another scholarship recipient. "I appreciate this opportunity given to me by the Women's Club of Great Falls." Hossen said the award allowed him to concentrate more on his studies than on earning money. "It has tremendously helped me pay off my student loans," he said.

Sally Andrew-Pyne emphasized the recent growth achievements of the fund, including scholarships, endowments, the Early Identification Program, and fundraising efforts. The Women's Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund's explosive growth could be attributed to its new mission, vision and strategic plan, she said.

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The Women’s Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund garnered $53,000 through its inaugural “Havana Night” fund-raiser, which drew together 150 people to support scholarships for local college students.

The event, held April 23 at River Bend Country Club, brought in the largest amount of funding in the 40-year history of the scholarship fund.

The fund-raiser’s success, along with the Fund’s recent establishment of its third endowment at George Mason University, marks a significant benchmark of growth and maturity as a non-profit organization. All proceeds will be allocated toward scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year to students attending George Mason University and the ADVANCE program at Northern Virginia Community College. 

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Learn more about the Scholarship Fund HERE

Sneak peek of Riverbend Park’s bluebells, and bald eagles benefit FORB, Inc.

On April 6, 25 ticket holders, including children, were treated to early views of Riverbend Park’s bluebells and bald eagles. The Great Falls Women’s Club (GFWC) Philanthropy Group organized the tours led by naturalists. According to June Kelly, vice president of philanthropy for

GFWC, funds from ticket sales and donations through their website will benefit the nonprofit organization Friends of Riverbend, Inc. (FORB). Riverbend is tucked away in a remote location at 8700 Potomac Hill St., Great Falls. FORB supports the Park Authority’s many programs at the park through activities and volunteerism. Funds from the GFWC philanthropy group

will help support FORB’s efforts in impacting children’s scholarships programs, scout projects, and other needs.

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All-time high fundraising by Great Falls Women’s Club Philanthropy Group.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. On Sunday, April 10, the Great Falls Women’s Club Philanthropy Group presented a check for $53,000 to SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center of Fairfax. The donation marked an all-time high fundraising amount by the Philanthropy Group for a single organization. “This donation will have a positive, profound effect on Fairfax children who have experienced the tragedy of sexual or severe physical abuse,” said Heather Lyn O’Malley, managing director of SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center of Fairfax. “Child abuse is a significant public health issue. And without donors like the Women’s Club of Great Falls Philanthropy Group, we would not be able to put children on a path to justice and healing,” she said.

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http://www.greatfallsconnection.com/documents/2022/apr/13/great-falls-connection-april-13-2022/

The Women’s Club of Great Falls’ Philanthropy Group on April 10 presented SafeSpot CEO Heather O’Malley with a $53,000 check, based on funds raised from the March 12 Great Gatsby Gala at Trump National Golf Course in Potomac Falls.

Funds from the inaugural gala were the largest amount ever raised by the philanthropy group, whose members were pleased to present the check to SafeSpot in April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, club leaders said.

The 170 members and guests of the club brought “Great Gatsby” spirit in their Roaring ’20s attire to the gala. The upscale evening included champagne cocktails, gourmet dining, piano and professional-dancer entertainment, silent and live auctions with unique high-end offerings, and “late-night bites” for those who wanted to kick up their heels until midnight.

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https://sungazette.news/great-gatsby-themed-gala-aids-social-safety-net-agency/

The Women’s Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund has formally announced the establishment of the Holly Ann Kuga Endowment at George Mason University.

Kuga was a long-standing member of the Women’s Club and a beloved friend and supporter of the Scholarship Fund who died in December 2020 as a result of a tragic car crash. The funds raised for Kuga’s endowment, which total just over $34,000, were a culmination of donations from friends and family in conjunction with the Scholarship Fund’s 2021 Spring Tea fund-raiser, held in her memory.

At a kickoff event at the university’s Fairfax campus were Katie Kuga, the daughter of Holly Ann Kuga; Mariama Swarray-Deen, the first Holly Ann Kuga scholarship recipient; Mary Bramley, director of donor relations and stewardship at Mason; and Scholarship Fund board members Sally Anne Andrew Pyne, Jayana Garvey and Christie Lavin.

“The Women’s Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund recognizes extraordinary students and provides them with financial assistance to pursue degrees in higher education. Like many of these students, my mom had to support herself growing up especially as it related to education,” said Katie Kuga.

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https://sungazette.news/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Weekend-March-25-26-27-2022.pdf

The Women’s Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund announced the establishment of the Holly Ann Kuga Endowment on March 19, 2022, at George Mason University (GMU).

Holly’s daughter, Katherine “Katie” Kuga Wenner, said, “The Women’s Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund recognizes extraordinary students and provides them with financial assistance to pursue degrees in higher education. Like many of these students, my mom had to support herself growing up, especially as it related to education.”

In December 2020, Kuga died in a vehicle crash. As a longtime member of the Wom-en’s Club, Kuga was very close to many. She was also very supportive of the Fund that awards scholarships to deserving Northern Virginia students aged 25 and older who are in good academic standing and demonstrate financial necessity.

At the March 19 event, Wenner joined GMU student Mariama Swarray-Deen, the first schol-arship awardee under the Holly Ann Kuga Endowment, and Mary Bramley, GMU’s Director of Donor Relations and Steward-ship. Scholarship Fund board members Jayana Garvey and Sally-Anne Andrew Pyne, and Chris-tie Lavin, co-presidents, also attended.

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http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2022/033022/Great%20Falls.pdf

Great Falls Friends and Neighbors Philanthropy Group presented a donation check on Friday, May 21, 2021, for $3000 to the Friends of Riverbend Park (FORP). It is a non-profit organization. June Kelly, Vice President of Philanthropy on the Great Falls Friends and Neighbors Board of Directors said that the group was please to provide the funds to Friends of Riverbend Park. “As a women’s club of Great Falls, we focus on supporting charities for women and children. Our emphasis is on helping those in need within our community and Fairfax County,” said Kelly.

Click on the link below to read the rest of the article.

http://www.greatfallsconnection.com/documents/2021/may/25/great-falls-connection-may-26-2021/