Rochester Junior Woman’s Club Presents Donations to Four Local Organizations

The Rochester Junior Woman’s Club (RJWC) recently presented donations for $20,000 to four local organizations

The Friends of the Paint Creek Trail representative Chris Gray, Mary DiCaro -Recreation Supervisor for RARA’s SCAMP Program, Rochester Symphony Orchestra representative Theresa Meegan and Angela Aufdemberge, President & CEO of Vista Maria’s Wings Program, were on hand at Meadow Brook Hall on June 9th, as club president Lisa Belisle presented the organizations with their checks.

The four organizations were previously chosen as the designated recipients of the clubs 2015-2016 fundraising year. Each April, the club’s Donation Committee reviews the requests they receive from local organizations requesting support. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the club selects their annual recipients.

Last May, the club chose to support specific projects for these four organizations:

• The Friends of the Paint Creek Trail’s will use their funding to support the Paint Creek Trail Educational Walkway Project, which will be located adjacent to the Paint Creek Trail north of Tienken Road in Rochester Hills. The 1/4 mile walkway will be surfaced with finely crushed asphalt, which is being recycled from the Tienken Road Construction Project. Along the walkway, they will have educational displays about native plants vs invasive species, trail history, wildlife, the Paint Creek, and trail etiquette. They will also build native plant gardens, and install a few benches and trash receptacles.
• RARA’s funding will support SCAMP, their summer day camp program for persons with special needs, ages 5-27, in our community. Fun, enriching activities and outings are provided for the campers along with well needed respite for their families throughout the summer months.
• The funding to the Rochester Symphony Orchestra will be used to help support their annual concert series, performed at St. Paul United Methodist Church. The RSO, led by highly acclaimed conductor Zeljko (Bill) Milicevic, is a major contributor to the active cultural and arts environment in the Greater Rochester Area.
• And, Vista Maria will be putting the funds towards their Wings Program for victims of Human Trafficking: to provide treatment and housing to domestic victims of human trafficking.

To raise the funds for the organizations, the club held three major fundraisers. The first was their annual Lobster Boil the Lobster Boil was held on September 26 and “Spring Highlights” Luncheon and Shopping Boutique was held on March 19 at the Royal Park Hotel and the “Haute to Trot” Kentucky Derby Event at Twin Lakes Golf & Swim Club on May 7.

For 60 years, the Rochester Junior Woman’s Club has contributed to the growth and vitality of the community through volunteer service and donation of funds to local charities and organizations. Since its inception, the Rochester Junior Woman’s Club has donated more than 1 million hours of community service and raised more than $890,000 to support the local community.

If your organization would like to submit a request for consideration for next year, please visit their website at www.rjwc.org. The dead line to submit requests is March 31st each year.

If you are interested in learning more information about the club, please Alicia at 248-310-5979 or achenhalls@yahoo.com. You can also visit their website at www.rjwc.org or follow them on Facebook at “Rochester Junior Woman’s Club.”